Hyder Alaska miner., 1919-11-21
RYDER, ALASKA, November 21, 1919
MINING INDUSTRIES PART

MlNING INDUSTRY, 5 PART
 It is estimated that the combined
 taxes paid by the mining industry in all
 it's branches during 1917 amounted to the almost incredible total of seven hun
 dred and seventy million dollars; or abont thirty-five per cent of the total corporation taxes of the Nation. And that is not all. The excess profits and war taxes are expected to extractnear- ly two hundred million more-when the revenue department is able to interpret it's own measure and thus be in posi- tion to tell the miner what further sum he must pay to help clear away the eff fleets of the Great War says Northwest
 Mining Truth.
 These figures will tell. in language intelligib'e to all, the true value of the mining industry to the Naticn. Mr. Hartman, the railroad wizard, once figured out that it was responsible for over sixty-five per cent of all the carry ing trade of the United States and we now know that it pays thirty-fve per cent of all corporation taxes. And yet in view of this, it is allowed to languish in uncertainty as callow office holders in Washington null over the interpre- tation of complicated laws.
 What these fellows connot understand from point of vantage in swivel chair, is that mine is wasting asset and that it wastes in direct proportion to the amount of ore removed. They argue that mine paying so much this year, should be good for the same amount next year and possibly more the year following. To their addled brains mine is but manufacturing proposition con- trolled by definite output and definite profit.
 During the war, and since, mining operators have been in the front rank of patriotism and generosity. They feel though that they should now be relieved of the absurd uncertainty under which they have operated since the excess profits tax was passed just two years ago. The appointment of we'll known engineers and operators to aid the rev. enue department in arriving at a just con fusion is a good one-if their ad- vice be followed. Our experience leads us to expect nothing of the kind, how ever, Where technical knowledge is placed against bra!n-voids of official Washington it usually comes off second best. If, therefore, MT. w. Bradley, of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mine, and twenty associates appointed as ad- visers to department unable to tell where ''it is at, succeed in putting it back upon the trail of equity, we shall be surprised and will cheerfully admit that these gentlemen have again shown their right to be counted among the lea ders of the mining industry.
 Alaska is noted as the summer resi- dence of the Alaskan Engineering Com mission and cannery operatives. It's resources are mining promoters and stock certificates. Its principal draw backs are James Wickersham and the political party in power. Alaska raises the best crop of politicians of any coun- try outside of Mexico. It is famous for it's government commissions and the unreliability of their reports. The cheif diversion of it's population is cussing the road commission and paying fue bills. Many people in the States still Alaska as part of the Dom nion of Canada. to judge by the letters received. The climate is the finest in he world, having but two seasons, winter andJuly.-Valdez Miner.