The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-04-18
MINERAL CONTROL BILL.
now UNDER DISCUSSION
GENERALLY FAVORED BUT SOME
CHANGES IN THE PRESENT
DRAFT ARE FAVORED.

nave uccH picscHtcu " tle IouSc
committee on mines and mining in
support Of proposed bill ito provide
further for the national security and
defense by encouraging the produce
ton, conserving the supply and con-
trolling the distribution of those ores,
metals and minerals which formerly
have been largely imported, or OF
which there is or may be an made
qpate supply" A few voices have been
raised against the bill. All govern
mental agencies are in favor Of the
measure, including the secretary of
the interior, despite the fact that the
powers conferred by the bill are not
vested in him. as many think they
should be-
IrsalIs Secs Danger to Major Metal
Industry.
w. r. Ingalls, editor Of the Engin-
eering and Mining Journal, told the
committee that certain of the miner
ais named in the bill occur in this
country under such conditions that it
Is extremely doubtful whether any,
thing at all can be done to increase
their production materially. Mr.. In
gals called attention to the fact that
the original draft of the bill included
copper and the other major metals,
but that their elimination from the
list of minerals in the bill does not
prevent interference with the great
Industries engaged In the handling of
the major metals. Through the pow
ers given over the minor minerals. he
expressed the fear that the attempt
would be made to exert a measure Of
control over the major metals. Ores
of copper, he said, frequently are ores
of arsenic. Ores Of zinc largely are
ores of sulphur. That there may be
no doubt as to the intention of the
law Mr.. Ingalls, urged that the lam
guage of the measure be made suffi-
GENTLY specific to exclude the major
metals. In addition, he advised that
the bill should be confined to those
minerals in which crisis exists. The
bill should be changed, he said, 80
that no one would have the right to
interfere with mining business be-
ing conducted efficiently by private
owners" A more practical plan. Mr..
ingalls, said. would be to create a
United tSates mining corporation.
with all the capital stock owned by the
United States, and with sufficient cap
ital to accomplish the purpose desired
Another way to handle the matter
suggested by Mr.. ingalls, would be the
appropriation of s5O,0000OO, to DO
placed at the disposal of the secre
tary of the interior with simple in
structions to go out and get the min
erals needed.
Mineral Industry Met War Test.
The mineral industry has met the
war time test in remarkable way,
said George Otis Smith. director of
the u. S. geological survey. when he
appeared before the committee. Since
the war began, he pointed out, the
production of zinc and alu-
minum has doubled; copper produc-
ton has increased 80 per cent; lead,
40 per cent iron. rs per cent, in ex-
cess Of 1914. In the items mentioned,
the increase has been 100000 tons.
he said. To express it in tonnage of
ore, the increase would be several
times 100000 tons. The increase or
the annual production of magnesite
from 10000 tons annually before the
war to 10000 tons last year, and the
mining of more high grade manganese
now in a week that was mined before
the war in year, were striking exam
Piles cited by DR.. Smith.
Taking the records of last year and
the production in terms of
DR.. Smith arrived at the
following: In the case of antimony,
we produced from domestic ores about
10 per cent Of what we needed; there
fore antimony may be represented by
iV. alSchiC may NC iCpIc-
,ented by 60. bromine by 100, chromi-
am by 81. abrasives (corundum and
energy by 30. graphite by 25. magne-
site by 80. manganese by 20, molyb-
lenum by 1907 mercury by 1870, platin-
I'm by 10, pyrite by 80. potash by 10,
sulphur by 105, tin by 1.5, tungsten by
Is, vanadium by 100 and mica by 3S.
After pointing out that In mining,
nfant industries generally are orphan
Industries, DR.. Smith declared that |
here are enough natural hazards and |
hat the bill Is not to obviate these |
nut to protect the industry against the |
nan-made hazards arising from the
var situation. His argument for one
f the provisions of the bill was that /
is a matter. of national concern that
he supply should not be monopolized
y one consumer or by several con-
umers and that steps must be taken
D prevent one man from getting more
han his proportionate share Of an
rticle OF which there is only lin
ed supply. II
Baruch Favors Price Control. {
Bernard M. Baruch. chairman OF
ne war industries board, Is one of 4
10 PRINCIPAL exponents of the meas 7