Show U U. U S. S Grubstake West Senators Optimistic On Mines Aid V ASHINGTON Sept 25 UP TV Western U senators Mon Monday ay seemed pretty optimistic about the Interior Interior Inte Inte- riOl departments department's plans to grubstake grubstake grubstake grub rub stake the ailing metal mines in- in I A broad outline of the program was given them at a meeting of I the conference of western senators last week I Dr James Boyd director of the bureau of mines told the group group the goal is to stimulate exploration t tion on and development de of valuable ore bodies through loans and government government gov gov- purchases of mine production production pro pro- at premium prices I If the bureau I will really go go o into it and spend some mone money it itcan itcan itcan can do what we have been trying trying- to do by special legislation for several sC years Sen McFarland D D. D Ariz said Defense Act At Funds I The money mone would come from funds authorized by bv congress cong for administration of oC programs programs outlined outlined out out- lined in to the tile defense production act The plan sounded awfully good goodo to o me me said Sen McCarran D. D DM D. I Nev Ne who presided at the luncheon luncheon luncheon lunch lunch- eon conference Both McCarran and McFarland have ha been leaders in the effort to get ct a mine aid program through congress If the bureau will carry out wholeheartedly such a program as Dr Boyd outlined it should meet most if not all the objectives ives tives of oC the proposed legislation McCarran said Tom Miller tiller assistant director of oC the bureau of mines said conferences conferences con- con are under way with the Commerce department the bureau of federal supply the munitions board and other interested units to o develop rules and procedures for or the program Spur Opening Opening- Date Dale He said the broad outlines of the I program might be worked out within a couple of weeks though thought I it t would be be- some time longer before before be- be fore rore a code of could bee be I published However he said the bureau Is I trying trying- to advance ance the opening i date It has told its field offices a program is in preparation and some reports on inactive mines which might mig qualify for aid have been cen received Furthermore Miller tiller said a great volume of inquiries is being received received re re- re- re and these letters are arc expected expected expected ex ex- ex- ex to help establish a list of properties to be considered Wartime Records The bureau al also o has available wartime records of the premium price plan an emergency method of stimulating production of oC I I scarce strategic ic and critical min min- It also has the records oCa of oC ofa ofa a mine-aid mine loan program ram operated by the Reconstruction Finance corporation Of course Miller said aid we could not act on these records alone There would have ha to be further investigations for t there here may have I been changes in local labor supplies supplies sup- sup plies lies in marketing possibilities and even cven in the condition of the properties themselves if they have been een closed for any long period He and the two senators said they agree that the basic objectives objectives tives ti of the mine aid proposals probably will be met by the bureaus bureau's bureaus bureau's bureaus bureau's bu bu- bu- bu reau's plan |