The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-04
DRAFT Is Depicting
GOLD MINE WORKERS
Government Said to Be Con.
sidering Plan to Place Them
in Deferred Glasses.
INDUSTRY IS WANING
INDUSTRY IS WANING
Sealing Down Of Taxes and
Bonus on Output Suggested
to Aid Operations.

Two plans for the stimulation n tho
gold mining industry are under consli.
Grafton by Federal authorities, accord
ing to advices received here yesterday
The FIRST, which is more generally IA
yored, Is the reduction OF operating costs
by fixing maximum prices on supplies
purchased by the mining companies by
creating a better supply of labor through
placing miners In deferred draft classic
cation and through Federal control Of the
la Dor supply and by a scaling down u
taxation on such companies. The other
plan ID to grant a bonus or subsidy Of 4
certain number OF dollars on every oun'e
mined, n subsidy sufficient to compensate
for any loss on operation. IL not SUFFICIENT
to guarantee a profit.
In connection with these plans, Hal.
lock w. Seaman, a practical mining man
and president Of the Trojan Mining Com
pany Of Deadwood. S. D., is quoted by
Dow. Jones d Co. as saying In part.
Many gold mines are already closed
many are running on reduced capacity,
more are robbing their richer slopes and
drawing upon their reserves, with at
tendant irreparable loss of low grade
ores. too lean to work under present
conditions. but that prior to the war
formed their staple tonnage, and all viii
be forced to suspend operations entirely
unless drastic relief Is administered
forth with. AS a measure of relief We
suggest:
Il. That men engaged in the gold
mining industry be given deferred classi-
fcation under the selective draft regu-
lations. placing them at least on an
equal basis with men engaged In agri-
culture.
"2 That maximum prices be fixed for
IT, ha ir,ltt
while the mines are already sadly
crippled by loss of man power through
the draft. yet We are convinced that
deferred classification will tend to in
sure a supply Of fairly efficient labor al
reasonable war time wages, and that
both the labor and wage questions will
adjust themselves automatically. Such
a course will at least allow the industry
to live under strenuous conditions and
to contribute its quota OF aid to the war
1t will. moreover bring to the Govern
ment an increased supply of gold for
the support of its widely extended obli-
cations payable in gold"
Mr.. Seaman finds there are only two
| sources from which our gold supply can
be increased. one by cashing in our
trade balance with foreign ma
tons and the other by digging It
out OF the ground. 1T Is essential"
he continues, that We exercise to the
fullest extent our possibilities in both
directions. 1t is both bad faith and
cowardly to drain unnecessarily our al
lies to the extent that we can provide
| remedy and at the same time work a
positive benefit to ourselves.
England and her colonies rank first
In the production of the worlds supply
OF new gold. At the very beginning a
the war England took immediate anc
sympathetic steps, not only to conserve,
but to stimulate wherever and however
possible her gold output from the mines
She safeguarded both the supply OF la
| Dor and materials needed in the indus
| try. The English operators are now re
, titionirig their Government for increa sed
! protection. owing to the more uutavor-
able conditions that now obtain. The
| United States must likewise adopt cor
| structive policy in this regard or suffe-
| the consequences OF a wholesale shut
| down OF our distinctive gold mines
| Such an outcome would amount TO ma q
tional disaster and spell financial har-
| kari.
THE first consideration Is that OF la
| Dor, and the next the matter Of supplies.
such az explosives fuel, cyanide, drill
! steel, &c. The war draft is depicting
| our mines Of their young men, and FOR
collateral reasons OF their older men as
well. Something must be done and done
| quickly"