Editorial 



American geologists are well aware that there has been in progress 

 for some time a movement looking toward the establishment of a 

 mining bureau by the United States government and the transfer to 

 this bureau of some of the functions now served by the United States 

 Geological Survey. It is also well known that there has been no little 

 difference of opinion, not only among geologists but among mining 

 engineers and mine owners as to the advisability of a separate organi- 

 zation and as to the relationship it should sustain, if established, to the 

 Geological Survey. It is gratifying to observe that influential opinion 

 is crystallizing in a very natural way and along true basic lines, and 

 that a satisfactory outcome may be anticipated. Director Smith, of 

 the Geological Survey, entertains the view that the proper line of 

 cleavage lies between that class of work which is fundamentally geo- 

 logical and which should remain with the Survey, and that class which 

 centers about engineering and allied technologic sciences and which 

 should be committed to a technologic organization ; and he is actively 

 urging this view. He feels however, that the term "mining" is too 

 broad to be properly monopolized by the new bureau, but that the 

 term "mining technology" is fitting for a bureau devoted to the non- 

 geological phases of mining investigation, and this term is used in 

 most of the bills before Congress. If this division of labor and this 

 distinction in nomenclature can be established and maintained, the 

 Geological Survey will be glad to share the field of mining investiga- 

 tions with another organization, and on this basis the Survey is exert- 

 ing its influence in favor of the establishment of such an independent 

 bureau. In view of the doubt as to the establishment of this bureau 

 during the present session of Congress, Dr. Smith has given assurance, 

 in a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, that so long as the technologi- 

 cal investigations relative to mining continue to be intrusted to the 

 Survey, it will be his endeavor to develop the proposed lines of cleavage 

 rather than to conceal them, to the end that an ultimate separation 

 may be promoted. This attitude of the Survey is greatly to be com- 

 mended, not only because of its inherent wisdom, but because it gives 



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