The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-18

IN the old Populist headquarters on the
top floor OF the Northern hotel a group Of
fifteen miners and men interested II the
mining industry of Washington met last
night and discussed the feasibility Of hav-
Ing the state mining bureau located IN this
city, instead OF al Olympia, as at present
provided Tor in the laws Of the state The
meeting was held under the auspices of
the Seattle Mining Bureau, an organiza-
ton launched several months ago by a
number Of men who wish 10 foster an
industry which. although still In Its in
fancy. has made enormous strides Dur
ing the past year.
While the meeting ~wes called prinei-
pally fer the pSKSSss OF taking steps TO
secure the appr3riaton of $500 provided
fer IN an act p ksed during the session OF
1850. for the. maintenance OF = state bu-
reau, with hea&quarters in Seattle. a gem
eFai talk was fad on mining matters. par,
ticipated in k-uen who nave prcapected
in the icy regiohs Of far-off Alaska and
different portions b this country Tor the
evasive bur preeiops stuff,
dent F'reder!ekA Burch stated that Sc
attic wasNvHe" Common point of al mining
operations for this portion Of the stare,
and as such was the one place for the To-
cation. OF the state mining bureau, which
was instituted in 1850 by an act of the leg
islature and placed az Olympia. Although
an appropriation of Sl.5o0 a year was made
and the governor, lieutenant governor ard
treasurer named as ex offieio trustees, the
bureau, 10 his knowledge, mad never been
inaEgurated. and therefore the appropri-
alton remained unused. This being so,
and with the unusual activity in mining
throughout the state, he though: u worth
while for a movement 10 be made 10 push
a bill through the coming session of the
legislature TO amend the laws and sGbsu-
tute the name of Seattle for that Of 0lym-
pia, and bona fde inauguration of the
bureau had. For the edificau0n and good
of those present he read uhe act a0per-
tanning to the bureau.
Expressions of opinion and suggestions
were had from the miners and promoters
present. with the result that a committee.
consisting Of President Burch. william
Frankfurt and Secretary Arthur Johnson.
was named. whose duty il shall be TO
draft a bill for presentation to the lsg.s-
nature and also to draw UP "A resolution
and petition 10 be signed by every ner-
chant and citizen interested in the welfare
of Seattle as a mining center, 70 be pre-
scented to the legislature upon It's conven-
ing. No trouble IS anticipated in secur-
ing names enough 10 iii volume foot
thick, as the signer VII see at a glance
the great amour, of good that viii result
from such legislation.
ItEas stated that proposition 10 have
the mining Jaws OF the state revised was
being talked of by number OF influential
mining men. This called forth many ex-
pressions of opinion also but only in a
general way, as the Information was only
hearsay and consequently meagre. From
what was sad. the consensus OF opinion
was that Il any revision is 10 be made
the question OF eacn county being com
PEELED TO build roads or trails 10 valuable
properties should be the paramount one.
This. the different speakers seemed TO
think. would do more towards opening up
the country and developing claims that
would throw thousands OF dollars into cir
culat.on. than any legislation that could
possibly be enacted. For the purpose OF
finding exactly who the parties are and
what their proposition Is. George De Yer
mon was appointed a committee of one 30
examine into the matter and report MS IN
vestigations at the next meeting % the
bureau. which will be held in the same
place January :. Every one interested in
mining = invited 10 attend this meeting
and offer suggestions
A suggestion that seemed to meet with
great approval was offered by an old-time
miner named Trout, 70 the effect that tho
meetings of the bureau be made more in
strlictlve and peasant by the reading OF
paper of personal experiences and obser-
vations Mr.. Troutsfa been n Alaska the
past summer, and has promised TO read
paper at the next meeting on his kno~l-
edge and experience on mining In that
country