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Show ASKS Wl FOR BUREAUJF MINES Greatest Recognition of Mining Min-ing Industry Ever MaHe by Government Department The estimates of appropriations for the United States bureau of mines, for the fiscal year ending June :o, 1015. as approved by Secretary Lane of the interior in-terior department and forwarded to congress con-gress recently, arc us follows: For general expenses of the bureau $ 70,000 For investigating mlno accidents acci-dents 317,000 For the equipment of mlno rescue res-cue cars and stations 30,000 Equipment of testing plant at Pittsburg 10.000 For testing fuels 135,000 For mineral mining investigations investiga-tions 120,000 For inquiries and investigations of petroleum and natural gas.. 30,000 Wr Inspection of mines in 'Alaska 7.000 For books and publications 2,000 For lands, leases, etc., for mine rescuo cars 1,000 The total for the bureau of mines Is $752,000, an Increase ovjr tho fiscal year ending June 30, 1014. of $00,000. The item of $30,000 for the equipment of tho rescuo cars and stations is for the first time placed separately in the estimates esti-mates and represents an Increase. Tho $10,000 asked for tho equipment of the testing plant Is a new item. Tho money Is needed for tho purchase of steam and electric equipment The estimates esti-mates set forth that the present power and electric servleo plant at the experiment experi-ment station is on the eve of breakdown. break-down. For the mineral mining investigation., an increase of $20,000 is asked, from $100,000 to $120,000. For tho Inspection of mines in Alaska an Increase of $500 over tho previous year is asked. The same increase s asked for books and publications. The item for lands, leases, etc. for mine rescuo res-cuo cars is decreased $1000. Tho item of $30,000 for inquiries and Investigations of petroleum and natural gas Is for the first time placed separately sep-arately in the estimates and represents an increase. It calls for inquiries and Investigations concerning tho mining, preparation, treatment and utilisation of 1 petroleum and natural gas, with a view to economic development, and conserving resources through the prevention of waste. On this subject, the estimate contains the following statement: Tn 1911 thp total value of the petroleum petro-leum produced In this country was $134,044,752. that of the natural cas use fully produced was $74,127,521-The $74,127,521-The magnltndo of the petroleum Industry, In-dustry, the Increasing value of petroleum pe-troleum and natural gas as fuel, and the rapid decline of the yield from many fields emphasize the need of conducting inquiries concerning tho mining, treatment and utilization utiliza-tion of petroleum and natural gas with a view, to economical and efficient ef-ficient development of these resources, re-sources, as -well as Inquiries Into the economic conditions that have developed devel-oped In tho oil and gas industries, with a view to the determination of the factors governing production and the means whereby supplies of oil and gas, especially those on public lands or on lands controlled by the government, can bo utilized to best advantage In promoting tho public welfare. As illustrating the need for Inquiries In-quiries and Investigations concerning petroleum and natural gas. with a view to economic development. It is pertinent to note the following extract ex-tract from a recent report received by tho bureau of mines regarding the Cushlng field of Oklahoma: "The maximum yield of oil from the Cushlng Cush-lng field has never reached 30.000 barrels per day. For a long period It lias been considerably less than 20,000 barrels. Tho average value of oil at the highest market quotations probably lies below $20,000 per day. During this time there has been wasting from drilling wells not less than 100,000.000 cubic feet of gas, whllo the waste from flowing wells is perhnp3 In excess of 200,000.000 cubic feet, making a total daily waste of 300.000,000. which, at the domestic rate of 25 cents per thousand, thou-sand, would be $75,000 per day In fuel, or a matter of perhaps $20,000 a day to the oil producer. It is not only possible- to conserve this gns. but it also is possible In many cases to so manage the wells that they am furnish oil without allowing tho gas to escape. The main purpose of the oil producer is to get the oil and let the gas escape." There are other fleldo where enormous daily waste of gas occurs. Practically all the oil purchased by the different branches of the service of the United States has been tested by the bureau of mines. This Is particularly trmj of teats for tho navy department, these purchases amounting amount-ing during the past year to about 21,000,000 gallons of oil. Mining Notes. The American Fork mining district promises to bo a lively on in tho sum mer of 1014. An operator familiar tvlth tho district predicts that thero will bo at least five regular shippers, naming the Miller mine, the Dutchman, the Pacific, Pa-cific, the Tiellerophon and the GlobO Consolidated. The Pacific has been ship-pine ship-pine during much of the present year. Tho lower turniol of the Bull Valh-y GoU property In Washington county Is reported in 705 feet and It Is the intention in-tention of tho management to drive it 923 feol. at which point a vertical depth of about 600 Tect will have been attained. at-tained. The owners aro confident thlts tunnel will tap some of the high-crndc resources found In tho upper workings. George Weston, manager of the Hope Development Vompany. whose property is located in Plumas county, California, says the mine has now progressed to a point that will Justify ?i mill and that a ten-ton plant will probably bo erected soon. Signal Peak, one of the big properties' InR of the Seven Troughs district. Nevada. liHK will erect a ten-ton mill this winter. It ailffj is raid. Its main tunnel is now In 1500 fljfUfj feet and ore running -from $10 to fUBj a ton is being extracted at several point'; 9H1 along this channel. The ore le free SjjW; milling and the values arc easily saved. jyK Buying Idaho Mines. jHti Tt Is reported that the eastern capl- MKj talists -who arc making a deal to buy fjfD; the Charles Italnc mines at Custer arc jwM also Irving' to purcbaac the Lucky Boy property at that place. Challla Mcsscn- jjjn |