The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-02-08
Thursday. February s, 1928.
LEGISLATURE AND BUREAU OF
MINES AND GEOLOGY.

MINES AND GEOLOGY.
The Miner has endeavored TO brinf
to public attention what it believes t.
be a serious mistake in eliminating
altogether the appropriation for the
support of the state bureau of mines
and geology in the budget submitted
by Governor Moore to the legislature
and we are still hopeful that the leg
islature will recognize and remedy the
mistake by making an appropriation
at least on the same basis as that pro-
posed for the development of agricul-
tural resources AS to the Importance
OF the work of the bureau there can
be no division of opinion The value
of its work has already been proved
by tangible and practical results, and
the benefits already derived by the
state are many times greater than the
appropriation asked for its support
during the coming two years The
growth and prosperity of the state
depends in great measure upon the
discovery and development of its nat
ural resources. and the bureau of
mines and geology provides the means
by which this can be brought about.
II is an authorized bureau of in
formation through which opportuni-
ties for development enterprises are
made known and capital is attracted
TO the state. To deprive the state of
this agency is not economy; it is re-
action that win directly retard the
advancement of the state There
might be some excuse for cutting out
the appropriation temporarily if it
would relieve the taxpayers of per-
ceptible burden, but it will not. Com
pared with the amount that will be
appropriated for the development of
agricultural resources. the amount is
insignificant indeed, and it should be /
borne in mind that the appropriation |
asked for the bureau of mines and |
$4,000, is all that is asked for
the development of the mineral and
kindred resources. If this is turned
down by the legislature. the industry
that first placed Idaho on the map. the
industry that brings more money into
the state than any other that distrib-
ltes the money more widely among
he people whether the investment
proves profitable or not, and the in
iustry that must be relied upon to
conquer the mountainous wastes
make them habitable and enrich the
tate, win receive absolutely nothing
Il the way of support at the hands of
he Legislature. If this be economy,
hen the sooner we get back to the old
ystem Of making reasonable and in
elligent appropriations for the devel-
pment of the states latent resources
he better.
Another important phase of the APP
ropriation asked for the bureau of
lines and geology is that unless it is a
lade the state will lose the great ad- er
antage of cooperative work with the tn
nited states bureau of mines The is
deral government through the bur tn
IN of mines maintains an expert lie
entail station in connection with the
ate university at Moscow which CO. =
'erates with the state bureau in the
luton of metallurgical problems,
DIRK which has already been of ire o.,
endous value to the mining industry hi,
roughout the state This station is he
so an important adjunct to the on
hool of mines. This together with me
operative field work with the fed 90
al bureau viii be lost unless an APP 10
opriauon is made for the mainte- On,
nee of the state bureau. ~,