The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-08-09
SCARCITY OF MINERALS
FOR GOVERNMENT NEEDS
GREAT INCENTIVE FOR ACTIVITY
OF PROJECTORS AND MIN
ING ENGINEERS.

The war has interrupted the supply
of many minerals that were normally
imported. In view of present trans
portation conditions serious shortage
exists in certain minerals and will
soon develop in others. Some i'm
mediate action is imperative The
first thing is to take a careful in
ventory of American resources. We
must know where the ore deposits are,
and what has hitherto hindered their
utilization, what methods must be
used and what equipment will be
needed if an emergency demands their
rapid development.
Many properties must be re-examin-
ed from new point of view--that of
present necessity rather than of nor
NAL profit. When the shortage is
realized, the preliminary steps for re-
lief should have been completed. 1t
Is necessary and patriotic form of
mineral insurance.
Do not forget that these. are war
times and that what may have been
valueless year ago may be ''life-
saver now. An abandoned copper
prospect of 1918 might make sue
cessful pyrite mine in 1917. We are
fighting an autocratic enemy who
knows his resources to the last pound
and uses them with most efficient or
ganization. We have no kaiser, so
each of us must do his share to put
our government in the same situation.
The government needs your facts.
Minerals Needed.
Part of this essential information is
contained in the mining reports in
your files. The following minerals
are Of special Importance: Pyrite and
pyrrhotite east of the Rocky noun
tains; sulphur, manganese and man
ganiferous iron ore, lead, nitrate, chro-
mite, tin. nickel. platinum. flake gra-
phite, sheet mica. and high grade re-
fractory clay.
Will you submit list of the re-
ports Cor the reports themselves, if
you prefer) which you have on pro-
perties and deposits that may be of
Importance under the present abnor-
NAL war conditions? Give the date
of the report, the name of the engineer
who made it, the type of ore, the pre-
else location of the deposit, and it's
relation to transportation. On request
will you lend these reports for the
use of the war minerals committee, or
such appropriate department of the
government as you may specify? Re-
ports will be held confidential If you
so Indicate. Can you donate a GER
tain amount of service to the further
of properties which may
be selected as Of greatest importance?
Address the war minerals committee.
Dom 4241. interior department build
ng, Washington, d. c.
Purpose Of Committee.
The members of this committee who
ave bene designated by their re-
pective organizations are as follows.
William Young Westervelt consulting
inning engineer, chairman represent
1g the American Institute Of Mining
Engineers, and the Mining. and Metal
irgical Society of America; Alfred G.
White, mine economist United States
ureau of mines: w. o. Hotchkiss,
tate geologist Of Wisconsin, represen-
ng the geology committee of the ma
onal research council and the asso-
ation Of state biologists; David
White, chief geologist, United States
survey.
This committee has, as it's specific
irpose, the consideration of the de-
'lopment Of a sufficient supply OF
ose minerals Of which scarcity
DIV exists or may develop. 1t il in
nded to promote united action by