The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-15

land in California by the fraudulent use
Of locators. The whole country, whether
1t contains mineral or not, is to be located
as placer claims. and when the locators
have acquired title. they are to deed to
single corporation, thus creating mon
ster mining corporation, which will have
for its object the sale of this vast mining
property to an English syndicate.
In all the instances we have herein re-
ferred to. English experts who were sent
out to make examination. or English
promoters, were parties to the fraud. 1t
is the easiest thing in the world to work
8 mining swindle upon the, English pub
lie with the aid Of Engast promoters.
Recently in one of the district land Of
fees in this State party gave notice that
he proposed to make application for
mining claim covering 100000 acres. 1t
is well known that syndicate of Eng
lish capitalists has been formed for the
purpose of getting title to large guam
tity of mining land. This syndicate is
probably to be the instrumentality of
working these claims off on the English
public at an enormous figure.
The question naturally arises: What
profit will all this be to the State of
CaIiforniao Tho apswor 10 not for IN
seek. 1t will be as proftless as the cattle
swindles were to the States of Texas and
Wyoming, or the timber and vineyard
swindles were to the people of California.
Whey ardry made no perceptible adj
vance by reason of the sale of vineyards
at an enormous price to victimized in
vestors. 1t is not actual, operative min
ing that is being promoted. It is not
that species of enterprise which gives
profitable employment to the inhaDit-
ants of country. 1t is merely we'll
devised. cunningly planned swindle to
dispose of Improbable mining prospects
at enormous figures to weak-minded in
vestors, who are carried away by the
excitement of prevailing fad.
Legitimate enterprise has everything
to fear from this species of speculative
mining. The history of all such booms
perpetually repeats itself. There came q
time when the most legitimate cattle en-
teprise in the country would not have
sold for ten cents on the dollar on it's
actual merit or intrinsic value. There
came time when the most profitable
vineyard would not have brought $40 an
acre on the London market; and the eff
forts now in progress to consolidate pre-
tended mining claims, comprising beds
of sterile granite and .basaltic canyons, for
the purpose of swindling the English
public will very soon reach a period of
exposure, and for half century there
after legitimate enterprise needing CAPT.
tai will be under ban.
In the interest, therefore. of legitimate
mining, the people Of California should
discountenance these wildcat schemes.
They are frsught with danger to the en-
tire mining future of the State. Honesty
in this. as in everything else, will
be found to be the very best policy. For
tunately during the winter just passed
one of the leading writer's for London
financial journals visited California. He
returned to England fully equipped with
exceptional knowledge of the natural re-
sources and highly intelligent upon the
legitimate enterprises of the State. That
higher intelligence which arises out of
personal observation and personal con-
tact on the ground with actual conditions
will be available now to protect the Eng
lish public against the pitfalls which are
being prepared for it; and. what is of
equal importance, to protect legitimate
industry Of California from the disgrace
with which it is threatened.
THAT San Bernardino case is q strange
one and to those not familiar with thu