The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-21
MINERAL LANDS DISPUTE,
An Effort Being Made to Have
1t Settled in a Friendly
Way.
Southern Pacific's Proposition to
Have a Joint Inspection
Accepted.

Attorney John M. Wright, one of the
members of the mineral lands committee
of the California Miners Association, per-
sonally informed Land Agent w. H. Mills
of the Southern Pacific in writing yester-
day of the appointment recently by the
Miners Association of a committee to act
Jointly with similar committe from the
Southern Pacific in an endeavor to settle,
amicably and satisfactorily if possible, the
mineral lands controversy.
An answer is now awaited from Mr..
lis. The communication tells its own
story as follows:
Mr. W. II. Mills, Office Southern Pacific Com
pdny, San Francisco, CdL-DEAR SIR: l have
received from J. J. Crawford, State Mineralo-
gist, communication of which the following
is copy:
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal Aug. II, 1895.
Mr.. John NJ. Wright-DEAR SIR: In reply to
your inquiry of this date will state: About two
weeks prior to June last visited the office of the
Southern Pacific Company IN this City aDd held an
interview with w. III. Mills and think Mr. Singer
/ suggested to Mr.. Mills that it was desirable
that some sort of agreement should be reached
between the Miners Association and the railroad
company, and that stop should be put to the hue
and cry which the valley press was making
After considerable discussion Mr.. Mils finally
proposed that the railroad company and the
sioner: that the railroad company would furnish
transportation for the two commissioners to the
different points throughout the State which they
might desire to visit: and that the two commits
sioners should Jointly act in determining the min
eral or non-mineral character of what are known
as the "unpatented railroad lands throughout the
State.
Mr. Mills stated that the railroad company
would abide by the decision of the commissioners
selected in this manner and would file relinquIsh-
ments to the Government OF It's claims against any
and all lands determined by such commission to be
mineral land. Yours truly j. j. CRAWFORD.
The subject matter of the above-quoted letter
was stated by Mr.. Crawford to the executive
committee of the California Miners Associa-
ton at it's meeting held in the Maple Room of
the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, on or about
June g. 1895
The committee took no definite action re-
garding the matter at that time, for the reason
that your proposition stated by Mr. Crawford
had not been reduced to writing.
Said committee at its meeting held
on Friday, August 8, 1895, however in
structed the associations committee on
mineral lands to communicate with your COM
pany and with yourself as its representa- tive,
with the view OF ascertalning definitely
whether some such arrangement as that pro-
posed by you in your conversation with Mr..
Crawford can be reached between your CON-
pany and the California Miners Association.
1t is with this view, and in pursuance of said
instructions, that, as member of said mineral
lands committee, and at its request, and at the
request of A. III. Ricketts,, Its chairman, now
Said mineral lands committee is composed of
A. H. Ricketts,, f. G. LOTUS, c. +. Hoffman,
Charles G. Yale and John Nj. Wright At the
last above-named meeting of the executive
committee Hon. J. II. Neff, president of the as
ISOLATION, was specially authorized to act with
said committee for the purposes indicated by
this letter. Your early answer is respectfully
requested. Yours very truly
JOHN NJ. WRIGHT,