White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-10
by II. CLARK

The passing OF the years will see
this country with fewer coal mines.
That is the prophecy of men in close
contact with the industry state
ment that Is based upon sterilization
OF production. Peter methods OF
mining have already lad a noticeable
effect in the regularity of production.
Storage, the bane of the operators, is
now getting belated attention. I'm
proved methods of storage ane in the
process Of evolution. Other forward
movements have been designed to
stabilize the coal mining industry to
a plane where coal mines will be
maintained with high standards of
business methods-and will therefore
be fewer, and with the ultimate re-
suit that a coal miner may depend
upon steady work and at steady
wages the year round.
This proposed sterilization has had
its inception in the constant disor-
ders in the industry between oper-
ators and miners. At present he
mines operate in seasons. For peri
DDS in the year mines are busy day
and night. Then there are periods
in the same year when these same
mines are closed down. This condi-
ton is due TO the economic law of
supply and demand; but it is an eco
monte condition that can be correct
ed, or at least improved.
When sterilization the
whole country will be benefited.
course. fever miners; but the min
ers will be skilled workers, earning
steady wages, and will be happier.
The whole industry will be raised to
a higher degree of efficiency. A ire
mendous amount of capital now in
vested In mines operating only a part
of each year will be available for
other enterprises. Strikes, which are
due primarily to unsteady labor, will
at least be fewer.
Another important reaction result
ing from the elevation OF thu coal
industry will be in the personnel AS a
whole. Mining. as a vocation, will
appeal to many more men Il an /.
does now. Constantly recurring dis.
orders and unsteady work have kept
many men from the mining fields.
That it has a strong appeal as n pro
fession is agreed. and sterilization
will strengthen its appeal.
Progressive educational institu-
tons realize this condition. An es-
tablished coal industry opens up to
the coal mining schools opportunity
TO educate the young mining engi-
neers needed in one of the Creates;
productive industries of the world.
Occupying a unique position ir SO
far as opportunity is concerned is
the Carnegie Institute of Technology
at Pittsbuig. Pa. At Carnegie a co.
operative department of mining en-
cheering has been established for
several years. The department has
courses not only for mining engineers
but for young coal miners desiring TO
train as mine foremen and fire bosses
for young men limited. perhaps, In
means and education to become ex-
ecutiye workers. All of the work
done by the department of mining Is
on a cooperative basis with two units.
One Is in connection with the United
States bureau of mines. the expert
mental station of which is located
adjacent to the college and which Is
the largest and most modern station
In the world. The other association
Is with an advisory committee COM
posed of mine operators and engi-
neers in the Pittsburg district
The advisory board of mine opera
tors and engineers. numbering TWEEN
~ members, advises on all matters
pertaining 10 the mining courses.
This advice aids in giving to the
courses of instruction the practical
and business features which are acc
essary TO develop the type of mining
men especially needed at this time.
The mine operators on the board
render another service. They ire
~quently send young and promising
employees to the school and assist
them financially. This service gives
the bituminous coal industry the dis
tiuction of being the first industry in
the United States to help employees
by such a cooperative plan.
In the coal mining courses at Car
negie students are not taught solely
by the textbook method. Instead
they are given real experience In
mining and they don't have To go
any farther than two flights OF steps
TO get actual drilling and e~xcavating
experience. Beneath the college OF
engineering, which houses the ne
partment of mining. is the only mine
at any college east of the mississippi.
The tunnel of the mine runs on
the third or bottom bench ots what
serves as a heavy mining machinery
laboratory. A 42-inch gauge track
- H. .a-AaHAHfnG nNfnnd