The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-01
GRAB At A SCHOOL SECTION.


What has been regarded by eminent
authority as an audacious attempt 10
grab I'D acres Of land at Tacoma. valued
all the way from $4,000 TO si.e"s.''o. may
now be considered defeated. IL came very
near being successful. and to nobody
more than 70 Gov. McGraw Is credit due
for the result. His vigorous dispatch tn
Secretary Hoke Smith took the matter out
Of thu hands OF those who We're either
iguorantly or otherwise abetting the steal
and started an investigation, the end Of
which we have not yet seen.
A man named Mcbride. who had ac-
CURED familiarity with such matters in
the interior department at Washington
City, filed placer claims on school section
Is. In Tacoma Two hearings were had
before the land Office at Olympia. and
twice the case was referred TO the general
land office, the claims being finally affirm
ed by the commissioner OF the land Office.
The testimony on behalf of the state
was of such character that the decision
created surprise and Indignation Ex-
perts testified that no gold in appreciate
several claims. except what. they declar-
ed, had been fraudulentiy introduced.
The foreign character OF the gold ex-
hlbits was pointed out, the evidence show
ing that they were taken from different
river washings, and bore evidence of hay-
ing passed through rifles. From the ac-
cumulated testimony it was shown that
IL 90 hos
contains no gold deposits OF commercial
value. Colors OF gold set free from
pyrites are occasionally met with in the
paintings, but IL takes from 500 to coo of
these TO make the value of one cent.
But there were other circumstances
connected with the investigation which
were far from satisfactory. and when the
decision of the land effice was announced
In favor OF the claimants the governor
sent very emphatic dispatch to Secre-
tary Smith. which resulted in his send
ing out w. Lindgren. United States geo.
logical expert, TO make an Independent
investigation and to report 10 him direct
That report has been filed with the land
office at Olympia and will be forwarded
to the secretary. II declares that all the
gold found in the Mcbride claims is fine
and faky. the heaviest color weighing
only .00Oi of a cent. The result of many
tests shows an average value of consid-
ably less than 1 per cent. per cubic yard,
probably about one-tenth of a cent All
the geological conditions bear out the
opinion that the claims do not contain
gold In sufficient quantities TO justify
mining.
Gold is found in many places in much
larger quantities. but no process has
been discovered, or ever will be, by which
1t can be gathered. The red alluvions of
Virginia would be q bonanza in compari-
son with the Tacoma land. The soil on
which Philadelphia stands is considerably
richer than that at Tacoma, but nobody
has ever pretended that it could be work.
ed to advantage
There is little doubt that the purpose
was TO acquire title to valuable land, and
after a time divide II into town lots. In
face of the biologists report, sustained
as its conclusions are by so much corrob-
orative testimony. and strengthened by
collateral evidence of concerted plan OF
action, il is out of the question that the
claim will be sustained. 1t was narrow
escape. and the state may thank Gov.
McGraw's strong language for the preser-
walton from land grabbers of a valuable
part OF the public domain.