The San Francisco call., 1896-03-12

be classified. A designation Of lands by alti-
tude was also found impracticable. They also
found it impossible to designate lands by coun-
ties, since nearly every county affected by these
land grants lies partially in valleys and par
tally in mountains.
The people of the State of California are just
as anxious to have this work expeditiously
done as are the officers of the Government for
until these lands are properly classified mineral
titles in California must remain in large part
in an uncertain condition. and prospecting and
development of our mineral resources corre-
spondingly retarded. We feel, however, that
we can safely assure your committee that any
commission that may be appointed by the
President will have no difficulty in segregating
and setting apart with small expenditure of
time and money large tracts of agricultural
lands that may be found within the railroad
land grants. The result of the consideration
OF this matter by the California Miners Asso-
citation was that the only safe and practicable
method to be employed was that adopted in
the so-called Idaho-Montana act, with which
act your committee is familiar, namely: The
designation OF lands by land districts
No one not familiar with the conditions in
California can appreciate the deep interest
taken in this subject, not only by those directly
interested in mining, but likewise by the peo-
pie generally. The criticisms which have been
made, entirely irrespective of party, upon the
plan heretofore adopted for the issuance of
railroad patents, have been emphatic and
practically universal. The laws and regula-
tions now in force are utterly ineffective, and
as far as California is concerned. we do not
hesitate to say that no interest disconnected
with railroad company is satisfied with the
prevailing conditions. Every member of the
California delegation favors this bill, to say
nothing of the representative gentlemen from
that section who are here solely in furtherence
OF its enactment. Yours, etc.
STEPHEN NJ. WHITE, United States Senator.
GEORGE G. PERKINS. United States Senator.
w. w. BOWERS, Member of Congress.
TREY L. FORD.
Representing the California Miners Associa-
ton.
THE CALL correspondent learned tonight
that the Senate Committee on Public
Lands expects to report the California
mineral lands bill favorably, with the fol-
lowing amendments:
Commissioners to $40 per day, without ex-
penses.
Second-Limiting the time within which
lands are to be classified to four years.
Third-Directing the Commissioners to class
ify large bodies of well-known agricultural
lands upon testimony taken and without per-
sonal examination, by legal subdivisions.
This last amendment is intended to ex-
pedite the work of the commission and to
enable it to more rapidly classify valley
lands, about which there is no contest.
The committee endeavored to find some
means of eliminating the valley lands of
known agricultural character but found
no practicable means of so doing. The
above plan of directing the Commissioners
to thus set apart undisputed agricultural
lands was at last practically agreed upon.
1t is understood that Senator Berry of
Arkansas will offer the above amend
ments. and their adoption will remove all
further objection in the Senate and insure
executive approval.
TREY l.. Ford has wired to the secretary
of the California Miners Association for
instruction as to the above amendments
upon the return of the bill to the House.
If the House refuses to concur in the SEN
ate amendments a conference committee
of the two houses will finally dispose of the
matter.