The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-04
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MINERAL INDUSTRY

ST have been greatly impressed with
the rapid development of the mineral
industry in the SOUTH said DR.. Man
ming. "Alabama's great resources in
iron and coal have made it one of the
leading centers of iron and steel manu-
facture in the country. The nearby
phosphate fields in Florida and Ten
nessee have contributed to the develop
ment or an extensive fertilizer indus
try, located in the very region WHARF
the bulk of the fertilizer is consumed.
The potash bearing shales of Georgia
offer the hope that we may become
less dependent on imports for this es-
sentia1 mineral. During the war the
south has contributed an important
supply of graphite, pyrite and man
ganese to meet the special demands
The bureau greatly appreciates the co :
operation and assistance of southern
mining companies in the Investigations
undertaken. and of the interest which
your representatives in Congress have
shown in the development of the work
connected with the mineral industry
The active interest shown by Senators
Underwood and Bankhead of your state
was largely responsible for some of
the special appropriations which made
it possible for the bureau to study the
problems and needs of the new mineral
industries developed during the war.
DOIGfAO OHM xSISJ
IT am having a careful survey made
of the mineral situation in order to
determine how the value of the hu-
reau's services can be increased. /
hope and expect that much more can be
done to assist the development of the
mineral resources of the south. Plans
are being considered in the bureau to
conduct field mining Investigations re-
lating to Improvement of mining
methods. thereby decreasing costs ard
increasing efficiency; to solve some Of
the experimental problems in the treat
ment and utilization of mineral prod
ucts, in the development of new in
dustries and to furnish accurate in
formation relating to the foreign and
domestic mineral situation in order to
guide producers in marketing their
product.
Coal, coke and steel necessarily &C.
T cupy a prominent place in the work of
the bureau of mines, which was created
to be the effective instrument Of the
federal government in increasing safety.
efficiency and economic development in
the mining industry. Our coal produc-
ton before the war nearly equalled that
of Great Britain and Germany put to-
gether. only an insignificant proportion
of the total being exported
Now, with production disorganized by
fter-the-war conditions. and European
countries anxious to resume production
so that they can carry the burden OF
their war obligations this. country will
necessarily be called upon to furnish a
part at least of the fuel required for
productive industry. In this connection
i: must be remembered that every ton
OF bituminous coal sent abroad ! in the
raw state represents by-products of great
variety and value that are sold as raw
material at the lowest rate instead of
as finished products at the highest
value.
COAL USED WASTEFULLY
'Only one sixth of our coal is marketed
in the form of coal products, five-sixths
of 1t is burned in the raw state often
in plants of low rate Of efficiency.
Cheap coal is not an asset to the coun-