The Mineral argus., 1885-11-26

at the national capital looking afte
the interest of his constituency, wa
interviewed by representative of tn.
Washington National Republican OF
the I4th inst. regarding Montana ant
its industries. From the following ex
tract from the interview it is apparent
sour Joe' is alive to all questions sub
ject to legislation that effect our terri
tory and is exerting himself to secure
desired results:
| IL have found much to occupy me her,
in looking after such appointments as were
likely To fall to Montana. and such depart.
mental business as was incident to nv Off.
ciaI position In the pursuit of these duties.
obstacles and delays which do not obtain il,
private life are necessarially frequent aud
sometimes perplexing, but the uniform
courtes- and kindness shown me by the
president. cabinet officers and the heads of
bureaus have done much 10 counterbalance
! these difficulties.
''Mudi interest has been felt in the course
to be pursued by the administration rela-
tive to territorial appointments. The his
tory OF the territories justifes the assertion
that they have been considered in the past
as sori of hospital for the care and main
tenance of political weaklings from the
States; sut, happily, this policy is giving
way to more just and enlightened public
sentiment, which demands that their local
government shall be intrusted to their own
citizens This sentiment was so potential
that it bund place in the national plat
forms # both political parties in their last
conventions.
ut is but fair to say that there have been
departures from the platform in this respect
In several Instances, but in the main it has
been adhered to; and we find cause for con-
graduation in even partial realization of
our hopes, especially in Montana, where
the governor, secretary. and a number of
other important officers have been chosen
from residents of the territory.
'Moitana seems to be attracting consid-
cradle aIsntion in the east as territory of
great xRities," remarked the reporter.
"fes, and deservedly so. The territory
is enjoying the greatest prosperity, and has
a most inviting future. Since the compile
ton of the Sorthern Pacific and Utah rail
roads our population has rapidly increased,
and capital has been attracted to us Our
valleys are Yielding largely in agricultural
products AN, vast tracts of desert lands are
being reclaimed by irrigation. A million
head of cattle, l20, 900 head of horses and
l,2OO,OO0 he'd of sheep are grazing upon
the HutritiCis grasses of that territory.
Our mines a'e the most productive of any
in the counry. and, although that interest
is IN its Infancy, the mineral output for
lss5 will approximate in value s2s, 600. 900 "
How abut your population?"
'Our population is close ON to 1000 |
No census has been taken for long time
but the wee at the last election showed
~, 969 mae citizens over the age of q |
years in tie territory
IL see dIai Mr.. Sparks, commissioner of
the genera land Office, has been establish
iIg some lew rules regulating the cutting
% timberon mineral lands How will they
effect Montana >"
IL have felt the greatest anxiety about
tiis new circular, and some time ago called
on the secretary of the int, rior and pro-
tested against its approval. subsequently,
addressing "A letter To him rcciting the mis-
chef which would follow its enforcement.
and the great hardships il would entail
upon there>idents of the mineral regions
Commissioner Sparks interprets the act
It congress approved June ID, 1878, relat-
l'g to cutting timber on mineral lands, to
mean that each individual must cut the
limier himself or by his personal agent,
and that cutting timber to be used AS fuel
in quartz mills, smelters and reduction ,
woNs is no, such mining purposes as is
by the act referred to, but is ,
iorSdd,n thereby.
'flis statute is "a remedial one, and AS ,
'uo is,in my opinion, entitled to "a liberal !
lia a. that given to it by Commissioner !
'psks would, OF course, suspend all min
ngDl lerations in the west and throw thous-
ma If people out of employment, a con- !
iitisn of things which am sure lie does /
'ot 'ish to bring about. There would be
ON, plausibility in his construction of the v
tatie il there was any Law by which tim il
'erC tiInbered lands could he purchased :
n lineral districts, but there is none, and a
miniain that this statute was enacted for
heery purpose Of remedying this condi-
ioIot things. "a
''he right to use timber for mining and u
oie,iic purposes in its most cpmprehen- :,
ivaignilication has been expressly author u
let by the interior department since the . .
rs settlement of mineral lands, and mill 4
oE of dollars have been invested in .,
ln, and machinery upon the strength of h
e Il would be manifestly wrong to under Il
Ak to take away the right now. as such q
ctn would result in the immediate de,- 1t
-uion of the mining interests. and the
iral invested therein. ~
But aside from these considerations il i =
l.t. A..