The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-08-02

OF all the nations of the world, the
United States possesses the greatest
and most varied mineral resources.
According to advance figures of the
United States geological survey, the
gross value of all raw mineral pro-
ducts for 1915 amounted to $2,37S,00o,-
900. With the development of the
arts. mining has assumed larger and
larger proportions in this country,
until today it. occupies place second
only to agriculture in Importance, and
in number of our western states
mining Is the principal industry.
In spite of the phenomenal growth
of the mining industry in this country
and its intimate relation to our ma
tional welfare which will become
still more important with the close of
the war; mining is not receiving any
thing like it's just share of federal and
state aid. This fact is well known by
statistics prepared by the United
States bureau of mines and presented
In an address by Director Van H.
Manning before the American Mining
Congress in Chicago The statistics
show that if mining We're to receive
the same consideration as agriculture,
considering the relative value of the
outputs of the two countries, its pro-
portion would be nearly four times as
much as 1t is now, or $8,018.560, in
stead Of $2.333,O75. This does not
take into account the money appro
priated for agriculture by the various
states nor under the Morrill, act, which
runs into many millions more.
Appropriations for Agriculture and
Mining.
Another interesting comparison
shows that the federal government in
1916 donated to the farmers one dol
lar for every 1895 worth of products
of the farms. 1t has donated to min
ing one dollar for every $1017 worth
of products from the mines. The per
capita contribution of the people for
the betterment of agriculture is 34Sc.
while the per capita contribution OF
the people for the betterment of min
ing is 2.3c. The total amount appro-
priated by the federal government in
behalf Of agriculture for 1915 was
$35,553,852, while the total amount
appropriated for mining was $2,333,-
OTIS. This includes the total appro-
priations of the bureau of mines and
the United States geological survey.
The per capita production of agricul-
ture is $1O294, while the per capita
production of mining is $23.26. Thus
while the value of the agricultural
production of the country is about
five times that Of the mineral produc-
ton, the per capita appropriation for
agriculture is Is times the per capita
approximation for mineral investiga-
tons.
In citing these statistics l would
not intimate for moment that agri-
culture is receiving more state and
federal aid than is justified. | believe
mining men would be among the first
to support any worthy effort to in
crease the yield of our soils, improve
the breed of our stock and better the
conditions on our farms, but 1t Will
be apparent to anyone who will ex
anime the facts that mining is not
receiving the share of federal and
state aid that 1t deserves. This is
partly due to a lack of organization
in the mining industry. developed to
a very high degree among the agri-
cultural interests, and partly to a
failure on the part of the public to
understand the real nature of mining
as business and it's Importance to
the economic and industrial welfare Of
the state and nation.
Until a few years ago there was no
federal bureau of mines and only two
or three of the states maintained
mining bureaus Under the able lead
ership of the late DR.. Joseph A.
Holmes the bureau of mines was or
ganized to take over the work In min
eral technology and fuel testing pre-
viously done by the geological survey
anu. IL carly VII ihSCoti5bIi0Ao 'c"st'> ~
furthering mining and metallurglcal
activities and improving the welfare
of those engaged in mining.
The great benefits derived from the
work of the bureau of mines, even in
the short time that it has been in ex-
istence, first under the late DR.. Holmes
and now under Director Manning, are
to be seen on every hand-in efforts
to minimize the danger of mine ex-
plosions; in it's safety investigations;
in its mines rescue work; in its edu-
cational campaign among the work
men; and in the prevention Of waste
in mining. In addition, the bureau OF
mines has accomplished much through
its investigations of more efficient
mining, milling and meallurgica
methods; in its experiments to deter
mine workable methods for the treat
ment of low grade and complex ores;
in its petroleum and natural gas in
vestigations; and in many other activ'
tiles.
Work OF tho Bureau OF Mines.
Notwithstanding the value of thu
work already accomplished, littl'
,.oorx .to, = .to ha hadn mada Thu