A circular has been issued by several mining engineers, proposing
a meeting at Wilkes-Barre, some time in April or May next, of all
persons interested in the general subjects of mining and metallurgy,
for the purpose of establishing an association, to be called "The
American Institute of Mining Engineers." The Institute will hold
meetings periodically "in the great mining and metallurgical centers,
when works of interest, such as mines, machine shops, furnaces, and
other metallurgical works, can be inspected, and the members exchange
their views, and consult, for mutual advantage, upon the difficulties
encountered by each." There will be the usual publication of
"Transactions" and "Proceedings."
The idea of forming an association of persons thus mutually interested
in each other's occupations, is an excellent one; but it has been
suggested by a number of scientific gentlemen that the American
Association for the Advancement of Science offers every facility for
the accomplishment of the objects set forth in the circular, while it
affords the very great advantage of an assemblage of men learned in
all departments of knowledge, whose acquaintance mining engineers
would do well to make, and from whom they could learn much, while at
the same time imparting of their own knowledge.
As a section of the American Association, the mining engineers would
have more influence before the country, and it would perhaps be
well for them to stop and consider before establishing a separate
institute.