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Show Fare HIE WESTERN MINERAL 2 Oregon Senators Want a Fair Why Subsidize Program for Men in Metal Mines Farmers, Force At the "1 think the only realistic PORTLAND, Ore. Mines to Close? hearing on the Department of proach to the problem of domesap- In- terior's longrange minerals policy held before the subcommittee of the U. S. Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Oregon's two senators and its congressman from the second district representing eastern Oregon testified to the effect that the proposed program was inadequate and that a realistic program should be worked out immediately Senator Wayne Morse stated, "Chrome is a metal of high strategic value in time of defense emergency. Thus it would seem to be plain common sense to work out at once a plan to supplement the present program which expires June 30, 1959. We need an adequate incentive program to insure exploration for chromite deposits in the continental United States I urge the Committee to make a careful study of incentives that will enable small chrome mining operations to explore and produce this vital defense mineral and reap reasonable returns on their investments." Senator Richard L. Neuberger stated "We seem to be arriving at a point where we could very easily immobilize our domestic mineral industry. To allow this to happen would be very poor business . . . Today Oregons mining industry faces a most uncertain future. To play its part in the event of a national emergency would be difficult if not impossible unless it is bolstered by a friendly and helpful domestic program." Ullman stated, Congressman ... -- Nevada Industry Finds Rough Time The Nevada Mining Assn, estimates some 5,000 people in the states mining industry are "finding the going rough" as a result of mine closures, curtailments, shift reductions and discharges. Jock Taylor, published of the Reese River Reveille, Austin, said a year ago 12 lead-zinmines were operating in the state, employing 264 men. Now there are two operations, employing 65. On July 1 of last year, 25 tungsten mines employed 988 men. Now virtually none are operating. All smaller copper properties have closed and the larger mines have curtailed employment and eliminated all overtime. "Total number of people affected by unemployment in the mines is placed at 4,272, although we believe the figure is nearer 5,000," said Mr. Taylor's publication. tic chrome production is the adoption of a program similar to that which is now in effect. Certainly our defense needs are such that we could not tolerate the demise of this industry . . . Ore producers have consistently been at the mercy of foreign mines Friday, October 4, 1957 SURVEY By Howard E. Davis Uranium Tailings of Valuable Ore is Saved at Rig Plant The RICHLAND, WASH. completion of a strange salvage job that provided many tons of critically needed uranium to the nations atomic program was announced here recently by General Electric Company, operator of the Atomic Energy Commissions Hanford plant. The supply of usable uranium was increased by a vast quantity when the Atomic Energy Commission turned to the "tank farms" of Hanford where large volumes or uranium mixed with highly radioactive materials were stored. Figures released recently from the U. S. Department of Agriculture show that U. S. farmers up to May 15, 1947, had placed something over 21,300,000 acres in the Reserve of the Soil Bank which pay their workers fantas- Acreage this year under 914,819 signed tically low wages. I know from agreements. first hand information that the If the farmers comply with the miners in the district which I the will be eligible program represent have barely been able for maximum they of slightpayments to keep their heads above water. over $614 million cash subAt the direction of the AEC, ly The high cost of mining plus high sidy, ons of uranium compounds were freight rates have indeed made The government pays this bill, recovered fium these underground it difficult for the development of less only the increased sales tax waste storage tanks by General a stable mineral Industry in the revenue it collects from all pur- Electric engineers depleting a West. We cannot afford to lose chasers of at the agricultural products, man-mathe foothold which we have the prices of which have been time the deposit which, operations began, was gained. kept high by its artificial "parity" one of the largest concentrations level. of uranium in the world. Besides deploring the inade- price Even the farmer is stripped of The valuable element had to be quacy of the proposed chrome part of his Soil Bank from highly radioactive subsidy extracted by program, Oregon's delegation the sales tax upon these agriculission with which it had products went on record as favoring con- tural which he must pur- )ecome mixed. Some of the products al tinuation of the "floor plan" for chase in "processed" forms. Howhad been stored in the tanks quicksilver. ever, .the fanner can grow the since the World War II period major part of the food required when available scientific talent for himself and family. was concentrated in the produc-io- n Almost all gold and silver minof plutonium for the war efing, as such, has been ended in the recovery of unused the United States since 1934. Late- fort, and was uranium deferred. ly most of our tungsten mines In producing plutonium, an imhave closed; lead, zinc and some ingredient of atomic copper mines have been practi- portant and the chief product of weapons cally. closed or have lessened their uranium is feed into reHanford, Red Wash Field, one of the larg- operations. actors a fraction where of it turns Not even home gardens can be est oil pools in Utah, is undergobombardunder into plutonium grown in the vicinity of most neutrons. ment The ing a program of of plutonium hence when the mine is which will be expanded greatly mines, closed the miner must go else- ;s extracted from the irridated if the operator determines that where and often .fit himself for uranium, and until a few years 40 acre spacing at the Uintah some other occupation. The gov- ago, the left over uranium comCounty pool is economical. ernment pays him no damages for bined chemically with other eleand mixed with highly raStandard Oil Company of Cali- making his mine worthless gives ments dioactive fission products, was fornia, operator at the field, is him no reward for not producing stored in. underground tanks. metal. now drilling one well on the of the stored material Salvage The basis with permission of the gold and silver miners ask 1952 when an econoin started no U.S. Geological Survey. subsidy. They merely ask that the basis of our money again mically feasible separation and on be made Constitutional and that extraction method was devised. Natural gas a large basis eventually would gold and silver be used to back The same year new separations entail construction of a natural the paper "money" being turned gasoline plant at the field, accord- out by the government printing to some . de ma-eri- Red Wash Listed For New Oil Plan -- 40-ac- re ing observers. facilities, based on a process for the recovery both uranium and plutonium, were started up at Hanford. The new plants separate and recover both uranium and plutonium from fission products as such products emerge from the Hanford production chain. A large per centage of the uranium in the "tank farms has been recovered, J. J. Courtney, metal recovery manager in General Electrics Chemical Processing department at Hanford, said, but operational problems made this one of the most difficult salvage programs on record at Hanford. Utah Reryllium Opens Operations Utah Beryllium, Inc. has started mining operations on its proper-ti- e located in the Sheeprock Mountains of western Utah. High grade beryl is currently being stockpiled fo shipment within the next thirty days, according to James W. Bontems, Jr., president of the corporation. Medium and low grade beryllium ores are also being stockpiled and will be processed through a mill to be installed on the property in the spring of 1958. Because of the increasing importance of beryllium in industrial and governmental research and development programs, the corporation plans to expand its production during the next year to the extent that it will be one of the largest producers of beryllium concentrates in the world. Utah Beryllium Inc. is jointly, owned and operated by Gayle Sherry Leslie, a Los Angeles, California corporation, and Ran-Re- x Oil & Mining Company, Inc. of Bountiful, Utah. presses. The tungsten, zinc, lead and copper miners ask for no "subsidy." They only ask that Congress increase import tariffs on these metals to the point where metals cannot be No. 72. undersold by metals produced in Carter Oil Co. also filed loca- other cou tries by labor working tion for a well on its Bamberger for only a few cents or in rare lease in the Walker Hollow unit, instances as "high" as $2.50 to considered a northern extension to $3 per day. Red Wash Pool. Congress, controlled by legislators elected by votes and dominA sizable expansion of produc- ated influences principally east tion at Red Wash, now hitting of theby Mississippi, so far has rearound 5,000 barrels of oil daily, is forecast with completion of par- fused to act for the benefit of .the alleling of the new crude trans- miner, terming such action "submission facilities of Standards sidization. It appears to. dislike subsidiary, Salt Lake Pipeline Co., the word "subsidy," hence the in the Uintah Basin. $614 million due to the farmer in 1957 for not producing crops is disguised under the name "Soil Found Bank." At least, that is the opinWESTERN MINERAL More Sapphires ion of the writer. In Montana Mine SURVEY Development of the natural re-- , xxws - CIRCULATION been BUTTE, MONT. It has sources of minerals and oils withof finds 31 Church Street Phone D1 reported recently that in the United States has been a 1403 Curaa St., Denver Alpine carat stones of the great fundamental cause of the 4 and 5 ADVEBTisiifa glistening "cornflower blue hue growth of this nation to its presDC Sox 3600 peculiar to the area have been ent point Continuation of output Belt Lake City, Utah discovered at the famed Yogo from those resources and readi1403 CurtU St.. Denver Alpine Catered ae second eiaae matter at Salt ness for much greater output Lake City, Utah, under Act of March 3, Mine located northwest of 1879. DisWheatland county. should war ever come again is a Subscription rates: 85X0 for two yean; 83.00 for one year. stones two large tremendously important duty for Please mention Western Mineral Survey covery of the when writing to advertisers. Advertising has bolstered hopes of the owners the citizens of the United States rates on application. and operators that the recently and for the legislators whom they revived mining venture may elect to carry out their wishes. Zdltor U M. wwx. Again we point to the fact tha again produce gems as large as those produced during former it is time to begin mentally to pre. AH news appearing In the Western operations of the property. pare for our next national elec IClneral Survey is obtained from sources no but to reliable bo believed responsibility Knowledge of the sapphires dates tion, which will be the most im Is for accuracy of statements. Reproduction of any material from this back to 1894 when placer opera- portant in the history of our publication must have written permission tions in Reprinted from the Yogo Gulch uncovered country. from the publisher. several pieces of blue stone. "Mining Record," Denver, Colo. Standard has filed notice of location for two more wells (on spacing plan), with Utah Oil & Gas Conservation Commission. They are wells No. 71 and DDLY &10UQH 80-ac- re home-produce- d c 40 jyoa; BUY ASBESTOS ROMANS ONCE SAILED over iooo miles. THE, USED THE ASBESTOS. FOR LAMP WICKS! Because asbestos is GOOD INSULATOR FIRE FIGHTERS WEAR IT TO APPROACH EVEN ' THE HOTTEST FiRES. . Har-lowtow- n, NINE ASBESTOS REFINING CO. I LANE ASBESTOS OF AMERICAN SMELTING SUBSIDIARY. -- QUEBEC, LTD IS DREDGING OOO FEET OF SILT AND ROCK UNDER BLACK LANE, QUEBEC AND MU SOON DRAIN TNE ENTIRE SOO'ACRE SAKE THE PROJECT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE COLOSSAL ENGINEERING FEATS OF THE CENTURY. |