The record-union., 1897-02-11
THE MINERS AND THE RAILROAD.

Recently the railroad received patents
to some lands in Siskiyou County, COW
ering an area of about 100000 acres of
land, including the interspersed even
numbered sections belonging to the
Government As the railroad itself had
paid no attention to the occupancy of
the lands while the title remained in
choate, a circular was issued informing
the people of that section Of the GUS
tom Of the company concerning its
landed property. This consisted of a
recitation that wherever an actual op-
erative mine was found on unpatented
railroad land it would be relin-
quished; or on patented land it
would be donated by deed. Re
quest was preferred in the cir
cular that all persons in occupancy
of odd numbered sections notify the
Land Agent 50 that their rights might
be adjusted. The Land Agent of the
company also notified the people Of the
section of Siskiyou County under con-
sideration that all lands which may
reasonably be classified as mineral will
be held for the encouragement of min
ing; that mining operations would be
given the preference of occupancy and
use.
Upon this the Examiner" makes a
gross exposition of its ignorance by
declaring that this is a death bed re-
pentance. 1t makes a further expo
sitfon of its stupidity by quoting a fell
low named Ricketts,, who is perhaps
the most perverse, the most ignorant
and the most malicious little humbug
Of all that species of humbugs who try
to curry favor with the miners by pre-
tending to be their friend.
The announcement made by the Land
Agent of the Central Pacific Railroad
Company is mere repetition OF the
policy which has controlled the COM
pany from the very first. Ricketts,
knows this Recently the Examiner
made him say that he had gone to the
Railroad Land Office and by a trick had
him a piece Of mineral land AS this
was in no respect true, Mr. Ricketts,
was called upon personally to inform
the public that the Examiner had
lied about him-had made a lying mis-
representation concerning the transac-
ton Mr. Ricketts,, while admitting the
misrepre sentation Of the Examiner" "
declared that he could not make the
retractiun because he was afraid of the
paper He, therefore. through George
W. Baker of Oakland, appealed to the
Land Department not TO have the mat
ter further exposed or commented upon
1t remains to be noted that there has
not been one single operative mine dis
covered on any Of the lands IN Slskiyou
County to which the circular under
consideration relates.
Reference to the Miners Association
In this connection is very far fetched
The Miners Association has never beer
considered in any policy established BY
the Central Pacific Railroad Company
ton. has had no complaint to make. 4
few demagogues of the Ricketts, stamp
one of whom went to Congress pretend
ing to represent the Miners Associa-
tfon, have attempted To stir up trouble
between the miners and the railroad
company and they have signally failed
Ricketts, has no standing with the
Miners Association of California.
Commenting upon this situation. tho
Colusa sun" edited by the Surveyor
General Of California, declares:
This (announcenenD in general
terms has always been the policy Of the
company. There cannot be single cast
shown in which the company has no
given way TO bona fide miner. Their
NAV be some details announced in tht
circular not heretofore announced, bui
in principle II is simply the uniform
practice Of the company.
This statement Of the Surveyor-Gen-
eral is exactly true. It is barely posi-