The Parker post., 1914-12-12
THE MINING
CONGRESS
MET AT PHOENIX DURING THE
WEEK-A LARGE ATTENDANCE
-MANY MATTERS OF IMPORT
ANcE DISCUSSED.

The American Mining Congress met
at Phoenix this week, remaining in
session from Monday to Thursday
evening. The representation from
all accounts was very large, the meet
! ing a teeming success and there is
no doubt that great benefit Will re-
suit to the mining industry therefrom
Among other matters of impor-
tance, a resolution was adopted urg
ing the national government to use
all possible efforts to open markets
for copper and to afford protection
to shipments of copper in neutral
vessels to neutral ports
Reese H. Beddow of New Mexico
introduced a resolution favoring the
Ferguson bill, now pending in con-
gress, relieving prospectors of the
necessity of doing assessment work
for 1914. 1t was referred to the reso-
tuition committee.
A letter from w. R. ingalls,, chair
man of the committee on prevention
of mine accidents, was read by the
committee. Ingalls, reported progress.
Will l.. Clark of Jerome presented
the report of the committee ON gen
eral revision of mining laws, which
was prepared by Chairman e. B. Kir-
by of SIT. Louis. Progress toward Sc
curing the codification of the nations
mining laws was reported.
Strong objections to the provisions
of the bMl passed by the house of rep
resentatives at the last session of
congress and now before the senate
committee on public lands "to provide
for the development of water power
and the use of lands in relation there
to and other purposes We're voiced
by E. A. Wedgewood of Salt Lake
City in paper on Conservation of
Western Water Power Resources
In comprehensive paper presented
to the convention, Senator J. F. Shat
roth of Colorado discussed the pro-
posal that the government own and
lease the mines.
With the exception of the last para
graph, the report of the committee
on mine taxation was adopted by
the convention. This leaves the con-
gress committed to the taxation of
producing mines on the basis Of net
production, and of producing min
eral land, prospects included, at the
same figure as surrounding land is
valued for other purposes.
Secretary J. F. Callbreath read his
annual report showing the financial
condition of the congress, then fol-
lowed a discussion of how the in
fluence of the congress can be ex-
tended and how the mining industry
can be benefited.
Secretary Callbreath made short,
talks. He urged the necessity OF
state chapters of the congress to
deal with local problems confronting
the men who are engaged in mining.
Assistant Secretary Walcott as
serted that no state stands more in
need Of an organization of mining
men than does Arizona.
President Scholz told of the enefit
the mining congress has been to the
coal mining industry and expressed
his desire to strengthen the organiza-
tion in any way possible.
w. G. Swart, one of the leading
zinc operators of Colorado, declared
that most of the laws detrimental to
mining are passed because of ignor-
ance. In part he said that lit is
up to us to educate, to let the state
legislatures know what We want, and
We want nothing more than a square
deal"
Prof William B. Phillips of Texas
quoted a few figures to show how the
mining industry is being neglected by
the national and state governments.
The nation gives $4,000 900 a year
for the advancement and encourage
ment of agriculture, $2,000,000 year
for mines. Here in Arizona four
times as much state money is spent
for agriculture as lis spent for min
ing.
An important amendment to the
bylaws was adopted. 1t allows any
one to become AN associate member
of the congress upon the payment of
81 initiation fee and annual dues
OF 81. Associate members shall re-
ceive all literature issued by the con-
gress and shall have a voice, but no
vote i'm conventions Regular mem