The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-11-11
gratuitous professional advice are ]. M. Wright.

gratu1touS professional advice are ]. NJ. Wright,
A. Belcher, ]. NJ. Walling.
We should not forget Ex-Governor Markham,
who. as the chief executive of this state, first
called the attention OF the Legislature and the
people OF California 10 the deplorable condi-
tion OF the hydraulic mining industry, and
suggested that measures of relief be instituted.
The gentleman who acted manager of our
successful mineral exhibit at the Midwinter
Fair, Edward H. Benjamin, also placed US un-
der lasting obligations for the use his name
in the protests TO prevent the railroad COM
panles from patenting mineral lands.
In the early days when We We're struggling
hard with the Caninetu act, Niles Searls,
John Hobson and Robert McMurrav fought
ably Tor us before the committees of Congress.
In the collection OF necessary funds we have
been greatly aided by Samuel K. Thornton,
Louis Glass, W. W. Montague, Dan I. Cole and
The Bosrd OF Trade of SAN Eraprlsco. more
than any otner single BODY, has advanced our
. hnancfal interests, and helped bring light to
many dark days with US. Among other active
and tireiess workers in our behalf have been
John McMurray, Harold T. Power, Thomas r.
| Church, Edward Coleman, Andrew Carrigan,
S. B. Christy, s. J. Hendy, Charles F. Hoffman,
]. F. Parks, R. r. Grayson, E. c. LOTUS, Henry
Pichoir, Felix Chappelet, r. c. Hart, L. w.
Chapman, W. K. Thomas and James o. Brien.
| should be dereIict in my duty did I not
mention specially the very intelligent and
| constant services performed by one who is
| best known TO us all as ''Charley' Yale AS
| one of the organizers of this movement in be-
/ half of the miners of California, he has been
! one of my most valued assistants or the execu-
| tees, has never ialtered in his zeal, and never
/ failed TO do any amount of work for which we
| ca led upon him. With thorough knowledge
| OF the subjects before us, and a ready pen he
has not only greatly assisted us in The pre- para
| tion of numerous important documents, reso-
| lutions, ETC., but has ably fought our battles
in the public press, and helped 10 enlist its in
huence in our behalf The conservative and
successful policy csrried out in the admins
tration of our affa irs is largely due to his ad-
vice ana method OF bringing them before the
| io6r rra
| my own obligations for his valuable assist
ance in many ways, and assure you that he
! deserves the thanks of the Association of the
Miners of California.
! / undertake to say that no organization has
ever mpilshed such important results with
! such small expenditure. No officer of the as
sociation has received one dollar from the
treasury Tor professional services nor has any
one else connected with the management of its
| affairs.
Being about to retire from the presidency of
your association have thought it my duty, as
| 1t Is my pleasure, to recall to you the names
OF those more prominent in the conduct OF its
affairs in the past since have been in a posi-
! tion 10 see and recognize the services they
have performed. desire 10 return my sincere
thanks TO al of them for the many favors ex-
tended to me as your president. and thank
| them also in behalf of the associa ton, to
! whose success they have so largely contrib
| uted AS to the future OF this association
| have every confidence in it. There are many
measures which will be of benefit to the min
| ing industry of the State which still demand
| among them are the needs of representative
! OF the mining industry IN the councils of the
| Nation, for there should be d Secretary OF
! Mines in the Cabinet, that our large and grow
ing interests should be guarded Moreover,
closer at home, there should be in the State
University, where there is already college OF
m ines and professors of mining. one or more
representatives of the mining interests in the
Board of Regents.
You should continue to lend your moral
support and influence to the mainte tenance oil
the State Mining Bureau which is now doing
useful work in behalf of the mining industry
of the State. This institution should De fos-
tered and encouraged in every way by all oi
us. On our mineral ands bill in Congress let
| us not falter or hesitate. Public opinion is
with us in this matter, and Congress has been
educated" on the question. The measure
cannot fail of passage. We only ask that the
railroad companies be preven ted from acquir-
| ing any more mineral lands in this State
which were, by their land grants expressly
reserved for the miners. Other lands were
given them for such mineral tracts set aside
so they have no real cause of complaint. II Is
but just that the mineral lands, set aside at
the domain for the miner and prospector
should be kept for them SIS intended, and ii
rests mainly with this association to contest
the false claims of the railroad companies
have the lands properly classified and leave
the mineral for the prospector of the future
for whom Congress plainly intended it.
Numerous changes in the mining laws seem
necessary for the protection OF the miners in
teres is and the proper conduct OF his business
All such proposed amendments should be
carefully considered by your committee or
legislation before receiving the indorsemeni
OF this association, in order that when oul
requests finally come before Congress they
shall have been well thought out and proper !
represent the desires OF the miners OF the
State.
We are now in better position to accom-
plish our ends than ever before. The asso
citation is out of debt, and though we have nc
available funds they will doubtless be forth
coming wnen the necessity arises. The min
eral lands bill, which faiieds OF passage at the
last session OIL congress, is on file as sun
finished business aud will come up for con
sideration at the next session in December i
can surely be passed if our members in tn.
i House of Representatives will take The mat
ter in hand promptly. The appropriation Of
i $250,000 by the State and OF another $3.50,
Z. 00U by Congress are now available ani beinl
1 expended in the Improvement of the river
and the construction of dams to prevent fur
ther encroachment of debris now in In,
streams upon The navigabie portions. Man,
Il hydraulic mines are now being operated un
der the provisions of the Caminetti law, an(
their number is daily increasing. We hav,
i now State Debris Commission, which is co
operating with the Federal commission In th