The record-union., 1897-08-18

obtain evidence to be presented at min
eral hearings concerning the character
of the odd numbered sections in the
township. The reports of the field
agents who examined this township are
dated May -, 1895, and section 13,
the section in which Morrison Gulch
is located, was reported as mineral; !;
also sections 1, %, ~ and % of the
same township. Upon this report the
railroad company voluntarily aban-
doned its granted claim to these sec
tions; that is it stood ready
10 relinquish it's claim, and
make no effort whatever to obtain
the record evidence of title.
THE region is rough, and for the most
part rocky and precipitous. The coun-
try rock of the neighborhood is gran
fte. The timber possesses but small
value Such mercantile timber as is
found growing on lands in the vicinity
of Coffee Creek throughout it's source
is not accessible. Mining activity in
the neighborhood would make market
for a good deal of this timber, but the
timber does not exist in sufficient guam
titles to justify the construction of in
strumentalfttes to bring it into the gem
eral market.
Local demand would create a linn
tied market, and the railroad company
viii welcome a demand for the timber
growing on non-ninera1 lands. For the
most part the country is barren brush
fields. steep declivities and the spe-
cific description of each section in a
region comprising 100000 acres shows
the land to be comparatively worth
less for any other purpose than the
mineral which may be discovered in it.
aAs to the mineral discoveries, the
present prospecting activity Win flnd
whatever gold may exist. The pres
ent excitement is augmented by the
recent gold discoveries on the Klondike
and the general revival of mining in
terest. But the Coffee Greek country
is by no means a new country. 1t has
been prospected at intervals for the
last thirty years.
AT the same time, the search for
gold there has not been prosecuted
with the diligence now being witnessed
and it is hoped many valuable mines
wfH be discovered. Without doubt a
very large number of locations will be
made and a very large sum of money
win be expended in prospecting.
The patented titles of the railroad
company win not in amy manner OBJ
struct this prospecting, while as to the
unpatented lands the railroad company
stands ready to relinquish its prima
facie title to such land, without charge,
to any one who may discover a mine
upon it.
"The entire length of Coffee Creek,
from it's source to it's junction with
Trinity River. is less than twenty
miles. According to the United States
survey it passes through eighteen Sec
tions Of land, but in some instances its
length inside of the section line IS not
over a quarter of a mile by reason of
It's passing through a corner of some
of them.
Eleven out of these eighteen Sec
TONS are even numbered sections, be-
longing o the Government of the United
States. and odd numbered unpatented
sections which the railroad company
wiH readily relinquish in forty acre
tracts to amy prOspector who may DIS
cover a mime, and, as already indicated
in the dispatch to the Free Press, the
railroad company will sell any patent
ed land in the vicinity in forty-acre
tracts to prospectors, or in l6O-acre
tracts for general purposes at 81 oO
an acre.
THE mineral or non-mineral charac-
ter OF these lands was carefully in
vestigated and testimony taken con-
cerning them before patents were is
sued .an6 it remains to be seen whether
any discoveries of gold will be made
upon any section of land patented to
the railroad company.
4 share in the general hope that a
very rich mining region will be devel-
oped; that excitable people who are
willing to leave the ordinary pursuits
of life for the hazardous and uncer-
tain occupation of mining will have
their highest hopes and expectations
realized: but my familiarity with the
country enables me to unhesitatingly
say that the storm center of the ex-
citernent concerning the gold fields of
Coffee Creek is at some distance from
the locality of the supposed new gold
fields.
I think I owe it in good conscience
to the public to say that the field
agents of this department, who have
expert knowledge in mining, have ex-
amined the region; that their reports
to me have been made for business
purpose. and may be accepted as thor
o11en1v reliable. In q report before me
from ". r. Judson, mining expert and
field agent for this department, he
states that the Graves strike is purely
pocket that it is a tale gouge,' six
inches to one foot wide, in a porphyry
formation. and all the gold in sight has
been taken out. He finds this pocket
strike to be analogous TO the pocket
mining which recently created excite
ment near Riddles, in Oregon, and
which was exported for this department
last May, only that the Graves mine
'crevices' some iron.
He has received the papers of the
State since he has reached Trinity Cen
ter. from which place his report is
written and declares that the reports
they contain are exaggerated and that
there is nothing in the find of gold in
the vicinity of Coffee Creek or Trinity
River to warrant the excitement that
has been created. and the reports of
other large strike in addition to the
Graves strike are untrue
Tt is never an agreeable task to dis
pei illusions; but deception in these
things works hardships upon a great
many people who can i'll afford to pay
railroad fare. stage fare and hotel bills.
only to be disappointed in the end.
The full truth concerning these matters
/ viii. Of course, soon be known. and ac-
curate detailed reports will resolve all
doubts But the information. which
/ am not at liberty TO disregard. and
which T must r-aenivn a { from q cobp1.
+ and competent authority. leads me very
o !, ao.,cl,1cinr, *Lat =