The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-01-17
SENATOR sYE's BILL FOR THE sUTR0
TUNNEL.

bill to create n fund to be known Is
the Mineral Land Fund, and for other
purposes It is designed more par
ticalariy for the benefit o: tie s'Sutro
Tunnel Company" the assignee of
Adolph Sutro. This Mineral Land
Fund is to be derived from all
received by the United States from the
sale of mineral lands, under the Act
granting the right of way to ditch and
canal owners over the public lands,
etc. The Secretary of the Treasury is
directed 10 pay ovcrto the Sutro Com
pany sums, from time to time, not to
exceed SO, zoe, 900. For each 500 feet of
tunnel, shafts, or branches" the COM
pany shall receive $4,000. The pay
ment of said sums { constitute a first
mortgage and lien on the whole of the
tunnel, and all tho machinery attach
ed. After the completion Of the main
tunnel To its intersection with the
Comstock lode, % per cent. of the net
amount collected for tolls, drainage.
transportation of ore, rock and mate
rial, after ~deducting necessary expen-
ses, shall twice a year be paid into the
United States Treasury, in repayment
of the sums advanced; and 10 per
cent. of said net amount collected after
completion OF the tunnel 10 its inter
section with the Comstock, shall be
paid to the United States as an endow-
ment fund, to be invested in Govern
ment securities, the interest to be used
for a National School of Mines. 1.-THE
company fail TO pay, said tunnel and
all rights thersunto belonging, shall
he taken possession of by the United
States. IL il provided that the tunnel
shall be completed within ten years,
and shall from its initial point in the
foothills rear Carson river. entend i'm
a westerly direction four miles, to and
beyond the easterly limit of the Com
stock, and branches shall be construct
ed from the main tunnel northerly
and southerly. The main tunnel shall
be ten feet high and twelve feet wide,
outside of timbers, with a fall not less
than n inch t. each 100 feet. The
work is to be subject during its pro-
gress to the examination of a board oil
-hree Commissioners, which shall
consist of the Governor, surveyor
General of Nevada, and an engineer
r of the army, TO be Apo inted by tn,
President.
These arc the leading points of tn.
. bill. II was referred 20 the Committe,
Oh Public Lands, and may receiv,
many alterations there before il come,
before the Senate.
II the Government is to extend aiC
i, to any mining enterprise, this tunne
project can make a better shown;
than any scheme likely 10 soon com,
before the country. While we do no
favor the policy in which the countr,
has become 50 deeply implicated dur
ing the last ten years, of extendin,
4 Government assistance to individual
enterprises, Yet as this State has bee
forced 10 bear its quota of the expens
of internal improvements made il
other States, il is but fair and Just tina
Nevada should receive some compeu
In sation for the advantages which il ha
n so willingly and literally aided i
granting To others. Under the plea {
"a commercial advantages, the Unite
States has at different times expende
N millions in widening and deepenin
river channels, blowing up dangerou
M reefs, removing sand-bars, diggin
canals, constructing railways, openin
roads, etc. Nevada has been taxed Il
its share of these expenditures; an
- if this policy is 10 continue, il IS hig
~ time that this State received its pr,
,k portion of this Congressional assis
al ance. Ii is proper that the leadin
interest of this State should recei,
be some recognition rs well as those
or other portions of the Union. IL ma
d. be urged that there is danger in Il
", precedent; that it ma be extended
mr. wildcat schemes OF reckless spccui
rs tors in other portions of the State; tn
v other districts are equally entitled
CHI this favor and that they are bound
&C. claim tiff not now, whenever tn.
no may sec the opportunity TO obtain
nj However this may be, there is
far question of the merit Of this partic
IA lar undertaking. The Comstock i,
err. reality-not an experiment. Il h
AN heen tested, and its silver flood h
iey already flowed over the commerce
~, world. If the time should ever col
when Nevada shall glory in the p,
session Of another Comstock, it "
be time then for the consideration
sed the propriety of extending SINH
working facilities to it, or to the
has Meanwhile let us know what ii
bic mother of all our mining distri
re- really contains-how long we AN
nld pend upon it for prosperity-what