Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-02-10
Memorial to Congress


On the sth day of December last meeting of
the citizens of Humboldt county was held for the
purpose of agreeing upon some line of policy to
be recommended by which their interests and
rights in regard to the petroleum lands Of that
county might be best subserved and protected in
the future legislation that may be had in relation
thereto A memorial to Congress was adopted
and committee appointed to circulate it thro'-
out the county for signatures which was done
and the same was forwarded to Hon. John Bid
well, our Representative in Congress, by the last
steamer Accompanying it was the following
letter, which we copy from the Humboldt Times
of January 9th;
EUREKA, Humboldt county, CAL. January o. 1866
To Hon. JOHN BIDwELL, NJ. C.,-SrR The un-
dersgned, committee appointed by citizens in
terested in the deyelopement of the petroleum
wealth of Humboldt county, California, at a
mass meeting held in this town on the sth day of
December, lS65,-in pursuance of the duty i'm
posed upon them at that meeting, would enclose
to you herewith petition to the Hon. House of
Representatives in Congress, and respectfully
call your attention to the same.
The evidences and indications of the great
wealth of our country, in its petroleum resour-
fullY warrant the attention anu enterprise OF
capital and labor, but beside the risks necessari-
ly accompanying all mining enterprises, there is,
in our county, an almost insurmountable obstacle
to the employment of money and labor, in the
development of our coal oil wealth-it exists in
the unsettled state of the question Of title In or
about the month of May, 1865, the land agent of
this District received from General Land Office
Mt Washington, an order to withhold from entry
or sale such lands in this District were sup
posed to contain petroleum coal oil, until fur
ther orders Whereupon Mining Districts were
formed, and mining laws were passed similar in
effect and principle to the local mining laws of
the mineral Districts of California and Nevada,
and by virtue of those laws, claims and locations
were made: also in the land Office applications
for public lands by laying Indian Scrip, School
Warrants. etc, hence conflict of claims, and
uncertainty with respect to the operation of law
respecting these conflicting titles have hcfed as
Aar and a drawback to the prosecution of the de-
welopment Of our greatest interest. We would
respectfully urge upon your consideration, the
PRAYER of the petitioners, herewith accompany
ing and to give your cooperation in Congress,
in the passage Of act, giving to the hrst bona
tide occupant his claim of n quarter section OF
land at the price of one dollar and quarter per
acre. and thus settle this vexed question of title,
nv A wise and inst provision of law, thereby en-
hancing the interests of our District. We would
respectfully suggest the policy of the Govern
ment to be liberal in its disposal of the public
lands. and the income derived from the full de-
yelopment of petroleum lands, would be much
more rcmunerative to the Government than the
withholding from individuals or corporate bodies,
of the public lands by placing them at price
which would retard or prevent the free and en-
ergetic development of the same
Your earliest and prompt attention is most
respectfully and earnestly solicited
Submitted with great respect,
l.. C. SCHMIDT, Cor,ri.t.o
G. w TOMPKINS, 0