Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-08-22
THE COPPER LANDS, &c.

\ We are indebted TO Inc New YORK Tribune LOT
the following, which appears to us TO be a pretty
fair exposition Of what was proposed what was
done, and what was left undone, bye Congress, al
its late session. in regard to the Mineral Lands Of
Lake Superior: f ~ .f
has long known that the STERILE rocky, nhospabe
region around Lake Superior and especially the south shore
of said Lake. rich in mineral ores, copper especially
Repeated attempts work them have been made throughout
the century, hut with uniform ill owing TO the
and naccessby of the region, its rugged barren
soil ungenal climate, &C.. and not any lack Of mineral
wealth in the region itself 9i5
About s42 these obstacles having been partially
the approach Of population and commerce. few adyenu
began appear the south shore of the Lake. pnc
pay from the lead mines Of illinois, This region had little
before been attached Michigan rather against her will
sort Of compensation for what she compelled to
der Ohio her eastern border The Government was
beginning or preparing survey and had by law entrusted
liz to the care and OF the War Department. the
special charge of the Ordnance Bureau BY this Department
and Bureau formal permits first granted 70 the pioneer
poers search for minerals Ores and when any one
had fixed location, lease issued to him for tract
exceeding miles square, to be marked out by him
self Said lease was for three years. with of
renewals for like periods, conditioned that the miner should
do all the work. take all the risk and give the Government
six per cent. of the entire proceeds OF his mining.
That this system individual surveys leases OF large tracts
Government senorage &C. very bad one need not be
argued Every body it, But it must be borne in
mind that system established by the Government ITSELF
through its accredited agents. The mnersexporers
herhad no choice but conform such conditions
imposed them They have right to be considered not as
squatters nuders Of any Sort but as citizens invited
thither by the agents Of the Government who have freely
vested labor and dubious and arduous UNDER
taking by which, whatever their success, the Government
was certain 10 profit either in wealth or in knowledge
But the explorers generally poor men, and opening
Mines in region where nothing IS produced Tor man
fnafo dpOt
obtained within hundreds Of miles, enterprise be-
yond the poor aboers They constrained to
solicit the of capital in their several undertakings,
which end they generally created stock companies based
the ownership of their several leases locations and sold
gave away part the shares they could inter-
of distance in their operations Such
the origin of the copper speculation modified In various
instances by the circumstances Of the case
Operations in earnest commenced as early as 1874,
but region where there not inn, store, dwelling,
backsms shop any thing of the sort within reach either
road navgabe WATER where cattle could not be kept for
of suseancP though every mile OF road must be made
at heavy expense such work must go slowly We be-
eve mineral besides specimens brought down ti last
year. and very little then. We have heard that the Govern
per up this spring amounted to less than
two hundred dollars. t~ ss1
Meantime the expense the Treasury of mineral agents.
commissioners, clerks travelling messengers, &c hadbecome
quite item The conflicting claims Of the various explorers
and pemitees keeping the War Department in perpetual
The leasing system had been pretty thoroughly
tried in the lead region, and had proved an utter failure
Every dollar received by the Government cost it not less than
four while the people demorazed by perpetual evasons
Of the Stipulation The President at the opening Of the
late session, urged Congress order sale Of the whole
mineral region speedily possible.
Congress neglected to act and the cooper men did not
trouble themselves about the matter. They digging
away building hu opening roads, exploring, &c. when
report transmitted TO Congress from the Attorney General
covering his opinion that the oo proceedings Of the War
Depayfaent IA leasing the mineral lands unauthorized
b n,c, that he leases peye all inpaEd and worthless, and
the rights of The Rssees, whaterer they might De- icere ruth
out any legal protection phaterer.
This at once put a face the affair. Companies
which had invested from thousand hundred thou
dollars each in their several undertakings and who
calculating confidently ultimate rich return for their out
lay found their investments struck vaueess at all events un
saeabe at blow The agents OF several OF them repaired or
wrote Washington begging Congress to do something in
the premises which would enable them to obtain further in
saments from their stockholders and prosecute their
eral enterprises And, the President had urged and in
special message repeated, his conviction that sale Of the
lands equitable would he best for all pares the
Michigan Legislature had unanimously protested against hav
ing the Federal Government perpetual landlord and rent
exacter for large portion of her SOIL and had taken
enforce that protest. the mining interest generally united IN
asking Congress do what the President and the State OF
Michigan had already recommended Snch the origin OF
the bill which, passed the Senate, took these lands out
the charge the War Department. and placed them in that
Of the General Land Office directing that they should be pre-
pared for sale and sold as soon practicable other public
lands sold, by public auction 10 the highest bidder first
aerwar 10 be open to private entry like any other lands IL
further provided that all existing leases should be valid Tor
years. but without the renewals covenante in lieu OF
which the easehodes who had made valuable improvements
should have the privilege of buying all the legal subdivisions
according the United States surveys Of their several oca
tons the minimum price Of 81 25 per but If they
took any quantity less than the WHOLE they must pay 81 SO
per acre. Such the substance of the bill.
II originated in the Senate and passed that body without
opposition Il strongly opposed in the House, however,
especially by Mr. McCernand, Chairman Of the Land Com
mee, in reference 10 the sale of the lands which every
body appeared consider proper and desirable but with refer
the presumption allowed to the lessees When the
bill reported the House from majority Of the commit
tee, Mr. Nee and declared that the committee had
sanctioned il that il spectators BILL &c. This oppo-
son, the very close of the session. when taking any
disputed bill kill Others of importance, prevailed.
large majority Of the House voted TO take up the BILL but
the requisite wobirds failed and the mining region
is left, the action Of the Government do it.
utter lawlessness and anarchy.
We will argue the question Of the justice Of granting
prescriptions in this those whom simple statement
the facts does convince be impervous argument
be asked ought those who have tested and vau
able locations pay corresponding price for them We
swer Yes, If the Government the time remuneates
those who have spent their time and in unsuccessful
exploration, otherwise. IL justly profit by the
Of the smaller NUMBER and yet refuse recompcnse the
fortune Of the great majority We speak Of Of the
in which the claimants have leases permits fairly and hon
estly obtained To squaers in defiance the Govern
ment, different rule will apply.
There danger that Congressw not grant pre- empons
that will decide sell the lands The leasing sys
tenn Is bad at best multiplying unctionaies and frauds inn
measuby and dscouragns thorough explorations and sub
stantaI improvements The danger is rather that tempo
rary embarrassment and dsarangemen may create revu
the mining spirit the