The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-08-17
is 1T a ROBBERY?

From recent Washington dispatches 1t
appears that the scheme to turn over the
vast fields OF asphaltum and the deposits
of precious metals on the Uintah reserva
ton by lease to private company, is
likely to receive support from the Interior
Department.. That must be because some
undue "inflooence'' has been brought to
bear. or the full particulars relating to
the matter have not been pressed upon
the attention Of the Secretary. 1t has
been already published that the special
agent who inquired into the business had
been captured by the gentleman who was
negotiating for the lease.
Be that as it may, it is very likely that
this gigantic scheme will succeed ana
eastern capitalists make magnificent
grab OF Utah mineral lands, unless some
thing is done very quickly to prevent it.
Our Delegate and the Secretary onght to
be communicated with by telegraph, and
such steps taken as will secure full and
fair inquiry into the whole proceedings
before this deal is consummated.
The following communication in sup
port of the article in yesterdays HERALD
is worthy the attention OF the Governor
and the public, as it looks very much as
if the territory was to be plundered in
stead of enriched by the leasing OF those
lands:
To the Editor of THE HERALD:
Will you kindly allow me space to ar
que the proposed lease OF all mineral
lands on the Uintah reservation to syn
dictate, as outlined by Major Robert
Waugh and "H. G. So in Sundays
Tribune. The major, after speaking of
bis ''meritorious public services, ,"
''creGitable record'' and complete vim
dication, - kindly informs the public that
he has succeeded in the project of leasing
675, 900 acres of the finest grazing lands in
the world for the benefit of "sthese Utes.'
He is silent as to whether it was in any
way beneficial to him. He further states
ssIn pursuance to the same policy,
allowed Mr. w. A. Perry of Denver, to
effect lease of mineral lands on both
these reservation with the Indians, sub
ject to approval by the Indian bureau.
The terms of this lease bind
the parties in bond of 500,
600 to prosecute the work of mining
these minerals to their utmost, subject at
all times to termination of lease by the
Secretary of the Interior if the terms are
not lived up to, thus insuring continu-
Gus development of these vast deposits Of
asphaltum and elaterite, building up a
grand business right in our very midst,
bringing outside capital to our very doors,
causing others TO invest, and, better than
all, bringing about the building of the
longed for road to Salt Lake city. Mark
what l say. There is no other centre
from which may radiate an influence that
can ever throw off the incubus OF Nor
moniam. Every man who holds these
| 75, hf,o H.
velopment of the asphaItum resources of
this valley by advocating the leasing of
the lands of these Indians. There is no
reason for opposing it except such as are
suggested by interested parties for mer-
cenary motives. There is absolutely the
entire future of this great territory de-
pending upon the success of the lease, -
etc.
From the stress laid upon that last as.
sertion one would infer that if Perry g.
Co. don't get lease the country in ques
ton would sink and the future of the
territory be eternally blighted. 1t is ever
thus, when steal, or subsidy or a gift
from the government is asked for. The
parties borrow the cheek of one of the
governments long cared crosses, then
exhaust all ingenuity to show the I'M
mense benefit to be derived by everyone
else. Their charity in that particular is
inexhaustible. Their modesty forbids the
slightest allusion to the true inwardness
OF their scheme. Let US for q moment
sum up the modesty of the request: The
Uintah and Uncompaghre reservations
cover in an irregular shape about one
hundred miles square, lying in
Uintah, Wasatch and Summit coun-
ties. 1t is paradise for water.
grass, timber, fish, game, and
aside from the its wealth in asphaltum
deposits, is known to be rich in lead,
silver, copper and gold. 1t is believed
by prospectors acquainted with the min
eral resources of those reservations to be
the equal OF any gold country in the ter
ritory or anywhere else, and it is highly
probable that Mr.. Perry & Co. think so
to. Just think of a syndicate getting
lease for term OF years on q hundred
miles square from the government, a
hundred miles OF the richest mineral
country in the world to the exclusion of
everybody elsel
If the government will give her citizens
an equal show at minerals on that reser-
walton under the act of May 10, 1872, 'sto
promote the development OF the mining
resources of the United States,' most
wise law, law under which all OF our
mines have been since located. and
which have developed into the grandest
system OF mining known-the incentive
to development held out alike to all, the
benefits will accrue to Salt Lake city and
the entire territory and the railroads,
more speedily than if the stupendous
privileges which rightfully belong tc the
people were placed in the hands of Perry
& Co., or any company. The people ac-
quainted with the situation do not want
the feet of a favored corporation placed
upon their necks. They want the reser-
walton opened to each and every person
alike in accord with the spirit OF free and
equal rights.
The people should lose no time in OPP