The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-07-07
DEPARTMENT OF MINES
BEING STRONGLY URGED.
SHOWS NECESSITY FROM THE
STANDPOINT OF Gov
EMINENT.

Senator Shortridge in supporting
his contention that there should be
q separate federal department estab-
lished cas- proposed in hs bill reported
last week. in recognition of the ba-
sic Importance Of the mining indus
try, said in part as follows:
"A grave danger exists in that
there is now no adequate system of
obtaining and recording data relative
to the mineral industries such as was
shown to be of first importance to the
/ successful prosecution of the war
such data would even in peace time
/ be of inestimable service to the gov
eminent and the publ Gin coordinat-
ing and bringing about a wise bal
ance of Development of resources as a
basis for trade
mo adequate system now exists for
investigation or inspection of the
manufacture and handling of explo-
sives and the misuse of these mater
als is a constant source of danger !
and loss to the public. While respon-
.sibility must in the main rest upon |
the states for regulation, the power /
to investigate and report together |
with the power to regulate transport !
in interstate commerce, may be pro-
perly used TO remove a large portion
of this danger.
Power and Fuel.
Power development is at the heart
of all industry, and only by introduce
ing more power will it be possible to
sustain and enlarge American indus
tries of all kinds without opening the
doors to the unlimited influx of labor
from all the world Power comes
from water and fuel. and any large
schemes for cheaper power develop
ment can only be realized with f
thorough knowledge of the distribu- {
ton and character of the water and
fuels available. For this reason it is 5
proposed 10 centralize in the depart q
nent of mines and mineral resources
he activities of the federal govern =
nent as regards power n
Ten years ago. in response to an a
nsistent demand for a department of "
mines a bureau of mining. metallur- d
~ and mineral technology VISA Gre d
ted in the department of the inter- s.
or by congress. In report favoring
establishment of such bureau made e
W the house committee on mines
nd mining (5sth congress list ses-
ion export 1lSD this statement was Il
iade. II
Recognition Of the Industry. f
"What the congress may ultim- ~ ~
tely do toward further recognition c,
this industry must necessarily be c.
reely a matter of growth as the sit n
alton develops Several of the ex- ia
'utive departments have started as &C
lreaus and have been enlarged from
me to time as their work and its
lportance grew. The committee IN
'pes that such may be the case he
ith the legislation under contempla- Ia
IN gr'
"The United States is the largest A. 30
oducer of minerals in the world and No
e of the few powers which has no mi
partment of mines. With the larg- 4;
industry our government has done Ma
ativesly the least TO help the min ella
end has been repeatedly forced in
? face Of grave national emergency Z
time of war or domestic strife to ~ ~
ort to temporary organization in bea
Ter to collect and compile the ne Eas
sarv facts TO saw notbinq of do gre
-. ner
ii'ii."E pO'icy' An INFORMED min
IT, fact-hnding organization in in No
ate touch with all branches of the min
leral industry is Of first import =, j.
e and will be a national asset" /. I