Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-10-25

FROM COEUR D'ALENE RIVER.
CoEuR p AIENE RIVER,
I ~ nat ~ 1902

/. T., Oct II, 1883.
Ed. TELLER;--I certainly expected to
be in the mines week ago, but owing to
the excessively good qualities Of the In
diaus have been unable to get my stuff
packed in. They agreed on one price
and when they come (if they come at alb
raise the figure about ono cent per pound.
finally sent to camp (39 miles, for ami
mails and will probably start in tomorrow.
The road is continually lined with people
going both ways, and l have the first
man to see coming out who is dissatisfied
with the mines, except in so far as the
twenty acre rule is concerned. The re-
suit Of the twenty-acre system will be long
litigations, wherein the lawyers will get
the lions share Of the money. If it had
not been for hoggishness in the first place
no trouble would have arisen, but when
five or six men endcavor to hold, say 70
miles in one creek the miners wont stand
it. Too many claims located under pow
ers Of attorney for starter. One hand
to hand fight has already occurred and
that, am sorry to learn, was ON claim
| am interested in. When | came out
before, we left two young men to build a
house and do other work. Two days
| ago man cndcavored to drive one OF
these young men off but he was diameter
ically opposed to being driven and the
result was an encounter in the water
wherein the driver got pretty badly used
up. The young men and John A. Camp.
bell still hold the fort. We jumped no
body's claim that we were aware of. There
were neither notices, blazcd trees or Other
marks by whi,h one could tell the lane
was claimed, The law is too plain to re
qurc man to go to the records. As
understand ii, the law requires discovery
of god by actual prospecting before e
acres can be located. Am correct?
The law was made, as | understand it
to cover old worked out ground and wa
intended to have a similar bearing to tn
Desert land act, and also to give to actua
prospectors the right to locate 20 acre
of the public lands as remald for thei
services in opcning up gold field--bu
| certainly cannot see authority Tor Tom
Dick, Harry and the Devil to locate 2
acres until prospect is obtained and tn
claim properly marked off. That the lay
grants to each prospcctor one 20 acr
tract of land within mining district, n
one pretcnds to deny, but there is certain
ly no reason in the argument, used by
certain lew in camp, that man has
right to locate 20 acres in every crcel
gulch, hill and bar in the district If g,
one man could hold thousand claims {
c more in this district.
!, Under old miners laws there wouI
. necessarily be difficulties; nevertheless
was better system than the present fro
the fact that it made livclier camp al
a furnished employment to greater nur
: Der of men. ] do not wish it understo'
! that am opposed to the 20 acre rul
but ! do object to the manner in viii
claims have been located in the two creek
| say give to each of the discovery par
!. 20 acres, but not 100. If the discoye
h party had confined thems Ives to tht
1t own proper claims they would have h
no trouble, but, as | have been iniorme
they were the first Jumpers in can
Since they started the movement the
- - selves, they certainly should raise
n. objc Il to the loss Of some of their o'
t. claims. | was told that the Giscovt
party, by not working their own grou
had lost all by jumpers.
ID When matters are finally settled Il
an the camp will show up, but look cut
law. Yours truly,
FRANK PoINTs