Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-09-07
DIRECTOR OF MINES TELLS
OF VAST MINERAL WASTE

WASHINGTON. sept In the pre-.
lace to Notes on Mineral Waste
written by Charles L. Parsons chief
mineral chemist Of the bureau OF
mines, which has Just been issued
Dr Joseph A. Holmes. the director
gives bis views upon what he terms
real or true conservation
DR. Holmes says: During the past
year in producing 5OO,oOo.o0o tons Of
coal we wasted or left underground
IA such condition that il probably
VIII not be recovered in the future
25o'oOo'00o tons Of coal: we turned
loose into the atmosphere a quantity
OF htural sas larger than the total
output Of artificial gas during the
same period in ali the towns ana
cities of the United States. we also
wasted or lost in the mining. preb.
aiaiion' and treatment OF other inn.
pcitant metalliferous and mon-met.
a'iiierons minerals from 10 to Is Der
cent Of the years production Of such
minerals These losses serve 10 in.
dlcate the Importance of Inquiries
and investigation by the federal gov
eminent for the purpose of lessaninp
'he waste Of essential resources-in-
vestigations on the same general
lines as those looking to a reduction
in the loss Of life in the mining CD.
eratlons q the country and the far
more extensive investigations looking
to the more efficient production and
use Of agricultural products both of
which are being conducted by the
federal government
In a consideration Of the possible
activities Of the individual, the state.
aud the federal government in behalf
Of less wasteful use Of our mineral
'resources certain facts and princi-
pies should be kept clearly in mind
namely:
That the present generation has
Ethe power. and il viii exercise the
fright 70 use IS much Of the couutry's
lresonrces as it actually needs; there
can and and there win be no such
hing as stintlne the present genera
ton by bottling up resources for the
use OF the future.
That the nations needs are not
likely to be curtalled; these needs
viii increase with the extent and al
fvcrsity Of the nations industries, and
they will increase more rapidly than
population increases for the reasoh
that the per capita consumption q
mineral products is rapidly inereas
ing and
THAT the men Of this generation
I win not mine, extract. or use these
tresourees at continuous financial loss
| 70 themselves in order that some,
! thing may Be left for the use Of flu
| tura generations there can be no
| such thing as a mineral industry
fwHhout profits.
Furthermore, &c should be clearly
understood that the mineral resources
Of this country have required long
ages for their accumulation and that
tof these resources the nation has but
the one supply. There are no knowl
substitutes available TO meet the ma
| TONS further needs when that sup
| PLY viii be exhausted and. to the
best Of our present knowledge this
Zone supply must serve as a basis for
both the needs Of the present and the
far greater needs Of the future
IN a higher way our mineral re-
sources should be regarded as prop.
terty TO be used and 10 be held IN
trust with regard to both the present
and the future needs Of the country
i should be remembered that neither
human labor nor any human agency
mas contributed rs their origin or TO
their intrinsic value and that what.
ayer rights the individual NAV pos
sess have been derived from the gen
oral government and from the state
gs the original owner The state
does not surrender It's right aud
should not neglect its duty to safe.
guard the welfare of It's future eiti.
rens by preventing the wasleful use