The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-25
IDAHO is INTERESTED
She Has a Share in the Fight With the
Northern Pacific.
AS TO THE MINERAL LANDS
Action Taken by the State LegisIa-
ture Regarding This Matter
The Hartman Bill Com
mended.
Special Correspondence OF the Standard.

Special Correspondence OF the Standard.
WARDNER, Idaho, Jan. 2l-The miners
of the Occur d'Alene mineral belt are TAX
ing much interest in the fight with the
Northern Pacific Railroad company for
possession of the mineral lands of the
northwestern states. There is a large
tract of mineral-bearing land in this part
of rhe world that will be affected by tho
settlement of this question. In the state
legislature now in session at Boise Repre-
sentative Neill of this county has been
active in pushing consideration of this
question. 4 fjont committee was APP
pointed TO draft memorial with refer
cnce TO the mineral lands within the
Northern Pacific grant.
The committee recommended that the
following be at once telegraphed 10 the
United States senate and n copy be
mailed to the Montana legislature:
To the Honorable Senate ~ The United States:
The legislature Of the state OF Idaho respect
fully urges upon your honorable body the i'm
portance OF the immediate passage of the bill
known rs the Hartman mineral land bill, pro-
vdng for the segregation OF the IMMORAL lands
from the grant to the Northern Pacific Railroad
company within the states OF Montana and
Idaho. We urge immediate action because OF
the great material interests involved. Memorial
in due form will follow by mail.
Tho committee also recommended
adoption of the following memorials:
To The Honorable Senate OF me United States:
Your memorialist the legislature OF the state
Of Idaho respectfully represents 10 your honor
able body as follows, to wit: That a large
portion OF the lands within the limits Of the
grants 10 the Northern Pacific Railroad COM
pany in the state OF Idaho Is known t. be min
eral lands that many valuable mines and pros
poets are located upon the odd sections within
the limits OF said grant. That the issuing of
patents TO said land, thus yestng title
thereto In the said railway company must result
In irreparaDle loss To mine owners prospectors
and all people living In the great mining dis
trcts situated within tho limits OF said grant
mat the immediate passage OF the bill known
as the Hartman mineral land bill now ponding
before your honorable body, which provides for
segregation OF these mineral lands from the
operation OF said grant, before the issuing of
patent, is absolutely necessary to the end that
the rights OF miners and pro ,pectors as well as |
communities generally within the limits of said
grant, may DO protected
The Boise Statesman says: concur |
rent resolution was also presented by the |
committee instructinG tho governor TO |
take proper steps TO cnjoin the secretary |
of the interior from issuing patents to tho |
Northern Pacific to mineral lands held |
and claimed by Idaho citizens and to con-
with that end in view.
After reading the report Wyman of tho
joint committee explained the reasons for
the committee urging haste in tho prom
Uses. The ruling of the secretary of tho
interior requiring the miners to establish
the existence of mineral in the Northern |
Pacific grant nj this time worked n great
hardship OH the miners, in tho dead of
winter, TO establish that fact; therefore,
unless proceedings were stayed, the min
ers would not be able to flo their contests
within tho prescribed 60 days.
Neill of Shoshone said that in his opIn-
ion the secretary of tho interior had been
flirting with the Northern Pacific. He
had recommended TO tho house tho pas.
sage of tho Hartman bill, but, n short
time afterwards, reversed himself in n
recommendation TO the senate. Some
thing was accountable for tho socretary's
change of heart, a thing that was in direct
conflict with the decision of the United
States supreme court. Neill went over
the entire question and, in conclusion,
asked that thoro be not a dissenting vote
against tho committees report.
Bennett of Owyhee said he thought the
people was greater than congress or tho
secretary of the interior. To require tho
miners TO establish whether or not ground
covered with 10 feet of snow was mineral
or nonmineral was preposterous. Every
thing possible should be done TO stay pro-
ceedings TO tho end that the interests of
the people be subserved.
The report of tho committee was
adopted unanimously.
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