The San Francisco call., 1896-11-12

were suspended and the resolution was
adopted.
Chairman Neff extended the thanks of
the convention to E. n. Benjamin, w. G.
Ralston, Edward Coleman and Professor
Christy, the committee on the mineral
exhibit at the Midwinter Fair, for the
excellent service they had rendered the
miners of this State on that occasion.
w. c. Ralston of the committee on
mineral lands read the following report !:
Owing to the failure OF passage of the bill
introduced in Congress, which was prepared
by your committee on legislation, praying for
the appointment OF q commission TO be ap-
poin ted by the President of the United States 10
segregate the lanos in the State OF California
within the railroad grants as to their mineral
or non-mineral character, we have had no du-
ties to perform whatsoever, therefore have no
report OF progress.
Ira Hill Reed of Calaveras offered the
following: -
WHEREAS, Transportation facilities are of
paramount Importance for the success of ali
mining enterprises; and whereas, the present
road system OF this State is entirely unsatisfac-
tory and totally Insufficient for the successful
DEVELOPMENT of our mineral resources; there
fore be it
Resolved, That this convention heartily in
dorses the movement for good roads as evil
denced by the creation OF the State Reads
Commission, and we ask for immediate legis-
lation Tor the betterment OF our public high
ways.
The most pleasant feature of the days
session was observed shortly before the
noon recess. It was the presentation to
TREY l.. Ford of an elegant and valuable
silver service and dinner set OF fine
china. The presentation was IN the nature
of surprise.
Chairman Neff, during q iull in the pro-
ceedings, called Mr.. Ford to the platfor M,
and when that gentleman arrived there to
relieve the chair, as he thought, Mr.. Neff
add reSSed him as follows:
"Mr. Eord, yesterday, by a unani-
nous vote of this convention, you were
given an ovation of which any man might
be proud. You have faithfully, honestly
and conscientiously discharged every duty
which has been imposed upon you by this
organization. The action of yesterday
speaks louder than any language that /
could use on this occasion. It came spon-
taneously from every gentleman on the
floor.
There is no one that has realized what
you have done better than the member
OF the executive committee and myself.
RecognlZlng the great services which you
have rendered us, am proud to be the
happy medium through which this testi-
monial will be presented"
Mr.. Ford was greeted with an outburst
OF applause and replied with much feeling.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen I
would be neither honest nor sincere if
dtlcu DltQ W COUCedl Lue pleasure WHICH
this manifestation OF your confidence
affords me. 1t comes 10 me at time
when it adds something of EN- barrassment
on this occasion, and If you will believe
me, when / express to you the fact that
am lily prepared to properly extend TO
you my appreciative thanks for this kind
ness upon your part. / appreciate the
further fact that the miners of California
here are apt to be over-enthusiastic and
extraordinarily generous in the treatment
OF their friends.
"On this occasion, having found me a
humble lnstrumentality for the conveying
OF certain action and direction from the
eood people of this State to our delegation
at Washington, you have probably mis-
taken the value of my efforts, and have
bestowed your gratitude upon one when
II should have been bestowed upon an
other. L claim no particular praise for
what L have been able to accomp plish for
the mining interest.
This association has set on foot these
me easnres Tor prosperity and has laid the
foundations well and deep. Your work
was well done and your executive COM
mittee has been com posed OF brave men,
and at the head of that committee has
been that grandest Roman of them all,
jacob Neff OF Placer, without whose pres
ebce ana guiding influence there is but
little doubt We would not have reached
the high position which we hold today: :
and surrounding him are men who have
devoted their time without reward other
than the esteem of their fellow-men.
Il found when l went to washington
that others had preceded me and had
paved the way for further legislation.
They we're our loyal friends, judge Niles
Searls, Major Frank Mclaughlin and
Mr.. Hobson of Placer, with other good
friends of ours, among whom was the late
| Hon. J. K. Luttrell.
II found that those distinguished GEN
tlemen had laid the foundation and had
begun with educating large part of the
Eastern people to look upon us with some
favor. i merely presented your wishes Is
to the needed legislation at Washing ton
and gave such arguments as had been
placed III my possession.
Il want to say much. but it may be best
for me 10 permit you to Understand that
from the very depth of my heart, from M
innermost SOUL ] thank those generous
miners for the confidence which they seem
10 have exhibited toward me. / could not
make it stronger; / could not find the
words to httingly portray to you the emo
tions that permeafe me this morning
Noticing the peculiar wording of the in
scriptions upon this beautiful silverware