Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-08-24

To cooperate with the other depart
ments of the University of Montana,
with the state mine Inspector, and
with other departments of the state
government as may be mutually bene-
fetal, and to cooperate with the
United States geological survey and
with the United States Bureau OF
Mines. in accordance with the regula-
I tons of those institutions.
Printing and distribution Of reports.
The regular and special reports of the
bureau, with proper illustrations and
maps, shall be printed and distributed
as the state board Of education may
direct. and as the interests Of the state
and of science and industry may de-
mand
DISPOSITION of mineral specimens. All
materials collected, after having served
the purposes of the bureau, shall be de-
posted either in the state museums or
in the collections of the state School
of Mines, and duplicates OF repreSen-
tative material shall be distributed to
the various educational institutions OF
the state, in such a manner as to be
of the greatest advantage TO the edu-
cational interests of the state.
Artesian Wetar
OF one aspect of the bureaus work,
I think that our mining friends nave
been at times a little critical. reter
particularly to the very comprehensive
study which has been made over a con-
siderable period of years OF the oc-
currence of arteSian water In some OF
the more arid portions OF eastern Mon-
tana. This work manifeStly has no oil
rect relationship to the mineral indus
try. On the other hand, I am satisfied
that had it not been done, financial
support for the other work OF the bu-
reau would have been cut of entlrely
during the depths of the depression.
AS one member Of the 1888 legislature
said to me, I'VE give you $4,000 any
way because you boys are showing US
farmers where to find water" This
phase of our work has been practically
completed. Indeed, we have such com
plete file of information on ground
water occurrence that when the nun
dreds of farmers who write to us every
wear give us section, township ana
range on which they are situated, our
staff can write a memorandum without
leaving the office and tell them at wlaI
depth they are likely to find wafer
and what the character OF the water
tt will be noted that the act provides
for co-operation between the state bu-
reau and the United States Geological
survey or the United States Bureau
of Mines This cooperation throughout
the life of the bureau has been OF q
rather informal character but the most
cordial relations have been maintained
with both these important federal
agencies and important information Is
freely exchanged.
In addition to the reports which have
been published, other reports are, OF
course, in process OF preparation;
among these is a report on the Gravelly
range district in southern Madison
county. a report on the Highland min
ing district south of Butte; report on
the Jardine area, and many minor In
vestigations in the fields Of geology,
mineral dressing, mining and metal
llrgy. In a small way investigation is
also being made of the availability OF I
various Montana clays for ceramic use.
Requests for Surveys
We are constantly receiving requests
for surveys and Investigations OF tnls,
that, or the other area far beyond our
capacity either in money or in starr
personnel to undertake and there has
recently been developed some demand
that the bureau should follow the prac-
tice which has been in successful use
in British Columbia for 40 years and
which has recently been maugurateo
in Arizona of establishing resident
mining engineers In the smaller ana
more active mining districts, the tunc-
tions of these engineers being to ad-
wise and counsel with prospectors ana
operators of small mines concerning |
their problems of mine development
and of search for ore. An objection may
easily be raised to this procedure,
namely that it would be interfering
with and Ilsurping the functions OF the
private consulting engineer. This dit-
ficulty does not seem to be present IN
British Columbia, where they have be-
come thoroughly accustomed to the
procedure. Whether a similar obJec-
ton is being made to the Arizona ex-
pertinent, I do not know. However, In
the main / believe that the procedure,
if properly safeguarded. and If con-
fined. as it naturally would be, TO OPP
orators who have not the funds to en-
gage the services of a competent con- |
sulting engineer, would be more than
outweighed by the advantages to be
gained through avoidance OF nl-conSld- /
cred development, premature erection
of reduction works and waSteful ex-
penditure on enterprises which are
doomed to failure from the start. At
the present moment the question is
largely a hypothetical one, however,
since if the present appropriation were
devoted to such a program 1t is doubt
full if it would be possible to maintain
more than two such district engineers.
1t is a matter. however, which should
be glad to have the members OF the
association consider and discuss.
Association CO-Operates
Mention of the association brings to
mind the fact that it would be I'M
gracious if I were to close this discus
sion without paying tribute to the very
fine cooperation which the Bureau OF
Mines and Geology has received from
the Mining Association of Montana A