Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-11-04
Mines ano Mining
sEssloN oE MINING CONGKEss


SESSION OF MINING CONGRESS
At the meeting OF the American
Mining congress in Chicago next
month matters will be discussed that
are Of superlatiye Importance to the
mining industry as whole and oi
particular moment to western metai
and coal producers. Whatever action
IS taken on this questions by the
congress it is only reasonable to as
sumo, will have a notable influence
in shaping laws relating to mining
operations OF the future.
There are various subjects affect
ing mining that call for concerted
and harmonious consideration by
men who understand the business OF
mining and its needs. The men who
compose the American Mining con
eress are well qualified to take intel
Iigent action on all matters pertain
ing to the great industry and II
would seem as if their combined Ell
forts should have but one object in
view and that is to weld their inter
ests together and present splendid
Iy united and solid front in any de-
mands that they may make for legis-
lative enactments. Harmony should
be the keynote of the convention.
The two biggest subjects that will
be brought before the American Min
ing congrss are the revision of the
mining laws and the proposed land
leasing system. These matters are OF
very vital importance TO western
operators and the west should b~
strongly represented that ii may set
forth its views in no weak or un-
certain fashion. Unfortunately ii Is
on these questions that the east and
the west may hold divergent views,
but If each side Is willing to make
reasonable concessions, instead OF
maintaining an ultro-radical attitude
harmony should prevail and there
will not be a house divided against
itself. The necessity for friendly co
operation cannot be too forcibly en-
phasized if the congress is TO ac-
complish maximum results.
A bill providing for the leasing
OF coal and oil lands is now before
congress and opponents of the con-
servatlon system point out that 1t Is
only short step to make the scheme
include metal mines also. Under the
proposed leasing system Colorado
alone would pay about a quarter Of
million dollars to the federal govern
ment annually and lose the revenue
that now comes from taxing the land
Other western mining and oil state
would suffer in proportion and sc
ious hindrance would be placed upon
the development of their natural re
sources. The west must protest, and
protest vigorously, against the in
iquitious leasing bill.
Revision of the mining laws is too
important TO be left to the tender
mercies of politicians who have only
a superficial knowledge of mining
and its requirements. Representative
Foster. of Illinois, chairman Of the
house mining committee, has pre-
sented bin for the revision of min
ing laws. which contains some lam
guage and much foolishness. The
bill, contrary to the dictates of fair
ness and wisdom, was prepared
without giving the representatives of
the mining industry hearing and
highly unsatisfactory to the mining
interests. However, IL Mr.. Foster at
tends the mining congress to speak
I'm defense of his measure, as he
plans to do, maybe he can be induced
TO listen to reason from the lips OF
experts and will show a willingness
to eradicate some of the glaring de-
fects of the bill