Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-09
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING.

Probably no year in the history Of
the United States showed greater prog
ress in the mineral in
Tho Mining dustriss than the pres
ent ono, according to
AnoustTy. oficisls Of the bureau
of mines. Although this progress was
| undoubtedly stimulated by the war in
Europe. which is causing extremely
high prices for some Of the metals, yet
the fact remains, It is pointed out, that
mining Is being regarded more as
business and less as q speculation. and
the benefits Of business methods are
becoming evident.
Those who are in close touch with
the mining industry at the bureau say
versal few years ago have been large
ly, abolished. the mining public has
been brought to recognise the folly OF
wasteful and dangerous methods ana
gard to the conservation Of life and
health. as well as of our mineral re-
sources. Besides, the people OF the
United States realize more fully than
country's resources and the possibhi.
ties that await Intelligent and well
directed efforts at utilization
In the past, economic reasons caused
deposits of valuable metals ana inous.
trial materials to lie idle: commercial
reasons many Of them not truly eco
nomic led to the waste Of valuable con.
stituents in many ores; the recovery OF
minerals from the ground was too OFT
en- incomplete and accompanied by IN
calculated loss. and the treatment OF
ores in mills and smelters saved alto
Kether too low proportion OF the
metals sought.
Now, It ts said by those who know.
better methods are being tried on every
hand. and the unparalleled record OF
the year is largely due to the success
of these efforts.
The bureau OF mines Is endeavoring
to increase the safety and health OF
workers in the minegal industries and
to promote greater efficiency and the
prevention Of waste in the mining.
preparation and utilization Of the min
Although many difficulties have had to-
be overcome. 1t 10 believed that the
work accomplished by the bureau has
kept pace with the progress OF the
crease Of sfficisney and the lessenins
Of waste. quite naturally. are OF high
Importance in mining. and investiga-
lions with these ends in view have been
furthered to the utmost. but such work.
It Is pointed out, must come second.
that viii increase safety and health OF
the workers in mines and mills.
-
That the responsibility for the keep
ing qualities Of apples must be shared
equally between growers
Storino and handling orgapiza-
tions, on the one hands and
0PPAes. cold storage warehouse
men. on the other. is the. conclusion
reached by specialists Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture as a result Of In
vestigations to determine the factors
of greatest importance in successful
storage of the fruit, so important at
this time.
The Investigations disclosed that II
the fruit is to be stored most salts
factoriIy. and is to be got into the
hands Of the consumer In excellent
condition the growers part should pc.
nrst to produce the best possible
from decay or blemish Of any kind:
and, second. to have it carefully har-
vested at Just the proper degree Of
maturity. The handlers part should
be 50 to handle the fruit In harvesting,
hauling. grading and packing that 1t
u
jured. Growers. shippers and ware
housemen should Cooperate to get tbs
fruit into cold storage as soon as pos
sihle after 1t is harvested. The ware
housamen should then hold the fruit at
rs low Temperature as possible with
out subjecting 1t to the dangers of
freezing. The fruit should be care
fully watched. with view to dispos-
ing Of it while in good market condi-
ton.
The experts say that apples from
orchards badly infected with disease.
and apples generally that are borne on
trees lacking vigor. are likely to decay
early in their storage life, and we'll
colored portions Of the skins of apples
seldom, II ever. develop scald.
In experimental work carried on by
the department, apples were stored un-
der similar conditions when picked
immature. mature and overmature. In
all cases the apples picked at maturity
kept best. The best degree of matur-
ity, Il was found, Is something short
Of eating ripeness. but after the color
has developed beyond the leaf-green
shade.
The Importance of keeping the skins
Every bruise and scratch furnishes
possible point of entrance for fungous
organisms causing decay. Nall pune
lures and other injuries to the skin
that are 80 small as to pass unnoticed
by the average observer may result IN
serious loss through the entrance OF
decay organisms.
During the past year train accidents,
comprising hfty-four collisions and
O. twenty-six derail- |
Investigating ments, have been
4Ia1n WIeckS. bureau in charge Of /
This work at the Interstate Commerce
Commission, according to experts en-
ployed in this connection. In these nc |