The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-02-01
State Bureau of Mines and Geology.
Address of Professor Soper Before Min
ing Association.
will be asked states.

ushment of bureau of mines and
1oology to be located at the state
,,niversity at Moscow, where it would
~ conducted in cooperation with the
limited States bureau OF mines and
would receive financial support from
tbe federal government equal to that
nroyided by the state. The Idaho
Mining association at the recent meet
mo strongly advocated the establish
ment of the bureau by the state, fol-
lowing an address on the. subject by
professor E. K. Soper. of the mining
engineering department of the state
university. The advantages of the
bureau were strikingly brought out by
professor Soper, whose remarks are
here reproduced;
Work of Mines Bureau.
"The United States bureau of mines
was organized only two or three years
ago. to take over the work in fuel
testing, formerly done by the United
States geological survey, and in addi-
ton to carry on Investigations to-
ward furthering the mining and met
allurgical industries and improving the
welfare of those engaged in mining.
1.-THE great benefits derived from
the work of the United States bureau
of mines, even in the short time dur
ing which it has been in existence,
are to be seen on every hand; in eff
forts to minimize the danger of mine
explosions; in it's safety inyestiga-
tons; in its mine rescue service and
first aid work; in it's educational cam
paign among the Workmen and in the
prevention of waste in mining. In ad-
dition the bureau of mines has ac-
complished much through its inyesti-
cations of more efficient mining, mill
ing and metallurgical methods in its
experiments to determine workable
methods for the treatment of low
grade and complex ores; in it's petro-
leum and natural gas Investigations,
and in many other activities.
Appropriations Limited.
Notwithstanding the value of the
work already accomplished, little
more than a start has been made. The
federal bureau of mines, because of
the limited appropriations, can not
begin to do the work which the min
ing industry demands. Even with in
creased appropriations, there are
many problems peculiar to individual
states which can be solved only by
the active cooperation Of the states
concerned. Moreover, work in the
various mining states can be done in
much greater detail, and investiga-
tions and surveys can be conducted
with far more thoroughness under the
active support and direction of the
various states.
This can best be accomplished
through state mining experiment sta
tions or state mining bureaus, coop
Grating with the United States bur
eau of Mines just as nearly all the
states maintain state geological sur
veys, cooperating with the United
States geological survey.
western states have established min
ing experiment stations or mining bu-
reaus, and under recent agreements
with the United States bureau OF
mines the state organizations cooper
ate with the federal bureau.
among the states. which maintain
mining experiment stations or state
mining bureau, most of which are IN
connection with the school of mines
of the respective states, are: Arizona
California, Colorado, Minnesota, Mis-
souri,, oregon and Utah.
How Plan Works.
1.-THE cooperative plan under which
most of these organizations work Is
essentially as follows: The work is
under the direction Of the officials OF
the state experiment stations and OF
engineers and metallurgists OF the
United States bureau of mines as
signed to duty at these state expert
ment stations by special arrangement
with the federal bureau. The operat-
ing expenses are thus shared by the
state and federal government, the
latter usually paying the greater par
and never less than half Under such
a cooperative agreement, for every
dollar appropriated by the state 1oi
the support of a state mining bureau
the federal government approprlates
an equal amount, the total to be used
entirely within that state for re-
search or for other activities relat-
ing to the mining industry. The re-
suits of the Investigations thus car
ried on are published at the expense
of the federal bureau. and distributed
free to all persons interested.
IAN agreement has just been reacn
ed between the mining department
the University of Idaho and the Unit
ed States bureau of mines FOR coop
erative work in Idaho as soon as IN
state shall establish suitable organ
ization such as state mining experi
ment station, where the work ca
be directed. The federal bureau
mines agrees to appropriate fund
equal in amount to those appropria'
"a nv the state, ana, in addition, I