The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-29
MINERS AND Mr. MILLS,
Opposition Developed to the
Compromise Course as
Suggested.
THE FIGHT TO BE MAINTAINED
A Demand That the Other Side
First Withdraw Its Land
Selections.

The mineral lands committee of the
Miners Association did not fall in with the
desire of Mr.. Mills of the Southern Paclhc.
1t met yesterday afternoon in Chairman
a. H. Ricketts, Office, pursuant to his call,
all except E. c. Lotus being present, VIZ:
John NJ. Wright, Charles 6. Yale, Z. Il.
Hoffman and Mr.. Ricketts,. But 1t dld not
do what Mr.. Mills wanted it TO dot did
not agree to the plan for an amlcable
method of ascertaining the character OF
the lands which the head Of the railroad
company's land department had proposed
in his long letter to Mr.. Wright. 1t con-
Guided, instead, to play equally as good
game as Mr.. Mills.
Just before the members formally went
into meeting Mr. Wright read letter from
Mr.. Lotus. which made interesting read
ing matter and indicated how the wind
was blowing Mr.. Lotus sentiments were
these, similar ones being expressed IN
communication to Mr. Ricketts,:
l am opposed to compromise on the terms
laid down by Nj Mills. I am also opposed to
giving any one man the power 10 treat with
the railroad company and then leave the final
disposition OF the controversy IN Inc hands OF
Office. ----s ''''7
| am convinced that the course we have
take into consId erstion the Valley railroad OPP
position the late court decisions, the recent
anti-railrOad meeting in your City which called
a convention to take action against railroad
interference in politics and legislation, the
ii, 900 miners, and you mig hit add 80 per cent
OF the population of this State, who have been
driven TO desperation by the unjust exactions
of this monopoly, all arrayed against the cor
rupting power OF the railroad, and, II l am not
much mistaken in the signs of the times, the
Southern Pacific viii be glad to take what be-
n nRODla n
this State and Nation.
We must be fair and ask nothing but what
belongs to US and accept nothing less. In my
opinion q compromise between the miners OF
this State and the Southern Pacific officials
would amount to nothing as far the Govern
ment land is concerned. Congress has said the
mineral land should not be included in rail-
road grants, and think Congress is where we
viii have TO make our fight if the railroad
company persists in patenting our mineral
lands as agricu ltural.
Chairman Ricketts, then opened the pro-
ceedings with a brief statement OF the
purpose for which the committee had come
together. He said:
At the last meeting of the executive COM
mittee OF the California Miners Association,
held at the Palace Hotel August 8, it was
finally concluded, after several counter resol u
tons and much debate, TO select this committee
TO confer with the land grant railroads in this
State upon the question OF an amicable adjust
ment of the classification of lands lying within
the limits of the several railroad grants, and
upon this committee was conferred the power
to act in such matter. subsequently certain
correspondence was had upon this subject be-
tween John NJ Wright, member of and rep
Tesenting this committee and w. H. Mills rep
Tesenting the Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pany. These letters viii be read 10 you by the
secretary.
1t is because of these facts that you have been
called together at this time. The Importance
OF whatever action you may take in the prem
ises cannot be Overestimated, as the task awaits
you TO formulate plan which win be accept
able to both the railroad companies and the
Miners in a matter which materially affects the
mining industry OF this State.
peaceful settlement of the differences
which have arisen between the parties means
much to both, as well as to the people of the
State generally, in the settlement of the
various questions involved, particularly the
one affecting the title TO the lands lying within
those limits. The greater area of mineral land
LETT open 10 the prospector the greater the
chance OF discovering new ana rlch deposlts,
and the history OF mining in this State during
the last two or three years has done much to
demonstrate that the great gold belt OF Cali
fornia is far from being worked out; that, on
the contrary, as q whole; it has yet received
but superficial working and Development
Renewed activity now prevails in new and
many of the old mining regions, and the
miner of to-day is reaping large rewards for
his industry and pluck in reopening aban-
doned mines. To-day the product OF the
farmer finds a restricted market; the whole
world as never before hungers for the product
of the goldfelds, and every acre OF mineral
land which is absorbed by the railroad COM
new mines and the creation of new mining
districts The prosperity of this State largely
depends upon the mining industry, and to its
mines is Enthusiastically due its unparalleled
advancement, and it may be quite safe to say
that without them and the impetus which
they gave to immigration in 1S49 and the
spring OF 1850 and subsequently thereto there
would yet be no transcontinentaI railroad ex-
cept on paper.
Agriculture is indispensable, butIso is min
ing for without the one the world would
starve and yet without the other the farmer
might be still compelled to accept strings OF
beads or shells in exchange for his produce
There should not properly be any antagon-
ism between these two industries. There
should be no reason for any clash and there
should be no reason why any controversy
which may exist between them should not be
settled to the mutual satisfaction of the parties
in interest.
It now rests with you, gentlemen, as repre-
sentatives of the miners OF this State, to con-
slider what is the most feasible plan for secur-
ing to each side its respective rights and to
present your plan TO the other side as repre-
sented by the railroad company, the greatest
agricultural claimant of modern times, which
is not seemingly averse to peaceable settle
ment of the matter
The correspondence between Mr.. Wright
and Mr.. Mills was then read. The propo-
sition for a friendly arrangement, it was
explained emanated first from the rail
road company and not from the Miners
Association.
Mr.. Wright at once addressed himself to
the matter in hand pretty eXhausuyely,
and in the course of his remarks called
down Mr.. Mills for the derogatory state
ments the latter's communication con-
tanned with reference to the contests made
by the Miners Association and Messrs.
benjamin and Ralston.
He proceeded first, lawyer-like, to define
the true position of the mineral lands COM
mittee in the controversy, Its relation to
the Miners Association and the scope OF
its work.
Mr.. Mills, he said, seemed to think that
the committee had assumed to act for in
dividual members OF the association; but
such was far from being the case, and he
quoted section 2318 of the Revised Statutes
to find the reason for the attitude OF the
Miners Association as body In matter
of great public interest. That section de-
cIared that all mineral lands should be
withheld from sale and the next insisted
upon all such lands being left open Tor
exploration and operation. 1t was not to
be supposed that the assocIatlo ON would
undertake the contests OF individual
miners, but it proposed to see to 1t that
large areas of mineral land were not
patented by the railroads and closed to
tn prospector and miner generally.