The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-15

hoard Of trade OF this city and many ciu-
Gems interested N mining locations in fh!s
county are very much exercised over the
forest reserve order OF President Cleve-
land and are taking vigorous and active
steps 10 influence the reconsideration OF
the matter by the new congress and
President Mckinley. AZ the meeting or
the board Of trade last evening the fol-
lowing resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
petition Conccrning Forest Re-
serve"
whereas, the late president OF. the
United States. Grover Cleveland. py a
proclamation issued February =, 1897.
created q forest reserve IN tbs state or
Washington. embracing all that territory
IN said state from the leoth meridian or
longitude 10 the LID meridian. and from
The asth parallel or north latitude 10 the
18th parallel. or the northern boundary OK
this state, containing 8 mountainous area
OF the Cascade range OF 60 miles from
north TO south, and 10 miles from east
10 west, which cuts or from the four
great mineral producing counties OF this
state. Okanogan, Whatcom. SkaS1t and
Snohomish, fully one-half = the territory
or each county from settlement and de-
velopment, and that 90 per cent. OF The
said territory has little or no timber or
any commercial value, but Is on the con-
trary a rocky, mountainous country ana Is
practically valueless for any other than
its great and almost unlimited mineral
deposits. consisting or gold. silver. copper,
iron, coal asbestos, marble and other
minerals. and this very territory is the
great mineral belt in the state Of WASH
ington, and is now conceded by many OF
the best experts in the country to be the
greatest. gold, silver and copper belt in
America" and.
Whereas in that part of whatcom
county included in said reserve, at least
one thousand settlers have located and
made Improvements on public lands not
- -
with the intention OF rling on the same
when said land snail be subject TO entry:
and such settlers have erected school
houses, churches and had postonices ss-
tablished therein. and after many years
OF hardship and privation, incident TO
frontier life. have but just reached such
condition, (by reason of the inducements
and heretofore benefcent policy OF the
gov eminent as 10 settlers on government
land. surveyed and unsurveyed; that they
might now and hereafter enjoy the adj
vantages and privileges financially and
socially. to themselves and families re-
sultant therefrom. and,
Whereas, within the limits OF said re-
serve are included all the deposits OF the
precious metals In our county, which, I'M
til the last few years have lain hidden
and unknown, but that in Whatcom
county alone. within the last three sea-
sons, many thousand OF prospectors and
miners have put in all their time and
many thousand of dollars. in prospecting
and developing mines, both placer and
H.
other minerals: and the ensuing season
many thousand of men would be EN-
ployed in mines already being worked.
and in contemplation of being worked.
and In searching for. prospecting and 10
eating mining claims, and that by reason
of the lack of employment In manufac-
turing and agricultural locs tons. great
hardship and suffering would be entailed
on the lahoring classes, should this av-
enue OF employment be cut off: and,
Whereas, in that portion OF Whatcom
county. included in such reserve. there
are now located aud recorded in the
auditors office of said county nine hun
dTed mining locations, and there has
been expended in developing mining
thereto, by the miners therein. the full
sum OF SCI. 600; and, as many OF said
mine owners after expanding thousands
OF dollars on their mines. demonstrated
rat they will warrant the erection OF
mills, and are now. or were, about to
erect costly stamp mills, coneentrators.
etc, at or near their mines, but that In
most cases it is necessary to go upon va
cant lands and along the small streams.
for mill sites. and as by said proclama-
ton of the president. they are prohibited
from so doing, and as the cost of trans
portation is so great, by reason of the in
accessibility of the mountains; said mines
now located Will be practically worthless.
and the vast sums of money and labor
heretofore expended. wholly lost: and
Whereas the timber upon said forest
reserve, st least In Whatcom county, has
very nttte OF no NdiQe from a CONNER
cial view point. as the major portion OF
said reserve is mountainous. the timber
stunted and scrubby. and not more than
sufficient TO supply the needs of the min
ers for timbering mines, etc. and the in
accessibility OF the country makes IL inn
possible 10 remove the same 10 market
and the miners will as jealousy ~uard
the timber from destruction as could the
government; and,
Whereas, the future prosperity of What
com county, and largely the state OF
Washington. is greatly dependent upon
the development OF the almost inexhaust-
able mineral resources of Whatcom
county. and the other land within this
forest reserve. and believing that when
the real facts and truth as TO the min
eral character. and vast improvements
and development of this district shall be
fully presented together with the grew
Gus wrong, injustice and irreparable
commercial and laboring interest OF this
county. state and nation. the order Great
ing said reserve will be reScinded, an
nulied or cancelled
Now. therefore. we. your petitioners the
board OF trade in the city OF New What
ington. respectfully petition the president
and congress OF the United States for the
immediate revoca ton and cancellation OF
the order OF procla nation OF February p
1897; and we request our senator's and
representatives in congress TO use their
that copy of this petition and resolution
be forwarded 10 the president of the
United States, and 10 each of our seua-
tors and congressman.
Recommended by mining COMMITTEES.
J. w. ROMAINE,
MILLER SCOT TER
GEO. r. GAGE.
L r DONOVAN