Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1888-08-25

Commissioner stoeksIager's ObIec-
tioa 60 n senate Mea.ure-Timber
ON Public Isnds-A Propositton
which L. said 60 be in the Inter.
eat Of Rig MfnlnE CnmnaniaaL

ttoa 60 n senate Measure-rimser
on Public Iaads-A Proposition
WhfcI, L. said In be In the Inter.
est Of Big aintsE Companies.
WASHINGTON, Aug. Ex-senator Stew.
art offered an amendment to the Sundry
Civil bill a few days ago which the Senate
adopted under the impression, apparently.
that 1t was little more than formal. The
amendment provided that no part Of the
money appropriated by this Act shall be
used in the investigation Of any case, or
the prosecution of any person in the min.
ing region Of the United States for cut
ting. for mining and domestic purposes,
dwarfed or scrubby timber unfit to be
sawed into lumber Of commercial value"
Commissioner Stockslager, who usually
knows what he is talking about, said to-
day to the Examiner correspondent that in
his judgment the amendment Is extremely
impo.itic and p~rejudicial TO the welfare Of
the residents of the Westetn country and
to the interests Of the country at large. II
allowed to become q law 1t will, he says,
open many ways to accomplish the denud-
alton Of public timber lands and thereby
result not only in depriving the settlers
upon the public domain Of their timber
legitimately needed for their mining claims,
farms and ranches, but in the inevitable
injury to the soil and climate on all the
mining sections Of the public domain.
THE SUITS AGAINST sEvADA COMPANIES.
1.-THE proposed legislation" said Mr..
Stockslager, " is purely in the interest Of
large and wealthy mining corporations,
foreign as well as native, and also in the
interest Of railroad corporations who have,
in many portions Of the country, monopo-
lized the cordwood cutting and charcoal in
dustries. / Am warranted in stating that
1t originated in a desire to prevent the
prosecution of anticipated suits which
have since been ordered upon the recon-
mendation Of this office against the Rich
nond Mining Company and the Eureka
Consolidated Mining Company, owning
mines in Nevada. for the recovery Of Q
large sum, the value Of the timber cut OF
public lands. These two companies alone
have literally laid bare the hills. mountain
ranges and canyons within a radius of 80
miles from Eureka, not sparing the under
growth, but taking everything from three
inches and upwards, not simply dwarfed
and serubby timber, but mahogany, cedar
and pine. Even stumps Of trees have
been removed.
A BRITISH CORPORATION.
"These d~epredations are rendered the
more aggravating by the fact that the
Richmond Mining Company is exclusively
a foreign and British corporation, orgsn-
lied in London, England, having for its
manager an alien who is a British noble.
man connected with the Duke OF Northum-
berland. / am convinced that the effect
of the proposed legislation will be inimical
to the public interests involved in the
preservation Of public lands and the pro.
lection Of the timber thereon in every
State and Territory where there are min.
ing lands and mines already opened, and
will be a great injustice and hardship to
the large class Of honest, thrifty and hard
working settlers who are endeayoring to
make homes for themselves and posterity;
who, in order to enable them to remain
and work out their laudsble purpose, must
have the timber of however an inferior
character saved to them for fuel and other
domestic necessities"
Mr.. Stockslager will send a letter EN-.
bodying his views to Congressman Burns
of Missouri, who has charge of the bill in
the House.