The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-07
Vigorous Action Will Be
Taken by the Miners
Association.
NEEDED FUNDS GUARANTEED.
The Committee on Protection OF
Mineral Lands States Things
Done and Needed.

| of the California Miners Association,
called to consider the question of saving
mineral lands from being grabbed up by
the railroads under their land grants, was
held last evening in the Marble room of
the Palace Hotel. President Neff occu-
pied the chair.
| A. H. Ricketts,, who had gone to Wash
ington to present the case Of the Miners
Association before the President, detailed
his experiences, as published in the CALL
several days ago.
| a communication from committee of
the Women's Congress, which was present,
was read, asking that the miners COM
mittee adopt resolution favoring female
suffrage. On suggestion of the chairman
the matter was referred to the convention
| to meet in October.
! The committee on the protection of the
| mineral lands presented it's report. The
| principal points bearing on the question of
! the evening were as follows:
| Since the appointment of this committee
| protests against railroad selections have been
| prepared and filed in the Marysville, Los An
| independence and VisaEa land districts, on
| the ground that the lands embraced therein
were more valuable for mining than for agri-
cultural purposes.
| These protests which are made in the name of
Edward II. Benjamin, are, with one about to
be filed at Marysville, eleven in number, and
involve in round numb ers 100000 acres of
land. Protests have also been flied in the
Redding and Los Angeles land Offices on the
ground OF the insuficiency of the newspaper
publication of railroad selections by townships
and ranges only in those districts.
No disposition has yet been made of any of
these protests, but If information had there
about be true, it is intended to dismiss these
protests without notice to the protestant and
patent Immediately issue thereafter; this is
quite likely after the Roseburg, Oregon, pre-
cedent established last April by Commissioners
LamerouX.
Should the Land Department see fit to order
hearings upon the protests upon the merits
MADE by Mr.. Benjamin in behalf of this asso-
cation, 1t would be necessary to go to trial
thereon in the said several land districts in
which such protests have been filed.
In default of condensation these protests will
be dismissed as such dismissal win operate as
II no protests were ever filed, and the lands
will pass to the railroad company as agri-
cultural lands regardless OF their true char
acter.
To sustain the allegations of these protests it
will be necessary, in the opinion of this COM
mittee, to expend, perhaps large sums of
money in the procurement of legal counsel and
the necessary and proper expenses of witnesses
and incidental expenses. 1t does not seem
proper that the laws of the United States can
be only observed by the efforts of the people of
mining State, but that appears to be the
present complexion of affairs.
No false sense of security should be INDUCED
in. The railroad companies are active and
persistent and undoubtedly they are doing
everything in their power to batter down such
building around the mineral lands. Much has
been done with but comparatively little outlay
OF money.
C. W. Cross said that the rules of the
trouble. With these the mineral
claimant has very little chance
He moved that the Legislative
committee be instructed to prepare
blanks for making protests and have cir
culars with instructions printed and dis
| tributed to all branch associations and
that they be asked to forward protests to
Washington. This he believed would have
considerable influence.
John M. Night believed that the only
thing that would do any good was to
continue the good work of Mr. Ricketts, in
bringing the matter before the president.
First, bear in mind, he said, "that the
Southern Pacific will do all that money
and ability can do. You cannot compete
! with its army of trained servants You
cannot support the bureaus, the law de-
partment and army of servants that would
be necessary to compete with the railroad
| company"
J. J. Crawford said that he had called to
see w. H. Mills of the Southern Pacific
Company, and had asked him to Join the
miners in passing the committees bill
through Congress.
This he would not promise to do, but
he finally promised that he would agree
that if this association would appoint
man the Southern Pacific would appoint
another and agree that the two should
decide all disputed questions as to mineral
and non-mineral land"
The motion made by Mr.. Cross was
adopted.
On motion of A. Carrigan, the chairman
was instructed to appoint committee of
three to revise the constitution and by
laws. The following were appointed:
TREY L. Ford, A. Carrigan and E. J.
| Lotus.
The Legislative committee reported
bill which it had prepared to be presented
to the next Congress. The principal
change from the present law was in regard
to the proof necessary to establish mineral
claims. 1t provides that:
The presence of rock in place bearing gold
silver, cinnabar, petroleum or other valuable
mineral shall be regarded as presumptlve evil
dence that the land containing the same
| is mineral in character; and provided
further that in investigating the character of
land with view to ascertaining whether it is
more valuable for mineral than for agricultural
| purposes. evidence may be taken of the mineral
discovered or developed djacent to such land
proof of which shall be taken as presumptive
evidence that the land in question is mineral in
character; and provided, further, that wher-
/ ever land is proven to be within we1l-defined
mineral belt, such land shall be deemed, pre-
sumed and taken to be mineral land, unless
| the contrary is proven; and provided, further,
that the provisions of this chapter shall be
literally construed, with view to aid the ap-
piicant in procuring title to the mineral lands
of the United States.
There was long discussion as to means
of raising sufficient funds for carrying on
the work of the committee. Finally a
motion made by President Neff was adopt
| ed, giving the Committee on the Protection
of Mineral Lands full power to act as they
may deem best and guaranteeing
them that the executive committee would
be responsible for all expenditures.
A letter was received from the Selby
Smelling and Lead Company enclosing a
check for $500.