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Show This Happens When Mines Curtail Development Work;' i. ' ; ' ' . ' t . - - - . ' J ' . '' ' . --y . i J,. ' j'i (S-SSOBS.-;-,. . !" '. ; ,f .V:. V ? , . jS Tailings dump gives mute testimony of once active mine. I Undoubtedly the most serious problem facing the state of Utah and its future is the development in the mining industry. Mining virtually since the founding found-ing of this territory in 1847, has been one of the backbone industries indus-tries ot Utah. Prior to the influx of war industries into the state, mining supported directly and indirectly in-directly about one half the population. popula-tion. During recent years there has been a noticeable decline in the development de-velopment o new metal producers. Production has been coming largely large-ly from the older established mines. New prospect work has been practically prac-tically nil and development work in the older mines and older dis-. dis-. t.ricts has been reduced by one half. Mining cannot endure under such conditions. If the industry is to continue a pound of ore must be developed for every pound that is mined. Many citizens will ask why this has not been dona. Promotion of new mining ren-tures ren-tures has been virtually eliminated by strict and arbitrary regulations and development in the older mines has been sacrificed in order to keep operating in the face of continually rising costs. The latter have eaten up the margin which was formerly set aside for development of new -ore bodies. In addition It Is not realized that ore bodies today are more difficult to find. The surface has been combed over and It is necessary to probe deeper into the earth to find ore. Not only do mines need as much, but they need to be allowed al-lowed to set aside more of their revenue for development work. Mining is too often classed as a manufacturing ' enterprise. It is vastly different. Mines are dependent de-pendent upon whims of nature and when a ton of ore is mined it is gone forever; it does not grow again, another ton must be found or the mine will soon see the end of its life. |