Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-02-23

| precious metal deep mines, which have
an important bearing on the increased
| production Of gold and thus directly
| upon the question of the high cost OF
| living: statistics on copper mines OF
| the United States which, as has been
| stated, would be of particular interest
| just now in view of the congressional
! investigation OF Michigan mines, and
which would be of larger interest in the
| consideration OF trust legislation; sta
! tistics of the Missouri lead and zinc
mines which. as in the case with the
| other statistics. throw light on the cost
| OF production of lead and indicate its
| monopoliza ton by few great corpo-
rations.
The tables on the metalliferous min
| Ing industries are probably typical OF
| the tables which have been suppressed
| long with so much else valuable in
formation. They include statistics of
mines classified according 20 the rela-
| ton of expense to value of production
under three heads % mines where the
value Of production leaves a margin
over expenses; CD mines operated at
loss: CD mines in which a large portion
OF the expenditure was incurred for de-
velopment work, the total expenditure
| being far in excess of the value of pro-
duction. A further classification OF
mines according to the metal produc-
ton, the other statistics showing the
cost and production of precious and
base metals have been thrown into dis
card. thus literally robbing the public
Of material which has been compiled at
cost Of tens Of thousands of dollars.
Trying to Make a Record.
'It would be a shame if the statistics,
whose preparation has consumed four
years, should be allowed 10 go to waste
because the new director. who doesn't
even claim 10 known anything about
statistics. desires 10 make q record as
business man." is the opinion of a
man familiar with the facts Of the case.
II strikes me that a man VINO would
get control OF an deliberately con-
structed building upon which a part
Of the roof remained to be completed
and would leave il unfinished and eN-
posed TO the wea ttler for the sake Of
economy would De regarded by the
world at large as very poor business
man.
The action Of the present executive
head OF the census bureau in throwing
out the mines and mining statistics
which show cost of production is. in
the opinion OF many economists and
staIisricians who have had 10 DO with
census work, a reversal OF the policy
which DR.. Durand began 10 develop IN
the Bulletin IN coal mines. and a get
ting back TO Ihe policy OF statistics for
statistics sake" instead OF statistics
collected and published SO as 70 ne ac-
cessible and useful for the next five or
ten years TO legislators, educators. the
press and to the public in general. The
TOO 10 director
the census suppressed the mines and
mining statistics is. apparently, that
census data can not. shall not. and
ought not 10 be used for showing ths
cost of production.
1t is the opinion Of government sta
tistcians Of the progressive sort that
the statistics OF mining as well as OF
manufactures collected by the bureau
Of census could be utilized for a tariff
board. The adoption OF policy which
in effect hides important facts not only
from the public but from those engaged
in the various industries. has stirred Up
q feeling Of irritation against the CEN
sus office under its present head which
may result in a. demand for congress
SIGNAL investigation.
Penny Wise Policy.
The committee appointed by Director
Harris 10 approve OF his action in re-
fusing TO publish the mines and mining
statistics, did not contain a man ia
niliar with the tables prepared in the
division charged with that work. AT
least two members Of the committee
were personally hostile 10 former Di-
rector Durani and thoroughly com
nitted To the policy which Director
Harris is now engaged in pursuing, Of
conceaiing the cost Of production. Ii
was inti-nated from responsible sources
at that time. and the publication ot
these facts will undoubtedly cause that
intination to be renewed. that mas
much as the figures are five years old.
they are obsolete AS a matter Of fact,
however, there have been no revolu-
t:onary changes in metaliiferous min
ing within the last five years, and it
is the opinion Of engineers and practi-
cal mining men that the suppressed
statistics would be authoritative to-
day.
Such are the facts which explaic
why, in order to save less than $4,000,
the present administration Of the cen
sus has thrown away tens of thousands
of dollars worth Of statistics dealing
with one Of the greatest industries OF
the country and presenting informa-
ton regarding that industry Of the ut
r1oS1 urloiic md economic value