The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-11-10

Camp, F. ]. Adge of Iowa Hill. James
O'Brien of Smartsvlle, A. B. White of
Smartsville and Judge Clark of Shasta, at
the Russ; James Wilson of Jackson at the
Brooklyn; S. P. Dorsey, superintendent of
the Maryland, at the Occidental; General
Tolman of the Jackson mine, Ell Dorado
County. j. 7. Grove of Mariposa, Charles
F. Hoffman and C. D. Lane, at the Palace,
and Albert Moore OF Ell Dorado and G. W..
WEIGH OF Nevada at the Lick.
Charles +. hoffman of the Red Point
mine in Placer County said the most
necessary legislation for the mining in
dustry was that which should insure a
perfect title to mineral land. If the rail-
road companies were given a perfect title
for mineral lands the miners would just
as soon buy from the railroads as not, but
under the present conditions the pur-
chasers from the railroad have to go into
court at their own expense and make a
fight to prove that the lands obtained by
them are Of more value for mining than
for agriculture. This is an expense and
an annoyance which prospectors and la
borers are unwilling to bear.
The remedy for this evil would be for q
Mining Commissioner 10 examine the
land and report upon its character, whether
mineral or agricultural, and take the
burden of litigation off the shoulders of
the miner.
Il III,
that the farmer had to prove that his
land was agricultural, but now the miner
has to prove that it contains mineral in
paying quantities. This would be a yery
difficult fact to establish, especially in
cases where the bed of the river is of a
| lava formation, and where the gold is
deep under it. In fact, it would be i'm
possible to prove its mineral character
without going down very deep into it.
These lava form cations are very extensive
in Sierra, Ell Dorado and other counties.
1.-THE bill to esta blish National Mining
Commission fell through at the last ses-
sion of Congress, but another attempt will
be made in the coming session. The next
thing most necessary is that we should
have 4 representation in the Cabinet, in
other words Secretary of the Bureau OF
| Mining.
THE appropriation by Congress oil
$3.50, 900 and that by the State of $3.50, 600
for the purpose of building dams to re-
strain mining debris have had a very good
effect toward solving the vexed question
! OF hydraulic mining. There are large
numbers of mines in California that can
| be worked without any damage to the
| farmers, and the commissioners will do
their best TO select them.
| The mining industry is in good posi-
ton, and expect that there will be con-
siderable development during the next six
| A1Nitp'l WIZ thO dlQ vi anu nome
capital. New discoveries in science and
the invention of new and less expensive
processes for extracting the precious metal
| from the ore are aiding largely in the de-
yelopment of mining properties hitherto
considered as not of great value. By the
aid OF these rew processes So per ton ore
may be prontably worked, while the aver.
age mine may be worked at profit where
the yield is 81 so per ton or more.
Tho mines of California have been only
! skinned. The usual course was thai
when the first chute of ore gave out the
work was abandoned and richer prospects
were sought for. As an illustration OF the
cheapening of the processes / will saw thai
paid 20 cents for powder, which i now
get for cents. and candles that were
worth 10 cents are now worth only Scents.
General Tolman of the Jackson mine
El Dorado County, was seen at the Palace
Hotel. He is not delegate to the con.
vention, but being practical miner O.
many years standing, takes a lively in
terest in everything appertaining to tina