The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-06-01
Letter from the Hon. Martin Ma.imnis.

The following comprises the greater por-
ton Of a letter directed to Messrs. Davis,
Clark, Rosenthal and others of Butte and
received a few days ago from Our Delegate
i'll Congress, Hon. Martin Masinnis. After
referring at some length to the considerations
leading him to take issue withthe Land Com
mission OH the conclusions embodied in their
report, the writer proceeds to say
Tho adoption of square locations would
prevent the working or prospecting Of the
great deep loucs which have been and viii con-
tiuue TO Ue the main source of mineral supply
after Leadvilic has gone the way Of White
Pine aud other districts of similar ciIaacrler.
In short all the theories OH wlicl. their report
Is based are i'll opposition to the fixed views
Of our people. Those men look at the whole
subject of tie ownership, discovery, working
and regulation Of mineral lauis from an rX-
actly opposite point of view to that from
which we look at il. In the last Congress,
seeing the drift Of various schemes in relation
to public lands, mineral aud otherwise, | OBJ
posed the formation OF this commission,
worhed and spoke against it, and believed II
c ncealed Il dangerous design under 4 harm
less appearance.
On The presentation of tl!cir report the
Representatives, from California. Nevada.
Arizona, Idaho, and myself entered into ac-
tive opposition 10 it. its promoters were verv
confident. With the Department, The Presj-
dent, the Lead,ille capitalists, New York
stock operators behind them, The a ~Ivocates
of This violent change have heretofore believed
that they could carry their points over our op-
position. by proper parliamentary Obstruc-
ton We have been enabled to hold them OIL.
Finding that we cannot be o%rerrnn, we have
been asked to yield TO the very prODer de-
mand for legislation required by certain
loctil!lles-lo regulate the working of the
blanket lodes at Leadvlllc and elsewhere.
Disposed to make all proper concessions. the
above named Representatives and delegates
met at the house OF Senator Jones. of Nevada,
and consented to the enclosed bill! as a substi-
tutc for the entire report of the commissions
50 tal as it relates to mineral lands.
The bill does not s"eni to me obiectiona-
Bile. 1t provides for blanket veins and does
not disturb the deep mining system. 1t gives
men a right OF prospecting claims in districts
where lOdpS are Hat or do not come Ia the
a~ulllcN.
/ wish YOU would call the miners Together
ana Telegraph le your opinion OF Tn. Inn.
Please t" remember that it Is a compromise.
and tn the Colorado people and others who
are pressing for tie adoption of the report of
the la'ld commission give up and are willing
TO accept This concession. Please look at it
III that light.
The recommendation Of the commission in
regard to the survey, classification and sale of
other phhlic lands has been referred 10 the
committee on public lands, where We have
assurances That it will remain durjuu Ills
session. We will be able to ,lpfeat thai
scheme (Which would make out of the Tern.
tories the grazing grounds of NONRESIDENT,
pr"prlctors} whenever it comes up.
Very truly yours,
MARTIN MAGlNNIS.