The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-07-02
THE MINER AND THE FARMER.

From the very moment almost tina
the cultivation of the soil FOLLOWED
the development Of the mineral re
sources of the west, there starte'
what has seemed to be an irrepressi
BILE conflict between the miner ant
the farmer in every mining state. TIT
antagonism probably begun over tn,
disposition of tailngs from both plac
er and quartz mines, the damage t.
the land leading to long and costl,
litigation. Poisonous gases contained
in smoke from the smelters and its
consequent damage to crops was an.
other cause for controversy which
widened the breach between the far
mer and the miner. Generally these
controversies haven been settled In
the matter Of damage from tailings
the mining companies have generally
bought the land at figure that COW
cred all damages sustained, or have
paid damages sufficient to cover the
value of the land without taking title
to it. Smelter smoke nuisance has
generally been abated, after expert
ence similar to that involved in the
tailings question, and is no longer q
source of contention.
But there Is still pronounced man
Hesitation Of hostility among the far
mers Of mining states toward the min
ing interests, which is generally man
Tested in the complaint that the min
ing companies do not bear a just
share Of the tax burden of the state.
Wide publicity Is given to the large
dividends paid by the mines, and this
the contention Of the agricultural in
terests that the mines are not carry
ing their share of the tax load. This
Is merely superficial view Of the
case, a conclusion that Is not war
ranted by fair investigation of the
facts. Take the tax law of Idaho as
an example. Everything owned by
mining company in the way Of real
estate. machinery, equipment. i'm
provements, water rights and. in fact,
everything that Is taxable when own
ed by other people, is now taxed
There is no exemption whatever for
mining companies. In addition to this,
the mining companies are required to
pay a tax on their net profits at the
same rate as the property tax. That
Ing the mine itself must be apparent.
TO any one who gives the subject fair
To begin with, as
practical proposition it is impossible
TO determine the actual value Of
mine, and even the value Of ore block
ed out is matter upon which cap
,ble mining engineers might widely
liffer. Then the cost of extracting the
values from the ore may differ at
very mine and therefore affect the
ialue Of the ore, and in addition the
market prices of the metals are sub
ect to frequent change and therefore
changing the value Of the ore re-
erves. Take the three great mineral !
PRODUCTS of the Occur d'Alene district,
cad, zinc and copper. and compare
he market prices with those of
ear ago and 1t will show tremend-
us shrinkage in mineral values. These
yer changing conditions which enter
nto the mining industry are con-
incing proof OF the fairness Of the ,
resent system Of taxing the net pro- |,
It's Of the mines rather than the
mines themselves.
These are matters that should be |,
arefully considered by those outside !,
ne mining districts. Mining compan-
IS and the people directly dependent /,
pom them are no more disposed to i,
wade just taxation than are the peo- I
le OF any other class. Mining is Z
ifTerent from other occupations in :
- the e Of tho r-"-~-.-' tx dailv