The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-28
NOT MINERAL LAND.
SECRETARY BLISS DECIDES IA
HOus SCHOOL LAND CASE.
A Long Opinion Discssses the Evil
dence of Experts and Dfsposes OF
McBrfde,s Claim 10 Tacoma Real
Esfafe-Sot Worth One Cent "A
Gubfc Yari-The state Gets the
Land.

Special Dispatsh 70 the Post-InteliigenceT.
WASHINGTON. Aug. ZG.~-Tne famous
ease OF Mcbride vs.. the State o. washing
ton for possession Of school ssefi9n T. adj
joining tue city Of Tacoma valued - 9ne
tlnsc at ever Il .aoooD4. vas decided today
By Secretary Of the Interior Bliss in faFor
Of the giafe. TIE case has been pegsding
In the interior department fer over four
years and SIS saec ssfai termination Is due
TO CONGRESSMAN Jones, formerly attorney
general mere than 10 any otfsar man. His
forcsbla presentation Of the Gaze last sum
ner undoubtedly decided the matter
Tie decision Is very lengthy and was
prepared for Secretary Bliss - the assist
ant attorney generals for the interior de-
partrnent. Van De Venter, who has gone
through the zoIam.nous records IN the
case very carefully during the past month.
lie has devoted about ter days 10 the prep
aTation Of tie opinion.
Mcbride made mineral locations for the
land IN controversy ard these we're con-
tested By the state which claimed the
land az a portion Of It's school grant The
state alleged that tha land did not contain
mineral In paying quantities, and fer that
reason WIS 10; subject 20 entry under the
s1ning aaxs. The aec-xlon recifes the his
tor OF the caae from the beginning at
great length ana quotes from tie lnsifue-
tioas Ct Secretary Smith 10 Geoiogist Lind
gfen, wno was sent 20 examine the land on
two occasions. II also quotes literally
from both reports made by LlndgFen.
Two questions we're dealt with rs Sec
retary Eiiss IN ais oplas0n besides that of
fact. whether tho land was mineral or non
mineral under the law. one was to what
extent ID. states proof Of the non-mineral
character Of the land should 20. The
other WIS whether Lindgrens reports
should be accepted as proof. The decision
says the testimony offered By the state in
ciudIng the report on shafts sunk by SIS
agents. vas sufficient 10 sustain it's side Of
The case as between that offered BY No
Bride and tie state. Il also says that Lind
gFeaa reports should be considered as
proof. The decision then says:
Ia considering the character OF the land
in controversy. that Of the surrounding
land should be considered although the
fact that this IL not mineral cannot be
taken as evidence that the land in question
IT. not mineral. Bur the fact remains that
none of The surrounding land has ever beer
entered under the laws and no kind OF min
ing n successfully prosecuted there
Iindsren's reports" says the secretary.
In conclusion. "show no evidence OF par
fiality and his qualifications and the man
ner In which he performed his work are
such as to give weight 10 his testimony.
THE land IN question including the lower
lands and the places designated by Nc
Bride contains an extremely email amount
or gold, Tess than cent per cubic yard
and has no value for mining purposes. This
fuiy corroborates and anstains the claim
and evidence OF the state. From all the
evidence. including tho testimony OF AIR
iindgren. am clearly OF the opinion thar
the land II not mineral In character. n IN
not subject 30 disposal under the mining
law and that Il passed 10 the state under
rs school grant, The decisions OF the lana
commissioner are vacated. and ne il in
strueted TO dismiss the mineral appllea-
tion ALLAN II. sI.AIFSoS