Evening star., 1918-09-08
WHAT THB GOVERNMENT Is DOING

to sense the situation certain to be
reached in states east Of the Missis-
sippi as fall and winter draws near.
emphasizes the determination back OF
all these truly American war workers
to prosecute their particular activity
In such way as to aid most materially
those results sought to be accom-
pifshed by the war.
The demand for conservation Of all
resources Is increasing so tremendous
IN some Of the other sections east OF
the Mississippi that the fuel adminis-
tration has been forced to place
supply limit Of days on the bituminoue
coal which industrial plants may
store. The priorities division Of the
Ing the use OF materials going into
manufactures with the sole object IN
view Of restricting rail transportation
and conserving the materials needed
in the production Of war essentials.
The food administration sees as d.
rect beneficiaries Of the efficient use
of highways transport of every char
acter the following: First, the pro-
ducer, the consumer and the railroad:
second, facilitation Of delivery. con-
servation OF labor and conservation
of foodstuffs. In strongly supplement-
Ing these vital war aims. the func-
tions Of highways transport commit
play.
x.A
In almost every year since the days
Of the forty-nines, nearly seven
decades ago, California, the Golden
state, has led all others
Production in the production Of
c-,, gold. and its total out
VI 0oIo. put to the end Of last
year, $1.s72,ss1.s41, is far greater than
that Of any other state; yet accord
ing to experts Of the geological sur
vey the output Of gold in the state is
now decreasing from month to month.
The experts say that this decrease
is due not SO much to the exhaustion
Of the placers, ore bodies or veins, put
chiefly to war conditions. including the
worked in gold mines are now pros
pecting or mining metals and miner
ais. that are Immediately needed to
make munitions Of war-chrome, man
Seems to be the only mineral industry
that is losing ground in California,
for the value Of the total mineral out
put Of the state is now greater than
During the first six months Of this
year the United States mint at San
Francisco and the local smelters and
refiners. to which most of the newly
mined gold In California Is Sc sent re-. re-
$1.174,500 less. gold than during the
same period of last year. Moreover,
the decrease in the output for the last
half Of the year is likely, the experts
are closing down or are curtailing
operations The state mined less gold
last year than in 1916. and the. com,
bined deficit in the production Of gold
Il than asi $3.50. Su .oooa e1's year VIII D' A''
Skilled labor in the mines not only
costs more but IS harder to get and
keep. as many of the best men have
gone into shipbuilding or other indus
Thousands of the younger men have
gone into the Army and Navy.
Il Is said that in one mining mini oSo eountry ntry
ing the first half of this year. The
rates of freight have been increased
and difficulties of transportation have
pFsventsd the prompt delivery deli nef Of sup sup
receive a fixed price for their product
and whose profits have really been
yearly cut down, are taxed Just Ike
bx and uness
remedy is provided the result must be
a great curtailment in the production
Of gold, according to the view taken
aod sompsa aso that
in some quarters their industry ap-
pears to be viewed as non-essential,
and this view has produced some very
unfortunate results: The e,ga great sn1.: elec-
er to gold mills. pumps and dredges.
submitted a tentative priority list to
the railroad commission in which
mining was virtually listed as non
xf-l hi Net is.S hn nf
yet been passed on by the commits
sion The hardware dealers prepared
list in which mining is rated as non
essential. Agents OF these dealers that
visit the mining districts have been
disinclined to accept orders for hard
ware. and the word has been passed
along the line that the mines are to
be closed down. This rumor, however
unjuStified, has caused unrest among
the miners and has led them to seek
employment III industries that are sup
posed to be- more stable and essential
to the winning of the war and that
therefore make stronger patriotic
On the other hand, officials of the
Treasury Department are stating
right along that. next to food and am
needed war essentials.
\
Th sanitary problems constantly
arising in connection with the ad-
ministration of the
Naval Hygiene medlca, ., l aepar.men' a emu
Problems. creased in number,
importance and complexity recently
that 1t became necessary to create in
the bureau a special division to handle
this work.
Until this year sanitary problems,
while studied and discussed by the
whole medical bureau stan, were
usually referred to the officer in
charge of publications, because that