The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-07-30

Jennings. James Douglas, ID. W. Biln
ton, Samuel A. Taylor, NJ. $. KEN
merer, Harry l.. Day and Carl Schols
the list of which comprises some dis
n tinguished names, lately issued a re
4 port respecting the affairs OF the Am
D erican Mining Congress, and for tn
i first time there is published, so far u
4 we are aware. a financial statement o
X this organization for long series o
years. From this it appears that dur
ing the period l905-l3. both years in
elusive, this organization has run be
hind to the amount of $1l,100, which
deficit is owed to james f. Calbreath
for arrears in salary. The committe,
says: The original agreement with
the secretary in 1905, was that fol
three tifths of his time, he was t(
receive $500 per month. In 1912 the
directors in consideration of his de.
voting his whole time to the congress
affairs, considered he was thoroughly
entitled to $500 per month. Since
starting the work he has conducted
the financial end of it on the principle
that the congress- Indebtedness should
be limited to himself"
Means for improving the financial
situation of the organization are now
being considered. 1t has been propos-
ed to create a corporation class of
membership and a canvass among tho
tts J
The committee says: Should no en-
enlargement be given to the project
by these representative men, it would
then be we'll to face the fact and drop
our political program and office at
Washington at once"
The accounts submitted with the re-
port of this committee are carelessly
compiled and will be distressing to
the expert accountant. However, it is
not worth while to enter upon minor
or technical criticisms. The most i'm
portant thing is an examination Of the
income. This rose to $14.949 in 1908
fell to 1866 in 1910, rose again to
$12,916 in 1912 and fell to $S465 in
1913. This shows an absence of
steady interest in the organization.
The direct income from memberships
Life memberships, at 800, yielded
$500 in 1907, in 1911 but 800, and in
1912 and 1913 nothing at all. Mem
berships (s15 initiation) yielded $S3l5
in 1908, and only $4O5 in 1918. The in
come from these sources is hardly to
be expected to increase from year to
year. Indeed, such compounded, an
ticipatory payments ought not to be
treated at income at ALL but only the
amortization of them during the life
expectancy of the payer should be so
regarded Most important is the
membership dues of SO per annum
These rose to $4743 in 1908, dropped
to $2S43 in 1909, rose to $3.50 in 1912
and declined to $4763 in 1913 The
membership fee being SO per annum,
we may assume that the American
Mining Congress had membership
of 525 to $50 in 1918, this after Is
years of existence and after nine years
of rejuvenescence, which began in
1866. progressed well up to 1908 and
then halted. Even in the more pros
porous days the largest item Of rev.
enue was the contributions from the
towns where the annual convention
was to be held. In several years
there have been contributions for
special work." these amounting to
$2124 in 1912.
The American Mining Congress
previous to about 1905 was not an al /
together reputable organization
About that time a sincere effort was
made by Hon. ]. w. Richards of
Boise, Idaho, for many years its pres
ident, and j. f. Calbreath of Denver.
Colo, long its secretary, to elevate the
to a healthy and useful
plane. They had high ideals and as
we conceive them, those ideals were
neritOrious. They were nothing less
han the creation of an organization
which might speak for the mining in
luSlIy. lie was bDIi
theoretically it was appealing What
could be more useful than an annual
of representative mining
men assembled to discuss the prob
ems affecting them and exertinR
PRESSURE upon legislators to secure ;
What the industry needed? In fact
his kind Of work did secure the Gre
Iton Of the U. S. bureau Of mines, the :
me great accomplishment of the A.
n. c.
However, as an exponent of the
mining industry. the American Min
ng Congress signaly failed, as Is
manifest from its membership record
IN organization which can not main
ain the interest of a considerable
to the extent Of payment
f dues lacks the elements of success }
nd. Of course, the 500 or 900 dues
aging members that the American
timing Congress has numbered out Of
he whole mining industry of the !
United States Is ridiculously few. Yet
he oceffirs of the congress have been /
arnets and sincere. while Mr.. Cal
reath, the secretary, has been al
lost quixotic in his self-secrificing