Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-05
BIOLOGISTS AND THE WAR-By Frederic j. Haskin

field who have quickly located and estimated the
amount and quality of our deposits. When valu-
able deposit is located, the fact is announced
through the newspapers, and the government de-
mand is depnded upon to stimulate DEVELOPMENT.
One of the greatest problems has been to find a
supply of manganese ores. Our peace time SUD-
plies of this necessary material of the industry
came from Brazil, India and the Caucasus. All of
these sources now cut off, except Brazil, and the
imports from that country greatly reduced be-
cause we cannot spare the shipping During the
past year the geological survey has investigated
every manganese mine, prospect or deposit of which
1t has been able to learn. Our present production
of the is five times what it in 1916, we are
able to produce about one-third of all we need,
and the production is steadily growing.
During peace time the ores which are sought
most assiduously those of the precious metals
and especially of gold and silver. These what
nine out of ten prospectors seek primarily and
the cause of all the most spectacular developments
of mining industry. In the present crisis, these
metals of the slightest interest. The only
precious metal which is vital to in the
war is platinum. The geological survey has made
careful estimate of the existing stores of this
metal and has found that they dangerously
small 1t advocates not only that the of plati-
mum IN the manufacture or JeWelry be stopped;
but that all persons who platinum jewelry at
send it to re6ners who will guarantee that
the metal be used for necessary industrial purposes
The possession of platinum cigarette case mesh
bag should be recognized as unpatriotic. One Of
the government biologists who engaged in
platinum Investigations impressed with the
scarcity of the metal that he had all the platinum
links removed from a watch chain of alternating
gold and platinum, and sent the metal to a refner
We able to produce just about per cent o:
the platinum which need, and there
known undeveloped deposits. although survey
biologists seeking them in Alaska.
The geological survey has been able to rendef
another important service to the nation by reason
of it's close touch with the mining industry. 1t is
probably the agency in the nation which knows
exactly how much of every mineral is being pro-
duced Its services to the fuel administration have
been invaluable, it keeps daily record of coal
production; while of aluminium, copper, lead and
zine production it has weekly reports Various war
boards are able to obtain from il short notice
accurate reports upon the quantity available of any
mineral material which is needed.
One of the most interesting contributions of the
survey the service OF the country is that of men.
The war has created a great need for trained to-
pographers and topographic engineers These are
needed to make military maps, often from air
planes to map and select camp sites, to place bat
teries, and point guns. The survey has furnished
more than so technically trained topographers to
the army and more than 90 of these have received
commissions. The demand is not yet met, however,
and the survey is conducting a school in which
promising candidates given special training to
fit them for the work.
The war work of the geological survey is
striking illustration of the dependence which the
nation must place in this crisis upon its scientific
organizations, which have interests to serve but
those of the nation whole.