The record-union., 1895-10-15
MINING And AGRICULTURE.
Injustice of the Miners Position Very
Apparent
Agriculture Would Be Absolutely at
the Mercy of Any Wander
ing ProSpector.
From the Stockton NALL


It looks very much as if the State Min
ers' Association was preparing to use it's
influence for the purpose of obtaining
from Congress rights for the miners of
this State to which they are hardly en-
titled. The miners have been very active
the past few months in keeping their
woes before the public, and there is every
indication that they intend to demand of
the Iaw-making powers further conces-
sions for the promotion and protection Of
their industry. The 1l0tL has always up
held the mining industry. 1t is very
important one, and deserves ali the en-
cOuragement that can be given ii without
ipjuriug other weighty interests; but we
are afraid that il the disposition OF the
miners to ask for more than they are le-
ultimately entitled 10 is not controlled,
they will come TO grief
The extent TO which the miners-or at
least certain class OF theIn-are prepared
to go, IS revealed very plainly by a recent
communication TO Il san Francisco paper
signed by J. II. Neft, President of the
State Miners Association. Mr.. Neff' s
letter shows that the class he represents
are, in their solicitude for their own in
terasts, ready 10 ignore the rights and
the mineral belt in this State is very
clearly defined from san Bernardino 10
Tie Oregon State line, and insists that the
burden OF proof should be with the
farmer, If he wishes 20 claim any of the
land il this belt for agricultural purposes.
lie wants Congress TO pass a measure in
accordance with this view. The injustice
of Mr.. Netf's position is apparent at a
glance. lie would shut out the Iiler OF
the soil from the enjoyment of thousands
OF acres of toothill land peculiarly adapted
10 certain branches OF agriculture and
whose mineral value is nil, or the next
thing to it. Under such law as he pro-
poses the agriculturisE would be unduly
Disseminated against and would be at the
mercy OF any wandering prospectOr. OF
course the mineral belt is not clearly de-
fined, as MIR. NeT alleges and the very
fact that there has been a long-standing
dispute on this question disprOves his
assertion. From the letter OF the Prasi-
dent OF the Miners Association one
would conclude that he still looks upon
California as great mining camp and
believes that agriculture should be pur-
sued only under such conditions as the
miners are willing TO indorse.
Mr.. Nef and his fellow miners are, we
fear, still living in the past. Stupendous
changes have taken place in California
since lSI9, and the most significant is the
succession OF the agricultural industry to
the mining industry as the most impor-
tant in the State. Millions have been
taken out OF the ground by the miners,
but the farmers have taken out many
millions more. AS the products Of our
mines decrease the products of agricuit-
Ure viii increase until any comparison
between the two will seem absurd. This
is inevitable. 1t has been so elsewhere
and must he thu case in California. Agri-
culture. and not mining. is now the para
mount interest OF this State. Our poster
lty depends upon the former, and when
the two seriously conflict the latter in
dustry must make the concession. The
miners must come to recognize this
sooner or latter. The limits within
which they should work are, indeed,
clearly defined. but the miners are not
satisfied with them and wish to exceed
them. In this effort they will meet with
the opposition OF The agricultural class,
and there IS little doubt that The more
Important industry will win. The wise
way would seem TO be for the miners to
modify their demands. The danger of
overreAching has received ample illustra-
ton and they should take warning there
from.