The weekly Alaska citizen., 1917-10-29

and the appliances best adapted 10 prevent accidents. the possible i'm proyement of conditions under which mining operations are carried on, 1 the treatment of ores and other min
 eraI substances, the use ol cNpIo- siycs and electricity. the prevention
 of accidents, and other inquiries and
 technologic investigations pertinent
 to said industries" CFrom the orig iual organic act creating the Hu- reau).
 The new organic act. dated Feb ruary. 1913, gave the Bureau d much
 wider scope enlarged its purpose, and authorized work more nearly
 commensurate with the importance and needs of what is n fact the
 worlds greatest mining industry In l der the terms of it's new organic |act the Bureau is empowered to con duct investigations and inquiries that
 cover many different phases of the
 mineral industry in this country
 This act states that it shall be
 the province and duty of the Bu reau of Mines \ to conduct in duires and scientific and technolo-jc jnvestigations concerning mining, and | the preparation, treatment. and utIlt-
 zaton of mineral substances, with
 view to improving health conji tions. and increasing safety efficiency
 economic development, and eonscrF-
 ing resources through the prevention
 of waste in the mining quaryiug
 metallurgical and other mineral in dustries: to inquire into the economic
 conditions affecting these industries; i to investigate the mineral fuels ana | unfinished mineral products belong 1 ing to or for the use of the United States. with a view to their most
 efficient mining, preparation, treat-
 ment, and use; and to disseminate information concerning these subjects
 in such manner as will best carry
 out the purpose of this act.
 Tn conducting inquiries and inyes-
 tigations authorized by this act neith-
 CT the director nor any member ot the Bureau of Mines shall have any personal or private interest in ahy mine or the products of any mine under investigation, or shall accept employment from any private party i for services in the examination of any mine or private mineral proper ty, or issue any report as to the valuation or the management of any mine or other private mineral prop
 erty."
 This clause of the organic act has
 been interpreted by the Director of the Bureau to mean that no mem Der of the Bureau shall own mining interests of any kind, because 1t is
 considered absolutely essential thag the work of the Bureau be entirely impersonal and above suspicion, and this might not be possible were ones ! ,tr-r ,1nD in INN n volved. This works certain hard ship upon the members of the Bu reau, which is more than cOmpen- sated, however, by the confidence felt by all who know it in the dis, interested and impartial work of the organization. In the conduct of its investigations the Bureau has always tried to labor without bias and with
 out prejudice, and it must of neces- sity be d non-partisan organization.
 It does not favor the mine operator as against the miner, nor the miner as against the operator, but it does strive continually to advance the vel fare of all those who labor in the mineral industries, and it's work is for the benefit of these industries and for the public.
 The Bureau of Mines is young organiza tion, very much interested in some very practical and pressing problems of our national life, and much too musy to settle down to hum-drum or mere departmental rou- tine This may be due to the fact that it was organized through the energy, the dream, and the sacrifice of one man, and still carries with it something of the spirit of it's found
 CT. No man associated with the Bureau but was inspired by per sonal association with Dr. Holmes, who felt the spirit of his leadership, which was to make the Bureau the great agency for the increase of
 safety and efficiency in the mining industry of this nation. Safety and health for the workers in the min