will acquire a new interest and value. That this should be its aspect seems to be beyond question.

For, if the demand for the metals seems great at this time, what will it be fifty years hence? They have already become vital necessities. Note the absolute dependence of the machinery business and the railroads on iron, of the electrical industries on copper, of food preservation on tin, and the infinitude of purposes for which paint is a necessity on lead and zinc. How would the manufacturing industries fare to-day without the ferro alloys of manganese, chromium, nickel, vanadium, tungsten and molybdenum, and the chemical industries without the numerous metallic and non-metallic substances that are annually being raised in ever increasing quantities from the crust of the earth? If progress in this line of activity has been wonderful since 1850, what may be expected during the next 70 years, after wars perhaps have come to an end forever?

The legislation that will control the mining of the future is therefore a subject worthy of the most careful attention and study. Other things being equal, that land will be a favored one that possesses a healthy, vigorous, and permanent mining industry. Permanence depends wholly upon the continuance of the agencies of discovery, which are active or dormant according to the freedom of search for hidden underground wealth allowed to the pioneer explorer. As the world depends mainly for its food on the labors of the individual farmer, so it depends for its metals on the efforts of the prospector. The latter, therefore, should be given every kind and variety of freedom in the exercise of his form of activity that is consistent with the maintenance of good order, and be relieved of all burdens that can be shown to be hindrances to his work. I know of no better way of emphasizing the importance of this point than to quote the following paragraphs from the article on Mining in the 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, Vol. 18, page 541:

"It is to the public interest that deposits of mineral should not be permitted to remain idle and undeveloped. This has been recognized

from the earliest times, and laws have been framed in all countries for the encouragement of mining enterprise.

"In many cases the State or the Ruler has sought to obtain a share in the profits of mining, or even to work mines for the individual profit of the Ruler or of the State. But in most cases it has been found better policy for the State to divest itself of all interest in mining property, and to extend all possible encouragement to those who undertake the development of the mineral wealth of the nation. The mining laws of most civilized states grant the right of free prospecting on the public lands, protect the rights of the discoverer of the mineral deposit during the period of exploration, and provide for the acquisition of mineral property on favorable terms. Striking examples of the far reaching effects of such laws is shown in the history of the Rocky Mountain region and western coast of the United States, the colonization and development of Australia, and the development of Alaska."