The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-20
An Enthusiastic Meeting of the Min.
eral Land Association al the
College City.
Speeches Dwelling on tho Duty
Which Devolves Upon All
Montanians To-Day.
Resolutions Calling on Congress 10 Pre-
serve the States Mineral Land
for the People.

DEER LopaE, Feb. l9.-lSpecial. l-Puru-
ant 10 notice, a meeting of the Mineral
Land Association of the State Of Montana
was held tonight nt the court house at 100
o'clock 10 listen to an address by Thos. q.
Merrill. of Helena. TO further strengthen
the organization. All the representative
business and mining men Of Deer Lodge
were present, with many from Champion
and other mining points in the county.
Prominent among the mining men present
were Capt. J. H. Mills. A. IL. Mitchell. j. N.
Fox, VIM. Facer L. T.. Mills, VIM. +. Shan
ley, &. ID. Kenyon. II. s. Reed, Thos.
Strange and Moses Menard.
The meeting was called TO order by DIR.
A. III. Mitchell. president of the association,
and w. Ii. Trippct was appointed secretary.
Thercupon Mr.. Merrill was introduced. He
began by reading the published letter of
Thomas +. Oakes, president of the North
ern Pacific railroad company, claiming
that the railroad company was entitled 10
all the odd sections within the railroad
grant which were not known 10 contain
minerals Mt the time of survey. An attor-
ney of the Northern Pacific company
claimed in his argument before the depart
ment of the interior that the railroad
company was entitled TO all lands
in which minerals were not discovered
prior 10 July ,, 1864, the date of the grant.
There were no quartz minessdiscoyered In
Montana at that date. The decisions Of
Judges Sawyer and Fields were to the effect
that the grant to the railroad took effect In
,,ra anft hat 10 ha
lects the land as soon as surveyed, and the
title goes back TO the time of the grant.
This would give 10 the company about two
million acres of the mineral lands of Mon-
tana, already selected, lands generally worth
less for any purpose except mineral. In
Deer Lodge county alone by
close estimate there were at least one thou
sand claims Of mineral properties located
upon railroad land and not patented. Mr..
Merrill showed that the greatest danger
was impending 20 the private ownership in
these properties that the railroad company
was urging the issue OF patents for these
lands, and if this calamity is to be pro-
vented the people must act and act az once.
The decisions of the courts seem 10 DO
against as and therefore the proper remedy
il 10 apply 10 congress, asking for legisla-
tion requiring that the lands be examined
ana the railroad company be required 10
make proof Of the non-mineral character OF
the lands at the time the patents we're Is
sued.
After the addrcss.of Mr.. Merrill the associa-
tion was addressed by Capt. J. II. Mills, the
Hon. j. c. Robinson, DR.. j. II. Owings, y
n. Fox and o. Is. 0'Bannon. Many per-
sons subscribed for stock in the association.
The following resolutions were adopted by
the association, ON motion of J. N. Fox:
Whereas. The Northern Pacific Railroad
company is using ita most untiring efforts
10 obtain patents to about 10000 acres Of
gold, silver, copper and lead-b bearing miner
al lands of Montana 10 which
they are not entitled under
the net of congress giving them their grant;
and, whereas, the company has selected and
Ind certified TO 10 by the officers of the
United States land office at Heenn, the old
numbered sections In nearly all the sur
veyed lands in Deer Lodge county, en-
bracing more than n thousand mining
| prop critics discovered and recorded but not
patented; and, whereas, II the patents 10
these lands should be issued 10 this COM
pany. IL would irreyocHbly take these min
ing properties from their rightful owners.
| Now, be IL therefore
Resolved That we view with alarm the
effort Of the railroad company to acquire
title TO these mountainous mineral lands,
including all the best mining camps Of the
state, and should these patents be issued 90
this company II would be the greatest out
rage ever perpetrated upon any state or ter
ritOry and the grentest calamity that could
possibly befnll the citizens OF Montana;
and he IL further
Resolved, hat il is the duty Of every
citizen 90 aid and assist in every way IN
their power, the efforts Of the Mineral Lnnd
Association of Montana TO preserve these
lands 10 the people; and be IL further
Resolved. That the grateful recognition
and acknowledgement Of the people of
Montana are duo 10 the secretary of the in-
terror, John W. Noble for his conscientious
endeavOr TO protect the people from tho
grnsping hand and lawless encroachmeuts
Of HE Northern Pacific Railroad company,
by suggesting 10 congress such legislation
as is necessary 10 save these mineral lands
10 the people.
The meeting was success in every par
/ ticular.