Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1944-04-08


land office, department of the in
terror.
Starmont charges that despite
cries of manpower shortage made
by the government, parties of engi-
neers employed by the interior de-
partmenf are securing the west,
solely for the purpose of examining
mining properties, making adverse
reports and filing contests against
the holders, on the allegations the
claims have not been fully proven
as containing minerals in CONNER
cial amounts.
The Review is asking for con-
gressional investigation of proceed
ings which 1t charges are being
conducted under veil of bureau
cratic secrecy.
From Starmont's account, it APP
pears officials of the department of
the interior have adopted public
be damned" policy, with lesser Of
ficials ordered TO give out no in
formation concerning the program.
Dealing with this peculiar and
un-American procedure, Starmont's
concluding article says:
Many informants, fearing govern
mental reprisals or unanxious to
indicated willingness to testify be-
fore congressional committee.
Their stories may or may not
point toward the existence of def
mite plan, originating at least a
dozen years ago, to nationalize the
mineral industry, prevent opening
of new deposits in the western
states, close many of the mines for
merly productive, and import min
erals from foreign lands, holding
the American deposits as standby
reserves" in case of a future emer-
gency.
Virtual stoppage of mine financ-
ing by the securities and exchange
commission, closing of gold pro-
ducers, setting of ceiling prices that
keep marginal properties idle, and
the more recent BAIT policy" of
the war production board, are cited
in support of this contention.
At Denver, Robert S. Palmer,
secretary of the Colorado Mining
association, predicts a general as
sault on the western mining indus
try" to be accompanied by inspired
articles in eastern magazines of gen.
eral circulation.
silence Imposed on Firms
II was learned yesterday that de-
partment of the interior orders i'm
posing silence on its employees have
been extended to mine operators
individual or corporate, in whose
properties federal funds are ex
pended for prospecting or explora
ton
As a condition of the agreements
the owners of the claims have beer
forced to indicate that they viii
provide no information, but await
its release from Washington.
AT Sonora, Calf, the Tulumns
county board of supervisors adopted
a resolution protesting proposed
changes in handling mineral loca
TONS" quoting members of con
gress and the secretary of the in
terror as saying the department
plans to cancel claims If certain re
quirements not contained in tn
general law are not met
At Phoenix, Ariz., an unnamei
spokesman for the department wa
quoted as saying: Any actions II
stituted by the general land offic
are due to specific abuses"
At San Francisco, where the n
glonal examiner for the land offic
described these articles as great
exaggerated" the Mining and Il
duStriaI News says IN an editorla
Several years ago, Secretary {
the Interior Harold Ickes propose
vast leasing system for miner;
lands in the United States.
Opposition was so instantaneoI
and violent that the proposal wa
'soft-pedaled,' but it never has bee
dropped. The secretary
attempting to go beyond the la,
and mt this leasing system ig1s
effect The yroper procedti
is 10 take this matter before col
gress. Before the proper committe
the facts could be fully dew
loped."