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LEFT MINES 244 MINIATURE PAINTING and in which fane there was a colossal statue of her, by Phidias, overlaid with ivory. MINES, BUREAU OF, a hureau of the Department of the Interior, estab- MINERVA lished in 1910 for the purpose of con- ducting scientific and technologic investi- gations relating to mining and the prep- aration and utilization of mineral sub- stances, with a view to the increase of health, safety, and efficiency. It has de- voted much attention to the problem of mine gases, rescues from mine disasters, and first-aid training for miners. It co- operates in its investigations with the mining^ departments of all the colleges and universities which have such depart- ments. In 1920 the bureau had 11 min- ing experiment stations, 9 mine safety cars, and 7 mine safety stations. Dur- ing the World War the bureau co-oper- ated with all the departments of the government in the investigation of min- erals, ores, and metals especially needed. The work of the bureau has greatly de- creased the fatalities from coal-mine ac- cidents. MINES, SUBMARINE. See SUB- MARINES. MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA, THE UNITED, one of the largest labor organizations in the United States, or- ganized in 1890, on the basis of "indus- trial unionism," in contrast to the crafts system of organization of the American Federation of Labor. It includes all workers connected with the coal-mining industry, under the status of foreman. It is governed by a national executive board and twenty-five delegates, each representing a district. The organiza- tion made its first big gains in member- ship during the strike of the miners in the bituminous districts, in 1897, and during the successful strike in the anthra- cite districts, during 1900 and 1902, un- der the leadership of John Mitchell. In the fall of 1919 it attempted to organ- ize a nation-wide strike of the workers in the coal industry, but was defeated by a Federal injunction and through lack of public sympathy. The official organ of the organization is "The United Mine Worker." MINHO (men'yo), a river of Spain and Portugal, rising in the N. E. of Ga- licia, flowing S. W. through the Spanish provinces of Lugo and Orense, and, after forming the boundary between Portugal and Spain, falling into the At- lantic Ocean; total length, 174 miles; it is navigable for small craft 25 miles above its mouth; a bar at the entrance prevents the passage of large vessels. Area of basin, 157,000 square miles. Its chief tributary is the Sil, which joins it from the left. MINIATURE PAINTING, the paint- ing of portraits on a small scale. _ It originated in the practice of embellishing manuscript books. As the initial letters were written with red lead (Latin mivi- tim), the art of illumination was _ ex- pressed by the Low Latin verb miniare.