The San Francisco call., 1896-11-16

media Miners AsSociation-Most of the
Iltlgatlon IN which mining men are in
vowed to-day IS due to the ignorance OF
the officials at Washington. The terms
OF the mines are not known or understood
there, and as consequence we are put to
much trouble and expense which could be
avoided If practical mining men were at
the head OF affairs. One great thing that
Is desired is to have the law so amended
that the Com missioner of the district
shall pass on all matters appertaining to
patents as he is nearest the work and is
best fitted to say whether the laws have
been complied with.
q. B. Rutherford, secretary Alameda
County Miners Association-It is only
proper that one CT the greatest industries
of the world should be represented in the
list of Cabinet officers in this country. 1t
would surely be as proper as TO have the
Agricultural Department Eastern people
know nothing of mining and the South
very little. In the great growing North
west immense wealth lies buried in the
ground waiting to be taken out by mans
labor. while the West and Coast States
have been we'll prospected and show un-
told wealth ready to go into commerce,
J. l.. Lyon-A Cabinet officer TO have
charge of the mining interests of the
United States is an absolute necessity
The Secretary of the Interior niEe times
out of ten is an agriculturist or city man,
who knows nothing of mining and who
believes that the country's welfare is de-
pendent entirely On the protection of ag-
riculture, even at the expense of stopping
mining altogether. The farmer or herder
is naturally given the preference by such
a man when the matter of obtaining
tracts OF land comes before him. This is
wrong, and can be best remedied by hav-
ing separate departme conducted by
practical miner.
w. S. Thomas-No county of the State
does as little mining as Alameda, yet
there is probably no county which is IN
terested in it financially 10 such an extent
as our own, and everything which will
help the miners will help us. 1t should
have department of its own in the Gov
eminent. and only practical mining men
should be employed. There are large
number of needed reforms in our laws,
none of more importance than that
which allows some clerk in Washington
to reject patent accepted by the District
Commissioner ana to return it to be gone
all over again at great expense and
trouble.
Ex-Congressman Warren B. English
The idea is good one, and if carried out
would be of great benefit to the mining
industry not alone of this State, but of
the whole great West. If practical min
ing man were in control he would watch
for the interests of the miners much more
closely than would an agriculturist as
Secretary of the Interior, while this officer
would keep him from trampilng on the
real rights of the farmer. In this way
both would be looked after and neither
would be made to suffer.
William G. Raston-To have place in
the Presidents Cabinet would put min
ing before the public in different light
from that in which it is held by the
greater part of the population at present
1t would result in thorough revision of
all mining laws in such q manner that
the miner would be given equal rights
with his brother in the valley who is till
ing the soil. Now he has no such rights,
and is rather looked upon as one who
lives by preying on the agriculturists.
This is all wrong and needs speedy and
effective remedy.