The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-05-03
Takes to Mining

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Takes to Mining
The government is about to engage
in the mining business! It will GER
tainly go in for some other. minerals.
Outside the precious metals, the gov
ernment proposes to mine only metals
which would not complicate the ex-
listing mining situation, or compete
with products already in the surplus
class. For example, there would be no
mining OF copper, lead Of zinc.
Most important Of the metals under
consideration. besides gold and silver,
are tin, quicksilver. chromium, nickel,
tungsten, anthony, and manganese.
Incidentally, there is plenty Of politi-
cal dynamite in the last, perhaps
enough to eliminate it. Not directly
but Indirectly. The idea Is. II man.
ganese mining were developed on a
big scale in this country, there might
be q move later on to put a sharp
tariff on 1t, w%hereupon the steel COM
panies would have to pay higher prices
than at present, which in turn would
make their competition with Belgian
steel-its cost lowered in the United
States By the recently approved reclp-
rocal trade treaty-more difficult.
In addition to these metals. two
other minerals are under consideration.
These are special grades of mica and
graphite.
There Is a bill pending in the SEN
ate. introduced by Senator James p.
Pope of Idaho. which would allocate
a hundred million dollars from the
work relief fund for mining. This bill
Is not expected to pass. But while
this is down the same street, the bill
is not necessary II the administration
wants to act. It has plenty of authority
under existins. law. The projects could
be gotten under way as pure work re-
lief on force account, as operations
not arranged by contracts are called.
Experts Approve
The gold and silver mining, decision
to enter which has practically been
made, are almost ideal from the gov
eminent standpoint. The experts advis-
ing President Roosevelt insist there is
no doubt whatever that mines could
be worked by the government-for
gold and silver-which would produce
enough not only to pay the wages Of
the men employed, and the total cost
of operation, but actually to yield a
small profit besides. And the beauty
Of the plan, they point out, is that
there would be no element whatever
Of competition with private business.
The government would just take the
gold and silver and put 1t In the treas
ury. II there were no profit at all, no
harm would be done. If there were a
profit II would be turned back to the
work relief fund for employment in
other directions.
Some Of the other metals mentioned,
especially tin and nickel, are regarded
as vital from a national defense stand
point. This country is deficient In
then. Mining experts are most INK
ious to undertake development in this
direction.
The main problem Of course is that
there is q very large stranded mining
population. located for the most part
near at hand to the points proposed
for these government operations. The
men are skilled miners, so that no
training would be necessary. They
would be far happier, carrying on their
accustomed work, It is argued, than In
working on grade crossings or on pub
uc roads, for example. Anyway, there