The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-12
SCHOOL SECTION IS.
Geoiogist Lindgren Has PREPARED His
Second Report on the Grab.


Olympia. Jan. 5.-Geologist ". Lindgren
has prepared his second report regarding
investigation OF the mineral character Of
section IL. Tacoma. on June 10 1895, Mr.
Lindgren's first examination was made.
and the report was favorable 20 the states
contention. which was refreshing in view
Of the heretofore evident intent on the part
Of government representatives TO do their
best in depriving the state Of this valaa-
bic section. regardless of the equities or
the case. Mr.. Lindgren Will not give his
report for publication until the 10th inst,
when a hearing thereon Will be held in the
Olympia land Office but il is safe 10 as
sumo from indications that the report viii
evidence the fact that the states interests
have not suffered at the hands OF Mr..
Lindgren.
Mr.. Lindgren's second letter Of in
structions from the secretary of the in
terror said: "Inasmuch as Mcbride claims
TO have taken SO cubic yards of gravel
from an open cut on claim No. /, and
obtained therefrom an average of TO 2-3
cents of gold to the cubic yard. you are
directed 10 proceed TO the same locality
and there make additional investigations
from undisturbed gravel in the same open
cut To avoid all misunderstanding as
TO the situation of said open cut, you Will
give Mcbride. or his attorney the priv
ilege of designating that place and its
limits"
To this very significant instruction At
torney General Jones entered d vigorous
but unavailing protest, as follows:
THE testimony shows that this open cut
is at the bottom of the gulch on claim No.
l. more than 80 feet below the general
level of the claim. 1t shows that al the
gravel taken from said cut was taken on
the side of the gulCh and very nearly on
level with the creek bed. The testimony
oil - st+itn ha shows
this gulch was eroded by the action of
water and that as the creek had sunk
lower and lower this gravel, by the erosion
of the sides, would constantly he carried
down, with the result that all OF the graV-
el on the sides of the gulch for consider
able distance in would be more or less
concentrated by the action Of water,
which carried of the lighter and more sol
uble materials from the gulch Frof.
Stretch. the claimants expert, admits this,
and under these circumstances an eGaTni-
nation of the gravel from this open cut
would furnish TO basis for any legitimate
conclusion of the general character Of the
gravel.
'.Fhe state objects TO the admission OF
this evidence. or its consideration. for the
reason that the claimant is given the
privilege OF designating the exact spot
from which the gravel is to be taken. and
mark its limits. and we insist that II IS
Impossible 10 prevent the LiAuthttiiN liiAAo-
dnction Of gold into the gravel TO be eX-
amned without the possibility of detect
ing the fraud, excepting by the proof that
the gold he found in other places IN the
same vicinity is OF different character and
Of less amount. and this by the order
Mr. Iindgren is prohibited from doing.
one OF the simplest tricks known TO those
who have engaged In fraudulent tamper-
ing Of placer claims is 10 inject gold into
a bank of gravel by using a long iron rod,
which when withdrawn will leave no
mark whatever behind il that the most
skillful OF experts could detect the trace
Of
I'VE think the evidence tustihes US IN
saving without reservation that the CLAIM
ant has heretofore fraudulenuy tempered
with the gravel in this claim. and has en-
deavored TO bride others to do the same;
and we are justified in presuming that now
when his opportunity is so clearly pointed
out and the means of detection so com
pletely withdrawn he will not hesitate 10
renew his fraudulent attempts.
''Tf this order is to be continued in force
we urge that Ii be so modified that Mr.
Iindgren may be required 10 test the merits
of his work by making similar explorations
IN places to be selected by himself in other
portions of the claim. where the claimant
and his agents have not had the opportu-
nitv to prepare the ground IN advance"
Il is now understood that Mr.. Ldndgren's
report, Notwithstanding the above instruS-
tons does not materially differ from his
last one ana viii Justify the states con
tention as TO the non-ninerai character OF
the land.