National Republican., 1874-06-01
SUTRO'S SCHEME.

THE TUNNEL OF NO NATIONAL IN
- PoRTANCE.
The San Francisco B.tlzetin has the following
editorial in Its issue of the 10Th instant -
The sutro tunnel never was and never win
be matter Of national importance. II never
ought to have secured ten minutes attention
from Congress. 1t may or may not accomplish
all that its projectors have claimed for It. It
is local affair, relating to the interests Of q
few mines in 9 particular neighborhood, and
having not the remotest connection with all
the other vast fields of mining enterprise on
the Pacific coast. The men who have cut the
bitches or canals, training them along the
mountain-sides and across deep canons for
forty miles or more, have never been to Con-
gress for aid. But they have opened up large
areas Of mining ground, causing 1t to yield
millions Of dollars where before that time q
white man could not earn living wages. The
Sutro tunnel doesH not propose more than
these canal-makers have done. Undoubtedly,
the Sutro tunnel is q bold enterprise; it in
wolves the outlay of an immense sum. The
projectors have brought in foreign capital, and
are seeking for MORE It Is part of the plan
to secure favorable legislation from Congress,
prise and to insure very large profits on the
outlay.
A majority of mine-owners on the Comstocb
lode assented at first to Sutro's scheme. They
agreed upon the royalty he was to receive; and
on this basis he began the work. He has
thereby acquired rights which, they cannot ig-
more. Had they refused to assent to his ORR
ginal proposition and afterward fought the Dill
which was introduced In Congress, there would
to-day have been no other tunnel job than o
merely private one, and probably the first yard
of tunnel excavation would not have been
made. When 1t appeared to these mine-own-
ers that the royalty was excessive, and that the
real benefits to them would be small, If any
| some of the shafts having been already sunk
below the level Of the tunnel-then they sought
to escape the consequences Of the original con-
tract, which they claimed had been forfeited
by delay in pushing the work, while sutro, on
the other hand, went to Congress forfurther
help in his behalf.
ID is now question to be let alone by law
makers, 1t has no business in Congress what
ever. The contest ought to be confined to
Nevada, where It originated, aud to the parties
who have theirs rights in the courts. II the
battle is to be fought in Congress, 1t will be q
moneyed fight. II is said that not less than
some millions of quicksilver stock were dis
tributed "where 1t wo1ld do the most good !"
in the early stages Of tho litigation instigated
by the Government for the control OF the New
Ilmaden Quicksilver Mine. Ifthe tnnnel con-
troversy is 10 be aired in Congress, what viii
be the limit of stock Distribution
It is difficult to touch the question on its real
| merits. But this much Is clear: The Sutro tun-
| mel question has no business in Congress. II
It is kept there It will be for corrupt purposes
| It is fast becoming question as to which party
| shall own the Comstock lode. But even II Il
assumes this magnitude it ought to be settled
| on the ground or In the Federal courts. 1t 10
| one of the scandals of the times that con-
troversy like this should divide parties in Con-
gress, or that it should get before that body
| at all.
If foreign capitalists have put their money
| into this tunnel scheme with the hope of cap
turing great many rich mines and dividing
enormous profits, that Is their look out. Com
| gress Is not called upon TO aid them in such !
Speculation any more than to aid In thousand
other private enterprises. We want no dia-
mond drills running In Congress, either By the
aid Of foreign or home capital.