352 Scientific Intelligence. 



1912. In connection with this subject, extensive investigations 

 have been carried on, both in the physical and chemical line, of 

 explosives used in mining, also of the use of electricity and of 

 safety lamps in coal mines. 



Another important branch of the Bureau's work, prosecuted 

 especially during its third year, and to be enlarged in the future, 

 is the prevention of economic waste in mining in all its branches. 

 The statement is made that a million dollars a day is not an 

 unreasonable estimate for the waste now going on in the mineral 

 resources of the country. In mining and handling coal alone, it 

 is estimated that 250,000,000 tons per year represent the annual 

 loss, of which a considerable part could be saved, were it practic- 

 able to carry through the thorough investigation of the subject 

 which has been definitely planned. In the oil and gas fields of 

 the country, the unnecessary waste is on a similar large scale 

 aggregating some $50,000,000 per year, 80 per cent of which is 

 believed to be easily pi'eventable. During the current year a 

 waste valued at some $10,000,000 in natural gas alone has been 

 arrested, but much more could be accomplished in the same line. 

 A sum of about 1525,000 is given as an estimate of what is needed 

 to carry forward some fourteen definitely specified lines of 

 the Bureau's work ; it is much to be hoped that the National 

 and State governments may see the importance of granting the 

 necessary support. During the year, 14 bulletins, 25 technical 

 papers, and 3 miners' circulars have been published, in addition 

 to other reports ; a summary of these is given in the present 

 volume. A folded map of the United States shows the location of 

 coal fields, metalliferous ore deposits and rescue cars and stations. 

 The increase in the distribution of the Bureau's publications from 

 110,500 in 1910-11 to 832,000 in 1912-13 gives an indication of 

 the growth of the interest of the public in its work. 



2. Canada Department of Mines. — Recent publications of 

 the Department of Mines of Canada are as follows (see vol. xxxvi, 

 p. 79): 



(1) Geological Survey Branch, R. W. Brock, Director. 



Memoirs. — No. 23. Geology of the Coast and Islands between 

 the Strait of Georgia and Queen Charlotte Sound, B. C; by J. 

 Austen Bancroft. Pp. viii, 152; 17 pis., 5 figs., and a map. 



No. 29-E. Oil and Gas Prospects of the Northwest Provinces 

 of Canada; by Wtatt Malcolm. Pp. vi, 99; 9 pis., 2 figs, and 

 map. 



No. 33. The Geology of Gowganda Mining Division; by W. 

 H. Collins. Pp. vii, 121; 4 pis., 5 figs., 1 map. 



No. 37. Portions of Atlin District, British Columbia: with 

 special reference to Lode Mining; by D. D. Cairnes. Pp. ix, 

 129; 32 pis., 5 figs, and 1 map. 



Guide Books. — The following useful guide books have also 

 been issued: 



No. 1. Excursion in Eastern Quebec and the Maritime Prov- 

 inces. Part I. Pp. 1-207. Part II. Pp. 211-407. Maps and 

 illustrations. 



