The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-06-22
ssupsndoas Fraad-orsntfrg Away the Min
sral Lands-Fitcn's h,ilread Scheme.

4 ssupsndoas Fraad-ersutng Away thu MIN
srh Lsnds-Fitcn's h,ilread scheme.
The exposures which have Been made re-
spectinS the character Of Fitch amended bill,
granting lands to ard in the construction Of
railroad from the Central Pacific to the Cole
rado river. are astounding. We denounced
the original bill some weeks ago. but the
amended bill seems still more atrocious in its
provisions.
1t would have been difficult to believe that
Representative Of the people of Nevaea
would have the hariihood. no matter SoT what
Pecuniary personal advantage. to stand up on
the door Of Congress and Deliberately pro-
pose measure for invading the mineral
lands, and turning the claimants and mines
over to soulless incorporation. The
mineral lands have always been open to
any man who chose TO go upon and develop
them This bill of Fitchs turns over 70 a
corporation, knoxn as the Colorado Railroad
and Navigation Company. all the mineral lands
lying in the alternate sections. to distance
Of forty-fve miles on each side of the pro-
posed railrcaa- 1t not only gives away the
mineral lands but also the ti-TSer lands. and
lands Of every description to the amount OF
twenty alternate sections per mile on each
side Of the railroad. from Elko to Hamilton
and the Colorado river. Hon. D. r. Ashley
showed, at an indignation meeting at Hamil-
ton last Saturday, that this bill would grant
the company one half Of n strip of territory
Tli''ety Dti!ss uride and orer ire hundred miles
long, running through the heart of the richest
mineral belt in the State. He showed how
under this bill 1.-THE two-dollar-and-a-hsIf
lands, when designated on the map IN the Of
fee of the Secretary of the Interior, will only
be conditonally conveyed TO the company;
but the mineral and timber lands. the right Of
way, the land for turnouts and stations, and
machine shops and other reservations, will be
immediately patented over TO the company on
the filing OF the survey of the road. But the
miners who now have claims not covered with
United States patent may think their claims
paiid ones as against abe company Thy ,cW
not Be if they happen to fall ON the odd sec
tons. The company will have the United
States patent to such claims, and the burden
of proof will be on the miner to show that his
claim is valid against their patent This
would force every miner into another sort of
outrageous Land Commission, such as existed
in California, to prove up his claim. Is there
any doubt who would own the claim Gift were
rich)-the company or the miner?'
Similar views of this most dangerous and |
outrageous bill were announced at the meeting |
at Hamilton by Judge Beatty, Judge Pitzer, |
Governor Miller and others. As ardently as |
the citizens of White Pine desire the con-
struction Of q railroad, they are not prepared !
pidity of the soulless spectators who are
using Hon Tbos. Fitch as a tool
The resolutions adopted at the Hamilton |
meeting were we'll considered, and well writ |
ten. We should like to publish the whole |
of them but our limited space forbids in this |
issue. The cogent statement of the objec- |
tons to the bill is followed by this summing |
mp Of the bill and ITS authors.
For thee reasons Aud this is the ar nsanee In
the history Of Federal legislation Of attempt - Iii
from the ownership aud possession of the people xh
explore and locate them and veg them in lee to
Resolved That the people of White Pine in mass |
meeting assembled, having frst heard the SAID bill |
dangerous precedent and as far a. IL relates TO
sion OF the mineral lands, measure designed 10 de-
spoI peoFSss Tor the dement, Of
rights In the mineral lands which they can now acquire
by prospecting aud complying with the laws
R.~olyed, That the said hill bears all the internal
evidences OF s.rpendous frJyrt upon the people Of
the counties through which the proposed railroad will
have pass: and should II become lAS will elect,
nAliy destroy the mining and business prospects Of
Eastern Se.aa depopulzts the etire line 1f mineral
country rosie. aud build up colossal fortunes
for Iez unscrupuIUcs mer, b: - expense Of tie
people of the county. the State and Of the nNton
as the people of Elko county have similar !
interest IN defeating this outrageous bill, it
would be well for the citizens here to u ke |
some immediate action in the matter, and to /
unite with the people Of White Pine in an
expression of the outraged feelings with which
this stupendous fraud is viewed.
NIE CouSTT.-From private letter from n
friend at Belmont, Nye county. we understand