File No. 763.72112/324
Resolution of the American Mining Congress, forwarded to the Secretary of State by the Secretary of the Congress (Callbreath)
[Received December 10, 1914]
[Telegram]
Whereas the welfare and prosperity of the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah and of the Territory of Alaska are to a very great extent dependent upon the mining industry and especially upon the mining, milling, and smelting of the ores of copper and the mining of the coal necessary to render the handling of such copper ores possible; and
Whereas the mines of the states and the territory above mentioned produced about 1,180,000,000 pounds of copper during the year 1913 valued according to Government reports at about $173,000,000, to which amount should be added the value of the gold and silver contained in said copper ores, worth at least $27,000,000, making a total value of about $200,000,000; and
Whereas there are over 100,000 persons engaged directly in the mining, milling, smelting, and transportation of copper ores and in the mining of the coal used in connection with the production of said copper ores, and about 300,000 people directly dependent upon those so employed in said industry, and in addition thereto not less than 100,000 persons indirectly dependent upon the industry for their means of livelihood, making a total of more than 500,000 people who are affected by the curtailment of the output of copper; and
Whereas on account of the war conditions now prevailing the exportation of copper to European countries has been greatly restricted which has already resulted in a curtailment of about 50 per cent in the copper production in said states and has caused hardship and suffering among those connected with the industry; and
Whereas, if this calamitous condition is prolonged, it will continue to disastrously affect the entire population of said states and territory, or at least 8,000,000 people, and throw out of employment many thousands of persons who are now dependent upon the said industries for their livelihood;
Now, therefore, be it unanimously resolved by the American Mining Congress in seventeenth annual convention assembled at Phoenix, Arizona, that in order to prevent such great disaster to said states and to the Territory of Alaska, we earnestly appeal to the Government of the United States to use its great offices to keep open every available market for copper and give full protection to the producers [Page 284] of the metal in the shipment of same in neutral vessels to neutral ports. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted by telegraph to the Secretary of State of the United States of America.
Under instructions I forward above resolution unanimously adopted by the seventeenth annual session of the American Mining Congress.
Secretary