The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-17

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Columbia and Llneoin. Is Is n greater
sum than The tota. price Of ali the school
izads disposed Of by the state prior 10 the
nnaneia, depression. aud they we're the
choicest.
Immediately before she admission Of
the stale. when Tacoma Vas booming.
scheme vas organized 70 secure possession
Of this section under the placer mining
laws. A number Of gentlemen Of Wash
ingson City got In ION the ground floor "
SIX claims % twenty acres each we're
taken up rs j q. Nc Bride and other per-
soas banded together rs an alleged mining
company. for test. The 10 acres were
estimated 10 be worth more than 10000
for city iotx Ia the continuous struggle
between tie state and these fraudulent
claimants since the mineral fling vas at
tempted 10 fssa. the controversy has been
known as "the Mcbride case.
When pay gold was said 10 have been
found By Mcbride he was a hardware
merchant Subsequently be became
',mining operator. " an organizer of mining
concerns and jobber in mining stocks.
IL Is q matter Of common report IN Tacoma
that his slds Of the expensive litigation
has hoen secretly supported by a few citi-
gems IL the banking and wholesale lumber
business Organized fraud has been al
legeG 3D. the state on every hand. Wit
nessxs have testified ~ the sailing" Of
the land ard 10 having received from Nc
Bride offers Of large compensation to JOIN
the conspiracy. Through some occult
influence. tas general land Office Of the
government has aided strennoasly with
The Tacoma placer miners
q. w. Holcomb, of Washington City,
who eodifed the mining laws and who has
earned a reputation as a successful prAe-
titloaer In land litigation coming before
the interior department. represents Me-
Brides interest The contest has cost the
state approximately $4,000 to date, aud
the placer mine real estate spectators
eanno. certainly have paid out less. The
matter is up on hearing again before the
Olympia lana Office. Attorney Cen
eral Jones. Prof j. T. kimbail, Prot.
4. c. Woodhouse, Mr.. Il. NJ. Reed.
ir.. of the land commission. under whose
personal direction the recent extensive
prospecting af the claims was carried on
aud Sir. Charles Uhlman, the foreman. to-
gegher with host Of witnesses, including
a number Of practical miners. represent
the state Beside Mr.. Holeom6 aud Mr..
MeBaae the other side has been spoken
for by PROT" ben Stretch, civil engi-
nees. Who appears as = mining expert; =
teamster. a welt digger. sn engine driver,
two deputy sheriils and q sQuatter.
TIE kiatory ri this celebrated case runs
somewhat as follows:
Follosiue the appearance Of Mr.. Jones.
ON behalf Of the state. ia 1852 month
was consumed ia hearing this case before
the local land office When the decision
was rendered il was m favor Of the state.
MeBgids's attorneys appealed and the case
weat before United states Land Commits
saonog stone at Washington City. After an
other elaborate presentation Of testimony
the anding OF she general land office was
withheld for ak months. Meantime Mr..
stones son vas retained as an attorney on
tho Mcbride side and Immediately thereai-
ser ) decision was handed down ia favor Of
Mcbride In consequences OF this and sim
liar transactions. Mr. Steele. the chief Jaw
CLERK OF t1e geneFal land department, who
~ nreccaent ana right should have been
delegated 10 write the decision prepared
by NJ. Stone himself. resigned his posi-
ton.
Mr.. Jones then took the case before the
secretary ~ the interior. and was assisted
by Judge Calkias ia 70 presenting it, That
vas in September. is9A During March OF
the present year Secretary Smith re-
inandsd the matter. with An order for
further investigation respecting The quan-
tity Of gold in the gravel The stats board
al land commissioners 80 once consulted
Prof }. l.. klmeali. ex-dlrector OF the
mluts. and he presented report stating
that his examination of the ground led
him - believe Is vas not mincrAlised. lie
also stated how an investigation OF the
se-eal,ed placer claim might be made.
TIE board, upon consideration 81 Prot.
Ktmhait's rvP0st. authorised Mr.. Rrainerd
"a committee IT ere 30 sppsAl for an ex.
tension of time Sna = modification II The
seilaw ct the secretary. The appeal waS
s., vain and the stats saS required 30 reply
between she a9sA % la,y aud the 23ih u
August
IN The meantime A. 7. Ssineford.
speciA inspector OF Land and surveyor
eensfals' ogacss. arrived upon the scsae a.
The representative Of the general l&ai oE-
nee. commissioned - see that justice Ne
done Thomas N. Reed. IT,. sho had
been appointed So eommiisee ofoae by the
lAnd commission TO direct the tnTestiga-
Gon IN consort With tie attorney general
and The experts engaged, applied
IL Mr. SW&negord for a recon-
nsnds5ion on his pAFt shAt The state
be stvrn uaore ssms 10 complete the work
Amer display 81 cluster Mr.. ssineford
took from his pocket 8 telegram from tae
general lSaa ossice. which vent on 10 say
that ''s4aee goa have declined % allos the
state any further asas. va sail proceed
according 10 Instructions" az words 70
that eject Maaiisssiv AR ssiaeford
HAD informed the department. Ct bis ~
faxAg 10 approve the reeais.tson tor an sx-
tension % time before TIE request Tor such
ses.sa Aaa ssss EA4s Issa AAIA. As M