The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1914-04-10
TIE EXTENT OF MINERAL WASTE

necessary, of mineral resources
amounts to a national loss of not less
than 100000 day.
In one respect at least a consider
alton of the mineral wastes has a
basis quite different from the con-
sideration of agricultural wastes.
Our crops represent an annual pro-
duction from a reasonably permanent
soil; our forests may grow again,
though much longer period of time
is required; and the soils themselves
rSay be reproduced from the subsoil
and the rock beneath. But of our min
eral resources we have only the one
supply. This supply is to consider
able extent destroyed in use; and at
the present increasing rate at which
we are using and wasting it our one
supply will be either exhausted or
largely depleted while the nation is
yet in its youth.
The most urgent need for investiga-
ton and reform is in connection with
the unnecessary waste of oil and
natural gas that still prevails in many
parts of the country. Even with the
limited facilities at it's disposal the
bureau has been able during the cur
rent year to stop a waste of natural
gas valued at not less than 10000
900, an amount that exceeds by six
ClH0S Tue COCdl COSI VI lie Sdu
investigations, L. iaLe. There is ur-
s,::i' iced o. enlarged facilities ~:;h
VI oh to pua!i Chi. work more rapidly.
A few years of further delay and
this valuable source of national
wealth will have been wasted-perman
emily lost.
The individual operators in caus-
ing this waste have followed their
natural bent for temporary gain. The
States have permitted this criminal
waste without protest, fearing that
interference might retard develop
ment Will the National Government
do the same? The saving already ac-
complished was the result of inquiries
and researches that enabled the en-
gineers of the bureau to demonstrate
to the oil and gas men in one CT the
Oklahoma fields that much waste of
gas could be prevented without stop
ping the drilling for oil.
If the funds ct the disposal of the
bureau had been large enough to pro-
vide for more extended investigations
and demonstrations the prevention of
waste would have been much greater.
AS it is, however, in many aprts of
the Oklahoma oil and gas fields the
waste of natural gas that still con-
tinues is equivalent to $15,000,0OO to
$40, 100000 per annum, and this waste
in all of the oil and gas fields of the
country now aggregates more than
S., 100000 per annum. Of the total
waste of gas in the different oil fields
of the country more than 80 per cent
is believed to be easily preventable.
AS regards the remaining 20 per cent
it is believed that gasoline may be
extracted from much of it and the gas
itself burned for some useful pur-
pose.
The need for enlarged investigation
is further shown by the fact that in
addition to this waste of gas the waste
of petroleum, and especially the loss
of the lighter oils, in pumping and
storage is much greater than is or
dinarily supposed. Moreover, the in
jury caused in number of oil
fields through the flooding of oil and
gas strata by underground water is
another phase of the subject calling
urgently for inquiry and investigation.
1t is estimated that the proposed in
vestigations into the waste of oil and
gas would cost from 100000 to $4,000
per annum, and it is believed that the
saving to the national wealth would
be more than a hundred fold for
each dollar expended in such investi-
cation.
The waste in coal mining is an
other drain on our national wealth
which calls for serious and extended
inquiry and investigation. A pre-
liminary estimate, based upon limited
inquiry and examination, indicates
an annual waste or loss of coal in
mining and handling of not less than
250,000,000 tons per annum. This
represents a loss from our best and
most easily mined Goals and those
nearest our great centers of industry.
What is needed in connection with
this loss is a thorough underground
survey and examination at certain in
carefully selected areas in each of
the important coal fields of the coun-
try, with a view to determining the
exact conditions under which mining
operations take place and the posi-
bilities of adopting less wasteful
methods. With this large amount of
accurate information laid before the
public, it will then be possible to OBJ
tain the adoption of far less wasteful
methods of mining. Such an investi-
cation, thoroughly conducted, would
cost about $4,000 per annum for
three or four years. 1t is confidently
believed that the results of such an
investigation would mean a saving in
fuel resources having value to the
nation of considerably more than $780,
100000 per annum.
There is need of similar investiga-
tions looking to reduction in the
wastes or losses in the mining, pre-
paration, and treatment of our metalli
| ferrous ores and metals, which wastes
and losses aggregate in different cases
| from 10 to so per cent of the total
yearly production of such minerals
and metals. A few of these wastes
may be regarded as representing to
some extent a deferred use of the
materials. These it is not now pro-
posed to investigate. Many others
represent a total and permanent loss,
and in the M jority. of our metals this
reduction in our national supply will
at no distant date become a serious
problem. Certain investigations re-
| 70 both cofofu ond in