The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-07-09
MINE ASSESSMENT WORK
CANNOT BE OMITTED IN 1920

Former State Senator Ravenel Mac
beth. Secretary and executive of the
Idaho Mining Association, is making
a tour of the state in the interest OF
his work. He has many things TO
report about his long stay in the cap
ital at Washington touching the ex-
cess profits act as II affects ldaho
mining. etc, all OF which will be read
with absorbing interest. Senator
Macbeth says:
1.-The operation OF the excess profits
tax in its effect upon the mining in
dustry has undoubtedly prevented the
unhampered development of mining
properties throughout the west.
ut has discouraged the investment
OF money in the development OF this
industry as we'll as many other indus
tries which in the past have been
building up the west. The fact that
the law In its operation takes from
the investor practically all profits In
excess of per cent on graduated
scale, has had the effect of stirling
incentive for Investment, for capital
will not invest in mining properties
on 8 per cent basis. The mining
industry of the country cannot sur
vive this burden much longer.
Another burden that seriously
threatens the mining industry is the
proposed increase Of 25h per cent in
freight, which, IL granted the rail
roads, will be a serious blow to many
properties.
"Inasmuch as Congress did not pass
an act relieving claim owners from
assessment work in 1920, and as Con-
gress will not convene until Decem.
Der 5th next, unless an extra session
is called by the President, there is no
hope that assessment work on mining
claims will be exempted this year, and
claim owners should prepare to do
their assessment work as it cannot be
avoided.
II want to say a few words about
the Pittman act, under the provisions
Of which 1t Is mandatory upon the
minis to replace at 81 an ounce the
270,000,000 ounces OF silver melted
from coin into bullion and sold to our
allies during the war at that price.
have kept in touch with this silver
situation and feel confident that the
depression is not due to normal
interests in this country and abroad to
keep the price of silver below 81, with
a hope of regaining revision of the
Pittman act at the next session of
Congress. have discussed this
phase of the matter with the Senators
and Congressman from the silver pro-
ducing states and found they would
resist to man any such effort.
Another matter which is of deep
concern to the mining industry and
which has had my attention is the
proposed legislation to relieve the
mining industry from the burden i'm
posed upon it in the royalty demanded
by the Minerals Separation Company,
which holds the patent rights to the
flotation process. l have great hopes
that the industry may be relieved
somewhat through federal legislation.
Il recently had the honor to be
appointed by Governor Davis one OF
the delegates to the conference at
Washington of the delegates of the
thirteen western public land states
and was made secretary of that con
ference. The conference was called
to urge upon Congress the appropria-
ton of funds to meet the provisions
of the Bankhead act, which provides
that the government shall put up dol
lar for dollar with the several states
in the construction of state highways.
All the highway work now being car
ried on in Idaho is being done under
the Bankhead act in cooperation with
state aid.
1T developed at the meeting that
Idaho stood foremost among the west
ern public land states in the amount
of bonds provided for the building of
public highways, the bonds voted be-
ing more than $14.00O,OO0. There is
now only available from federal
sources sum slightly in excess of
$3,000,000. Itsis quite regrettable that
the federal government has not met
the responsibility which rests upon it
in this matter. but | have strong
hopes that the next Congress will
meet the situation. The building of
state highways eventually means
feeders into certain mining districts
which are sorely in need of trans
DOrtatiOn facilities 4"