The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-06-04
From Black Pine Distrie,-seandalous Opera
tions u Mining speculAtorL
BLACK PISr DrsIRIcr. Oneida c

1 u ".
| Idaho Territory. May 90, 1870
EDrroRs ISprPESDEsr; Morslists tell us
that virtues reward is sure. 1t may be true
of virtue, but not always of industry. Thou
sands of men traverse alkali deserts. penetrate
snow-clad mountains and deep-down canyons,
with no defenders but the rifle and revolver
and no capital but their rough hands; suffer
! ing privations and hardships that none can
know but those who have endured them
seeking and discovering the very thing that
makes the wealth of this country; and yet
they are very rarely permitted to enjoy the
fruits of their hard labor; bar-room BURNERS,
black-mailers and cunning knaves generally
manage to fitch it from them.
On the l4th day of May, 1869, party of
four men and myself discovered mountain
20 miles north of kelton, which we prospect
ed. We found quite number Of large quartz
lodes, which were permeated with veins and
bodies of very rich ore. We Immediately or
ganized district, set its lnetes and bounds,
and named it "Black Pine" district We
adopted the rules and laws of Idaho Territory
for its government. few others with myself
remained all Summer and Fall, until the be-
ginning of Winter, prospecting and develop
ing our lodges, and endeavored to keep our
discoveries secret as much as possible, that
we might be enabled to prevent quartz pirates
and thieves from taking from US our hard
earned rights.
At the beginning Of Winter, went TO Elko,
White Pine and other places in Nevada on
business, and returned to this place as soon
as the weather would permit. Several men
accompanied me. taking along n wagon and
team and everything necessary for the. work
ing OF our mines. On the evening of nv ar
rival, man by the name of Keeney (by
courtesy called judge had suddenly rushed in
here before me, and on that very evening
without my knowledge of his being here he
with two three Others in n secret cleft in
the mountains. in dark conclave concocted
set of laws, the object of which was To possess
themselves Of our mines for he made il
obligatory to work assessments in such an in
credible short time that il would be impossi-
/ bic for us to work them; thereby giving him
self and his party a pretext for wholesale
jumping And that, too. in the face of the
fact that We were in Idaho Territory. We had
organized our district and recorded our claims
IN the Comfy Recorders Office and were
under the government Cf the statutory laws of
| the same. and were fully complying with
| them Such laws as this concave made were
ponderous tones, equal in bulk to the laws of
China, and for obscuTity and nonsense of
about the same complexion. II was n shock
! ing monstrosity, worthy of the place where
I they were begotten and of the author of their
being. He pretended that he hired horses at
ia" railroad ut his own expense penetrated
these inhospitahlc mountains. encountered
storms and lost his hat'-not in any interest
OF his own, but solely for our GOOD TINT
ignorant miners had not sense enough to
know their rights or protect rhrm, but he
must do 1t for US. That Is disiutcrc-ta,Iucss
for YOU
Our most dangerous enemy is the one who
pretcHds to be Our friend. He Gains by do.
ceptIon that which he has not the cTIra,-c To
| TAX" oil, glris". Like Judas be h.,..,y, with
| n kiss; md while sailing in vow rl,o aud
Pretending tD be your friend. h. is sIWp.r,,
/ his hand ~ your pocket md stealth. vulr last
dollar. This * not tn" first tim. 10 Ia.
| Su"G6"t into now raining cuups and assumed
the airs @! an Imperial luwg;ycr. that he lnigLi
| appropriate the hard earned fruits Of others
lie went into Cope district, where he made
himself 50 offensive TINT the miners became
disGustcd with him and his stay was short
1t may appear little strange that q man
| accidentally holding the position that he
does. should be guilty of such mean and dis
| honorable conduct But there is no account
ing for some natures. When a man in an
elevated position stoOps TO actions that would
cause an honest man TO blush for shame il is
duty to hold him " TO the public gaze ms n
warming to Others to let him ''see himself ms
others see him." and to guard pr0spectors
ana miners against his insidious intrusions
W. L. RICE.