Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-08-05
MINING CONGRESS LOOK
ING FOR A REASON
(From Tuesdays Daily.)

American Mining Congress, makes
the following report:
The falling off in metallic miner
al production and the general depres-
sion of the mining industry in the
West should command even more
consideration than has been given
the subject. Various reasons have
been assigned for this depression,
and the Directors of the American
Mining Congress are planning for
committees through which the var
ious causes shall be investigated
and an earnest endeavor made to
find a remedy for improper condi-
tons.
Many people throughout the West
believe that one of the principal
causes of this depression is that the
Forest Service has imerfered with
prospecting and made difficult or
impossible the securing OF title to
mineral land within the forest areas.
Whether this is true or not the
fact that the public mind has, to a
large extent, accepted these state
ments and discouraged prospectors
from pursuing their efforts within
the National Forests although the
mineral land laws are in full force
there as elsewhere on the public
domain.
Director Graves of the Forest Ser
vice expresses a strong desire to
meet every proper complaint and to
adjust it in such a way that the
Forest Service, instead of being a
detriment to the mining industry,
will be real assistance to its de-
velopments.
Our Directors believe that the
Mining Congress can perform a
useful public service if it can bring
about more harmonious relation
between the Forest Service officials
and the people who live in the
neighborhood of and desire to use
National Forest and to this end it
has provided for the appointment
of central committee on forest re-
lations to be located at Denver, and
subcommittee in each of the me-
tai mining states.
These state committees are ex-
pected to give consideration to all
complaints within their respective
states and after proper investigation,
if it is found that just cause of COM
plant exists, to take up the matter
with the local Forestry officials with
a view to effecting a satisfactory
settlement of the dispute. In case
no settlement can be made, the state
committee is to report its finding
and recommendations to the gen
eral committee at Denver, its re-
concentrations to form the basis
of action by the National Organi-
cation.
1t is planned that these COM
plants not otherwise disposed OF
which are of sufficient merit shall
be forwarded to the Washington Of
flee of the Mining Congress with
instructions to take up with the
chief Forester the subject of dis
pute, and if no proper redress can.
be secured, to take the dispute TO a
higher authority.
The Mining Congress believes
that the National Forests ought to
stimulate rather than hinder mine
development; that the people resid-
ing in the communities should feel a
warm sympathy for desire to CO.
operate with the Forest Service in
the prevention OF fires and in the
protection OF the Forests from de-
vastation OF any sort; in other words
that the Forest should serve the
highest use of the communities To-
Gated in their neighboring vicinity;
and that all unnecessary waste
should be prevented, conditions
which require mutual interest he
tween the forest officials and the
people.
1t is hoped that through the pro
posed direct contact between the
local forest officials and a Mining
Congress Committee, a better under
standing can be reached, unfair crit
icism be silenced and fair demands
in behalf of the mining men and
the community generally may be
promptly and carefully met.
Editors Note:-Robt. E. Tally.
Mine Superintendent OF the United
Verde Copper Company, has recent
ly been appointed Chairman of the
Committee on Forest Relations OF
the American Mining Congress-
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