The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-02-10
THE NEW NORTHWEST: DEE
fHE MINERAL LAND CONVENTION

The MINERAL LAND CONVENTION
coNvEnEs At HELENAAND ORGANIZES
FOR EFFECTIVE WORK.
The Plan Of Operations to be Pursued.
The Delegates to the Mineral Land Con-
vention assembled at the court house IN
Helena At 7:30 O'Clock Tuesday evening.
There were nearly 200 delegates accred-
tied. T. G. Merrill, Esq, called the meet
ing to order, and Lee Mantle, Of Butte, was
unanimously elected President. Commit.
tees were appointed on credentials and reso-
lutions-T. G. Merrill, Helena, o. B. O'Ban
non, Deer Lodge, and John A. Leggatt,
Butte, constituting the latter. Tit conven-
ton then adjourned till 10 .. N. Wednes-
day.
On Resembling, and before the commit
tees reported, several addresses were made
aud great earnestness manifested in the
work in hand. The resolutions finally
reported and unanimously adopted declare
the convention views as . pending public
calamity the alarming danger Of the n. T.
r. K. Co, acquiring mountainous mineral
lands in the Territory, and resolve, sub
stantially-
That a Central Executive Committee OF
five be appointed by the President 81 the
convention, who have power to appoint sub
committees in the several districts; to employ
such professional or skilled assistance rs
may be necessary; and is also directed to
prepare and forward to the Department Of
the Interior, with the least possible delay,
proofs in such form as MAJ be deemed most
efficient of the mineral character of lands
already selected by the railroad company.
It is further directed 10 protest against the
issuance of patents or other evidence OF title
to the railroad company, on these and all
other mineral lands In the Territory, and to
present a memorial to the President, Dele
gate Toole, Secretary Villas, the presiding
officers of Congress, and the chairmen OF the
committees on Territories, embodying these
resolutions, the draft of q law to cover the
case, and . petition for favorable legislation
to equitably adjust the disposition Of lands
within the Northern Pacific land grant.
Messrs. T. G. Merrill, Helena, E. II. Irvine,
Butte; j. W. Buskett, Jefferson Co.; R. S.
Kelley, Deer Lodge; and John s. Harris,
Helena, were appointed the Executive Com
mittee.
The President Of the Convention was also
suthorized to appoint . finance committee of
three, with power to appoint sub-commit-
to carry out the objects of the Convention,
and to disburse the same on order of the
Executive committee. The President ap-
pointed on this committee John A. Leggatt,
Butte; Thos. Cruise, Helena and Jno. W.
Plummer, Of Granite.
TIE President was directed to fill any
vacancies on committees, and after a vote OF
thanks to Mr.. Merrill the Convention ad-
journed subject to the call of the President.
The Convention acted with zeal, TEN.
pered with deliberation, and hes evolved q
well matured plan Of operations that should
be successful. It is perhaps owing to the
fact that Commissioner Sparks stopped
everything but bis salary while he was in the
Land Office that the applications for patent
on these lands were caught in the general
gorge there, and as we never have thanked
him for anything before except his resigna
ton, w do now express our gratitude if this
estoppal was an incident of the general
shutdown. Patents were applied for on
lands in this county Dec. 9th, 1856, passed
the ordeal of the Local Land Office and
were certified up as correct. Notwithstand-
ing the assuring kilograms from the depart
ment and The profound observation that
ssthe Northern Pacific Company was not en-
titled to any mineral lands" these vast areas
| Of mineral lands applied for were, and are
still, in extreme danger of being conveyed
tothe Northern Pacific r. r. Company, ard
the rescue Of any of them thereafter is prob
lemati:al. The Convention seems to have
devised q thorough system Of procuring
proofs where minerals are known to exist on
these lands. That proof it is necessary to
present at the General Land Office ia incon-
troyertible form. 1t will require money to
do efficiently the work mapped out, but less
than that undertaken would invite failure.
We therefore trust that the sub committees
will be efficient, capable: and industrious in
the duties assigned them, and that the work
Of all will be completed and brought to the
attention Of the powers that be and control
these things as speedily as possible. It
would be worse than negligence if, after the
machinery is in motion, it should not be
used with nnremitting vigilance and energy
to accomplish the purpose undertaken. Nc
time should be lost in preparing proofs, MOI
should the hands of the executive committee
be tied by lack Of funds. It is an emergency
to be met vigorously and unitedly.