The San Francisco call., 1896-11-15
"THE CALI ADVOCATES THE
MINERS, PROPOSITION.
1t Is Simple Justice That Industries Which Affect
:. Every State in the Union Should Be
Cared For by Bureau in the
Charge of Experts.

we may inte ligen tly understand thedificulties
to be encountered in the development of it.
That the prospector may be aided in his iabori-
Gus work We have urged our second vice
presidents to, soon as practicable by actual
survey, MAKE typographical maps of their dis
tricts. and in the majority of cases it is being
done.
in the way of advancing the material and
| prsctica BILE development of the country. We
know that our mining fraternity possess that
| indomitable spirit, determination and effort
! that would result in the country's develop
ment finally, irrespective of maps, trails or
wagon roads. Our purpose, therefore, is to
make the road of travel easier and 1--we hap
pier during the travel
The subject was deemed worthy of an
extended mention in the report of the
Mining Bureau of California to Governor
| Budd. State Mineralogist ]. J. Crawford
has taken it up and given It special para
graph under the title of Department of
Mines" His report containing this in
teresting review is now in the hands of
the State Printer, but the paragraph in
question was taken yesterday from the ad-
vance proof-sheet. 1t is as follows:
Department of Mines 1t is conf
IDENTIFY believed that the mineral indu US
tries of the whole country would be
of Mines be created in the Government.
The mineral output for 1895 of all the
States Amounted to S622, ,23O,723, and
it seems almost Incredible that such an
important industry should be without
representation in the Cabinet. The
var Gus bureaus relating to mining are
scattered through the several existing
departments, and as matter of
economy as well as means of stimu-
lating and encouraging more full and
systematic development and research,
such department should be created.
Properly it should en- brace archaeology,
botany, ethnology, geography, geology.
irrigation, mining, paleontology, ETC."
Hon. Aaron +. Parker of Idaho recently
read an able paper on the subject before
the Northwest Mining Association, where
in, among other things, he showed the
inadequacy OF the present method of
handling m lining matters by the Govern
ment departments that have these mat
ters in charge. Among other things, he
said:
Operating in gold mines, and deprived OF the
opportunity OF personal consultation with
lawyers learned in the technicaiities of min
ing law, except by the slow ana unsatisfactory
process of the United States mail service, /
have always applied TO the Honorable Secre-
tary OF the Interior at Washington for such
information as needed from time to time.
point came up last year involving the inter
pretation of the mining laws OF the United
States. / wrote TO the Honorable Secretary of
the Interior in regard to it. His construction
of ba lotu tuifl
difference of opinion between us. The points
in full were underscored in the letter OF the>
Honorable Secretary. Later on, being desirous
OF observing the strict letter and spirit of the
law for the protection of my mining interests
addressed a letter TO the Honorable Commits
sioner of the General Land ONCE, and re-
ceived reply directly contrary to the views
expressed by the Honorable Secretary of the
Interior.
In further correspondence / have come TO
the conclusion that the officials of the Interior
Department and of the General Land Office are
entirely norant of mining matters. A little
later on, in order to obtain further nee essary
information, addressed letter to the Honor
able Secretary of the Interior propounding a
series of questions of general interes to the
mining fraternity. That was over a year ago,
but up to this time I have OF received any
reply. Now, all these things have tendency
10 harass the life out Of honest men and to re-
tard the development of the mining industry
| bring them TO the notice OF this association
to-day in the hope that some of its members
may be able 10 suggest a remedy.
Personally, have come to the conclusion
that the mining industry is important enough
TO have representative in the Federal Cabi-
net, and, therefore, ask this association 10
adopt as its settled policy the idea of fighting
fol, the creation of new department of the
Federal Government. TO be known as the De-