Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-28
The Emma Mine Investigation.

Gen. IF. H. Baxter was examined by the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, On Friday,
and testified that he never heard of Prof
B!ake's letter of the 9th of July, 1871, in
derogation of the Emma Mine, until recent
ly. He said there was no preparation ofthe
mine for Prof Silliman's examination. He
agreed to pay Silliman not less than $40, 600
nor more than $4,000, the compensation
depending on the value of his professional
services. Sillman, however, was paid $685.
600 through j. NJ. Selover. Gen. Baxter
said that up to the time the mine was sold
he never heard from any source doubts ex-
pressed as to the value of the mine or its
continuance to yield ore. The compensa-
ton to Prof. Silliman did not depend ON the
sale of the mine, and he never intimated to
him that he wanted favorable report.
J. NJ Selover, of New York, testified that
he visited the Emma Mine in the Winter of
1871. He was requested by Gen. Baxter to
60 thither that he might give him Baxter
advice concerning the property. After he
had looked at the mine carefully he told
Gen. Baxter that about a million and half
dollars worth of ore was in sight ard the mine
was an extraordinarily good one. The wit
ness said he was at Salt Lake in July, 1871,
when Prof. Blake made an examination of
the Emma Mine, but the witness did not &C
company him. When Prof Blake and his
party came back to the hotel where the wit
ness also stopped, their report was all on
one side; they were elated with what they
had seen. He had a convt alton at the
hotel with Prof. Blake as to letter the lat
ter was preparing to send 1 Ten. Baxter
The letter was favorable, nd contained
nothing against the permar &c or value Of
the mine. The letter CORE ponded with
that dated the 25th of July, 1871. Prof.
| Blake did not say anything about q letter
written the next day, ana the witness
never heard of such letter, which was in
| disparagement Of the mine, until he
| reached Washington. The witness sent
the report of Prof. Silliman to Coates and
Hankey, of London, despatching it from
point On the Central Pacific Railway. He
| considered that Prof Silliman had made fair
report on the mine. Gen Baxter gave to
hlu S5O,OOO as compensation to Prof Sill
man and himself. Gen. Baxter told him
that Prof. Silliman was to receive not less
than SlO,OOO nor more than $50 900.
Prof. Silliman hud been paid $1,000 in ad-
vance, but the witness gave him $50 900 in
addition. The Professor thus received S25,-
600 in all. The witness gave him IS 900
more than was agreed on with Gen. Baxter
IN consideration Of services performed by
him in the examination Of mines
IN California, apart from the work
rendered to Baxter and Park. Ire
nor W. Park was heard in Gen.
schenck's defence on Friday lie made
financial statement Of his transactions with
Sehenck, showing that Schenck lost S43.-
900 IN the enterprise. Judge Poland Of
Vermont testified that No money was paid
for the issuing Of the patent from the land
Office for the Emma mine. except S25 for
clerk hire, and Prof. Clayton exhibited
maps showing that the mine was in :he
sil'er-bearing strata. The examination Is
now closed, with the exception Of certain
papers from London, and the committee has
adjourned until Nav