The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-06-14

ly in the hands of Prof. G. III. Cleyen-
ger of Stanford university, who Is at
tached to the metaliurgical consulting
STAFF of the bureau. The work con-
templated will include an investiga-
ton of production. extensive expert
mentation and research work and a
study of means to prevent waste. Such
preliminary information as Is at hand
shows that small consumers of cyan
ide throughout the United States are
having great difficulty in securing sur
iicient supplies of the product. The
condition of the larger companies Is
said to be somewhat better.
Suspension of imports OF CYANIDE
and the diversion of metallic sodium to
war uses are given by manufacturers
as the principal causes for the pres
ent shortage of cyanide. England Is
understood to be having difficulty in
supplying the needs of South Africa
and Canada. An unverlfed report has
reached the bureau of mines to the
effect that the citrus fruit growers
now are using more cyanide than is
the mining industry.
Prof. Clevenger, who will be the
principal figure in this investigation,
IL graduate of the South Dakota
school of mines and Columbia school
of mines He has been a member OF
the faculty at Stanford university
since 1905, except for short periods
during which he accepted private met
allurgical employment. He now is re-
search professor and metallurgist at
Stanford university He has been a
consulting metallurgist on the bureau
of mines staff for three years.
Stealing Explosives.
Thefts of explosives throughout the
country, ON coming to the attention OF
the bureau of mines men, are being re-
ported to Director Manning. The num-
Der of thefts leads. to the belief that
more of this class of burglary is being
INDUCED in on a more extended scale
than Is known generally.
bill providing for the formula
ton of regulations for the handling of
explosives has been reported favorably
by the committee on mines and mining
and is now on the house calendar. The
passage of this BILL Director Manning
believes, will make possible the reduc-
ton of the amount of explosives find
ing their way into the hands of unau-
thorized persons, where serious dam
a IN dir M,
stances.
Negotiations looking to the raising
of the English embargo on ferroman-
ganese are in progress Both the COM
mittee on raw materials of the council
of national defense and the bureau of
foreign and domestic commerce have
been active in the effort to secure
larger supply of this much needed al
10y. 1t Is understood to be the inten-
ton to have consignments made to the
department of commerce for equitable
distribution among purchasers. 1t had
been hoped that this arrangement
would be consummated before now
but many unexpected delays have been
encountered. 1t Is believed, however,
that the arrangement will be complet-
ed within a few days.
Soldiers and Assessment.
Without a protesting vote the sem
ate passed a bill to relieve the own
ers of mining claims, who have been
mustered into the military or naval
pnp Of Matt nl
forming assessment work on their
claims during the term of their SER
vice Several similar bills have been
introduced in the house. The enact
ment of a law to the end sought by
these bills is practically assured.
Confronted as is the country with
serious situation with respect to tin,
Van III. Manning. director of the bur-
eau of mines, has suggested to the
council of national defense that a
separate committee be named to lend
its assistance to the effort to better
existing conditions.
AS means of increasing the eff,
cheney of the bureau of mines organ,
ization. the explosives laboratory has
been placed under the direction of a |
chief chemist This laboratory has
been under the direction of the min, I,
ing division.
Criticism of Defense Board.
Bitter criticism of the council of ma,
tional defense has been INDUCED in on
each side of the capitol during tho
past week. The senate went so far as
to adopt an amendment to the appro.
priation for the council directing that
II obey the law which created it
While many refuse to believe that the
council has done more than to get re.
suits in an emergency, 1t is noticeable !
that the committee on raw materials |
and the cooperative committees in |
charge of subjects pertaining to min.
ing have not been criticised. In fact
those of the lawmakers who are ia, |
miliar with the work which has been |
done by this section of the council |
speak in the highest terms of the man
ner in (which it is being conducted, |
Many expressed the hope that the new
government departments be created to |
take over the work which the council |
is attempting to perform, 1t is point