The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-07-17
CHINESE AT CGUR D'ALENE.
4 POPULAR VOTE DECIDES AGAINST
CHINESE.
An Insimation of the Difficulties Of Working
the Creek.
CORRESPONDENCE Neso North West.

Correspondence Neao N0TW-WS
MURRAY, Idaho, July 12.-This ordinarily
quiet burg has been in quite fever OF ex-
element for the past four weeks by the agi'
tation of the Chinese question; that 49,
whether or no the Chinese shall be allowed
to come into the Ceur d'Alene mines
Heretofore all have been excluded. The ioi-
lowing notice, published here, will give your
readers an idea of what was involved In 'he
issue: 2 -
TO THE PUBLIC.
On June %, 1886, q conference of large
mum Der of claim holders on Pritchard Iuicn
was held at Murray to inquire into the oest
method to profitably work the gulch. Az
that conference the whole question OF work
ipp the gulch by means of bedrock fumes
was considered at length and decided to Do
impracticable, because
First. The grade of the gulch Is so small
that any practicable flume grade would make
| IL impossible to operate more than two OF
three of such fumes on the entire guich, ~ =
mile of ground would have to be trayersed
| to reach bedrock in the deep channel.
| Second. That it was doubtful II mucn OF
| the gravel could be sent through hume on
any attainable grade on account OF Its nat or
| angular character.
Third. That the necessary consolidation of
| claims was impossible, owing to the number
| of parties interested, and,
| Fourth That a bedrock hume would re-
| uuire all of the water in Pritchard creek
| and prevent any of 1t being taken on the
hill ground, where the richest gravel deposits
lie.
Other methods of working the gulch were
| also considered, among them being the ques.
ton of Chinese cheap labor. At the close
| of the discussion the undersigned were ap
| pointed q committee to take the whole sub
/ feet into consideration and recommend such
action as might be deemed best IN the light
| of all the circumstances of the case.
| After full consideration and consultation
with the miners and business men OF tht
gulch, we have come to the conclusion that
the only way to work Pritchard guich and
many of its tributaries proftably Is to use
Chinese cheap labor to do the dead work or
the claims, such as cleaning the ground Of
timber and roots, stripping, running drair
races, etc, leaving tho bedrock work to be
done by white labor. By taking this course
claim owners will realize profit where the
ground Is now worked at loss and extensive
employment be given to white men on bed
rock where now there Is none.
| Such being our conclusion, 1t remains tC
devise some practical plan to carry it into
| execution.
This can best be done by the concerted &C
| ton of the people. Although the claim
owners are mainly interested, the permanent
residents and business men are also concern
ed. In order to ascertain the sentiment o.
the people on the subject it is necessary tina
free and untrammeled ballot shall be taken
each mining district settling the question fol-
itself
These districts vary in the character o
their mining ground, and what is good policy
for one district may not be so for another
As 1t would be wrong for the people OF one
district to force Chinese labor upon another
| so it would be wrong Tor such other to pre-
| vent ii where the first desired it. ..s
We do not invite the mining or other Chi
nese to come into Pritchard gulch. They. al
1 L. - IL. -
of the fact, however, that it has been under
stood heretofore that they would not be per
mitted to come, we deem 1t best to have the
claim owners and bona .fde residents of Sum
NIT Mining District express their views OF
the subject through the ballot box.
| We therefore recommend that such ballot
be taken at Murray on Saturday, July IL
1885, the polls to remain open from nine
| o'clock a. m. until two o'clock p. IN. Of tina
day, and that the form of the ballot shall bt
| Eyes" or mo" upon the following resolu.
ton, viz:
| Resolved, By the claimholders and bona fd
residents of Summit Mining District, thai
in case Chinese miners shall come into Sum
init Mining District they will receive full
protection to person and property, and be
secured in the right to work as they may
choose any mining ground which they may
purchase or lease, or do any dead work upon
other claims, but that this pledge shall not
extend to such of them as shall attempt to dc
bedrock work upon claims owned and opera.
ted by white men, as this work is reserved
for white miners only. r-
| And in order To avoid confusion on the day
Of the election and secure an honest ballot
and count, we appoint Joseph 7. Chase, Ed
ward Nj ofiet and X. s. Burke, to act rs judges
and inspectors at such elections, and receive
and count the votes of all bora fde claim
holders or residents of Summit Mining Dis.
trict, and none others
We also appoint Thos. G. Linn and Chas
| w. ONeill to act as Clerks at said election
| The above gentlemen being selected on the
account of their high standing in the distric,
| as men worthy of the confidence of all, and
direct that the officers of said election be
sworn to discharge their duties faithfully
before the opening of the poll.
| PATRICK FLYNN,
| CHAs w. SARGENT,
| WIN. KELLER,