The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-05
~ Mines 81
}1&y2',AM and Mining
\MS,SyT
$gHS2JV LATEST INFORMATION
}fNWWTW CONCERNING THIS IMPORTANT lNDusTRYr

thirty of its 1900 members were present.
The president expressed the opinion that
the Miners Association was not carrying
out the ideas for which the county assocla-
ton had been formed and was attending
to more side issues than the main one, VIZ :
that of the rcsum ption of hydraulic min
ing without injury to the farmer. A dis
cussion of the attitude of the State associa-
ton brought out the opinion that the main
body was not doing the work 1t set out to
do. The members expressed the opinion
that protests TO the railroads claim to
mineral lands could be contested better
by individuals than in any other way. 1t
was finally decided, however, that the dele
gates to the coming convention caucus in
advance and pass such resolutions as they
saw fit.
1t is proper that those interested in the
miners cause should be reminded that the
president and vice-president of the Nevada
County Miners Association are both men,
bers of the executive committee of the
State association, but neither one has at
tended any meetings for year or paid the
slightest attention whatever to the pro-
ceedings.
How much the railroad company had to
do with this discussion it is of course i'm
possible 20 say, but here are few facts for
consideration. AT the last Miners Con-
vention Nevada County had by far the
largest delegation. 1t appointed 135 dele
gates and $50 were given credentials.
Placer had g. San Francisco 60, Sierra So.
Amador 80, Butte 20, Y uba "a Calaveras
II, Alameda 10, Plumas 10, and Ell Dorado,
Kern, Mariposa. Mono, Santa Clara, Siski-
you, Shasta, Tuolumne, MADEIRA, Trinity
and Lake less than 10 each. At this con-
vention the following resolution was unani-
mously adopted: THAT it is the sense of
this convention that immediate action be
taken to stop the issuance of patents to
the Central Pacific Railroad on pending
selections awaiting the approval of the
Department of the Interior for lands in
the mineral section of California. 1t is
further resolved that the Secretary of the
Interior be requested by telegraph to de-
lay action thereon until hearing is had
on the subject. 1t is further resolved that
a special committee of five members be APP
pointed to take the necessary steps to Sc
cure such hearing, and present the neces-
sary facts and information to secure the
rights of mining locators on land within
the Central Pacific Railroad grant"
1t seems strange that 139 delegates from
Nevada County should permit such a reso-
luton to pass without protest, and then
not many months after thirty of the same
local association condemn the State asso-
citation for doing what they themselves
told it to do. At the convention there
were 507 delegates, of which Nevada County
had 139 but not one of the 139 protested
then. Why they do SO now is not plain
to be seen. The objection of their presi-
dent is puerile. The resumption of n.y.
draulic mining has been accomplished
without injury to the farmer. That work
is done as far as may be. The appropria-
ton for dam has been asked for from
Congress, and will be again. The execu-
tive committee of the State association is
doing exactly what it was instructed to do
by the State Convention, as shown by the
above resolution. AS the Nevada County
men had the largest delegation they should
not have ordered the work done unless they
wished it. Why they have changed their
minds is not clear. There may be reasons,
however, which the leaders might
explain if they desired. 1t might be, for
instance, that some one wanted State
position, and wanted the Endorsement of
the executive committee, which he failed
to get, on the ground that it would indorse
no Individual, and declined to go into poll
tics. Or it might be, too, that some prom
inent member cared more for the con-
struction of the Daguerre Pond dam than
for what are termed "sIde issues" and
didn't like it because the executive COM
mittee aid not drop everything for that.
Or again, it might be that the railroad
company took the opportunity to drop
some seeds of discord. But if the Nevada
that the executive committee must not do
what it is told to do, and that the railroad
companies should take the mineral lands
If it wants to, without opposition, and that
the State association shall consider hy-
draulic mining and nothing else, then the
Nevada County delegation will not find it.
self so very Influential at the convention as
it has been accustomed to-tbat is, unless
the railroad companies have influence in
other delegations.
Miners Association and the Railroads.
A Colorado mining paper gravely an
nounces that cover IN California there is a
powerful miners association organized
solely to fight the railway monopolies."
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The California Miners Association came
into existence through the efforts of the
Placer County working miners to rehabili-
tate the hydraulic mining industry of Cali
fornia. At that time-four years ago
there were no hydraulic mines in the
drainage basins OF the Sacramento or San
Joaquin rivers which might legally mine
by that process, owing to iniunctions of
United States courts. The Miners Asso-
citation, after two years hard fight, got
Congress to pass a special law permitting
these mines to work under specified con-
ditions, and now there are a hundred of
them at work and hundred more get
ting ready to. After this the quartz
and drift miners wanted some attention
paid to these needs. 1t was found that the
railroad companies, in making the selec-
tons of land under their grants, were
gradually absorbing vast acres of mineral
lands, and the association, at its annual
convention, decided to try and stop further
encroachment on the mineral domain.
They have no objection to the railroad
companies getting all that is due them, but
do object to their taking the mineral lands
which Congress specially excepted from
the grants. They filed protests against
the companies getting the mineral land,
and this action has aroused storm of
abuse and Misrepresentation of their mo-
tive. The miners have brought the matter
before the Commissioner of the Land Office,
the Secretary of the Interior, and even the
President himself. For the first time the
railroad companies find themselves con-
fronted by an active and also intelligent
opponent. They have had it all their
own way in the various departments and
only met individual contestants; now they
find an organized opposition to the system
they have SO long pursued. But the
Miners Association is not "organized
solely to fight the railway monopolies. F." 1t
1ns- r,NeG .-l14