The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-12
SOME RADICAL VIEWS
There Is a Wide Difference Of Opinion
Regarding Lands.
COMMISSIONERS DECISIONS
An Experienced Placer Miner Elk
presses His Ideas In the Mat
ter in a Communication
Which Follows.

difference of opinion among those IN
terested in the classification OF the
lands of the Northern Pacific grant as
TO what constitutes mineral land. Nat
urally the views of miners and pros
pectors are somewhat radical on this
point, and some of these men feel that
the decision of the commissioners nave |
sometimes been unjust. On the other
hand. the railroad people are inclined |
to believe that the board has erred In |
lust the opposite direction from that |
In which the prospectors feel that the |
error lies. 1t is, at best, very difficult
matter to determine, and the task set |
before the commissioners has been far
from easy. In the following communi-
cation, received to-day at the Missoula
office Of the Standard, may be found
the views of a veteran placer miner on
the subject. The writer is well known
In Western Montana, and his opinion
will be read with interest.
To the Editor of the Standard:
The mineral land commissioners APP
pointed under the act of the last con-
gress to designate the character of the
odd sections of land set apart by act
of congress, to the Northern Paciic
railway, in order that the incorpora-
might be able to raise the funds neces-
sary to carry out their project, have
completed their labors in the Missoula
land district, and have returned TO their
southern homes, with the results OF
their researches and labors filed with
the district land office in Missoula.
Let US take retrospect or their
work so far as II concerns our own
neighborhood and interests, covering a
distance OF IA miles, and see how well
the N. p. railroad has Jared in COM
parison with the interests of the peo-
pie. and you might say, the interests of
the future of our government, in the
matter of controlling the development
of the mineral bearing ground of the
Rocky mountains, which have always
been held sacred, in order that a gov
eminent might live by the resources
that hold together every fabric of COM
merce. and make its independence a
possible fact of eternity. and which
has been one OF the greatest bulwarks
of our country's credit in time of dire
distress, war and desolation
Not desiring to cast any reflection
upon the good intentions of the min
eral land commissioners appointed for
the Missoula land district, one of
whom. IL is said, is a born son of Mon
tana and a mining engineer, so to
speak. yet IL cannot be controverted
nor contradicted that the classification
of much, and yet, you can say. wholly.
of the ground they have classified as
non-mineral. Is contrary and wholly at
variance with the evidence they had
before them, as concerns townships 10
and 16 north of range 25 west, border
ing on the Missoula river. and the old
Mullan wagon road In Missoula coun-
~. This country lying as II does in the
center OF the northern mineral belt of
the Rocky mountains, known to be rich
in its mineral resources, but undevel-
oped for lack of capital. worthless for
agriculture. has been classified (most-
ly) as non-mineral. For why? For the
simple reason that men were employed
20 classify these lands who knew moth
ing OF geology or mineralogy. The
Northern Pacific railroad had their
shrewd and sharp emissaries to accom-
pany these commissioners in their pc
culiar researches for the precious pro-
ducts that lie hidden beneath the sur
face and view OF man, and whose rich
ness can only be known by the hard
labor of the pick and shovel. the ham,
mer and the drill. and the patience and
endurance of the hardy prospector and
miner. which sometimes takes years 10
develop into the richest mineral pro-
ducing properties. TO impress upon the
minds Of the honorable commissioners
that unless they found nuggets OF gold
gulches, or silver, copper and iron
yielding up before their eyes in such
enormity that they might fill their
sacks with the enticing wealth; that
there was no mineral there, then these
quick-witted railroad emissaries would
say, looking down upon a plateau
crowned with beautiful timber, high
growing pines. profuse in their foliage
with not a stream of flowing water
and none ever TO be had. with no mois-
ture except the falling elements OF
heaven, what a grand agriculture
country this is! The commissioners
did not explore the ground. they die
not prospect IT. for the simple reason
that they would be just as wise after
as they were before. and they didn1
have time 10 run a tunnel or sink &
shaft; in fact, IL is a question IL am
OF them carried back TO their homes
piece Of float" picked up by them
selves, or a nugget or fake of gold tina
any Of them washed out with a pan
They didn't have time. They nigh
have had time to take a meal OF vic
tuals with the rancher. upon vegeta
bles, that were raised upon a little spo
by some thrifty prospector. that n
might be able to make ends meet, II
order that he could keep up his wear,
toll upon what he considered TO be
good paying mineral property.
The fact OF this section OF countr,
embracing the townships named wa
thoroughly and completely placed be
fore the attention OF the commission
ers: not only afiidavits and affirma
lions by the most reputable citizens O
this district. but by a strong petition
signed by 50 actual residents. prospec
tors and mine owners setting forth IN
actual situation of affairs. was almos
wholly ignored. calls for attention fror
the people in general that should no
be passed by in silence, for. upon IN
development OF your mines in Montan
depends your future prosperity. Ar
you going 10 let the Northern Pacih
railroad take these rich mineral land
from you without filing protest? Ar
YOU so far under their influence tina
you dare not declare your indepenc
ence?
have asked this question. and sta