The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-01

Miners Petition tor More Time for
Assessment Work.

The miners in the state of Washington
interested in having the working assess
Hent suspended for period OF one year
held a well-atiended meeting in the city
council chamber last night. and decided TO
forward the following petition 10 congress:
The undersigned citizens. holders Of
mining claims. residing In the state OF
Washington, do represent and petition -
the honorable congress OF the United states
as follows:
THAT the Cascade mountains the Oiym-
pic mountains and the mountainous por-
tons OF Okan0gan. Stevens All other
counties in the state of Washington are
known to contain a vast wealth ana vari-
ETY. of useful and precious metals, as
SHOWN by the prospecting ana development
already made.
THAT the natural obstacles 70 the de-
veloprnent of those resources and the Git-
ncult.eS of exploring the different fields
and prospecting and developing claims
therein have been especially great:
In very many sections the limited avail
able time IN each year for doing pTelimi-
nary Development 1ni the loss of time,
expense and difficulty attending travel and
transportation of material and supplies
has made the work of development costly.
protraCted and difficult.
THAT several thousand mining claims
have been shut off from all chance of de-
vei0pment for The present year ny the tie
struction OF the leading mining railroad OF
the state
That the material condition of the class
of people who have undertaken ne miner
al development Of Washington has. for the
past five years, bsen under more extreme
depression than in any other part Of the
country. yet the work OF locating and de-
veloping claims has been carried on 10
sreat extent. considering the means Of the
respecting miners
That since the great discoveries of cold
In the Yukon basin, during 1891, a large
portion Of the holders OF mining claims in
Washington have gone TO Alaska for the
purpose Of procuring the means IN develop
and operate their several properties in
Washington, but as such purpose will
generally require such period of time as
10 prevent their return in time TO do their
assessment work, as required by law. ii -
absolutely essential to their Interests that
they be given reasonable til to do so.
That the greatest number OF individuals
holding mines and most OF the companies
Incorporated for the purpose of enIist.ng
capital and developing mines Herewith.
md. through the diversion OF capital and
their members TO Alaska and the infu-
ence OF the present war between the Uni
ted States and Spain upon capital. that
they are unable TO carry out their required
work in this state during the present year.
but do have 4 reasonable assurance that
they viii be able SO 10 do hereafter.
That large number Of the m n recent
~ called into the service of the govern
ment for the present foreign wac are in
terested a holders OF claims AMI will be
unable 10 project their interests the pres
ent year.
Therefore we. as projectors and hold
ers OF mining claims il he state Of Wash
ington. do hereby pe,IIiOn the honorable
congress OF the United States 10 provsda
by a special enactment for the suspension
OF the general law relating 10 assessment
on mining claims for the year 1e9S. so far
as Ii relates 10 mining claims In the state
OF Washing tom
Il was also the sense Of the meeting that
the Post-Intellgercer request the various
newspapers in the state 10 publish 4 copy
Of this petition. and also retain Z COW in
their offices for the signatures of miners in
their respective localities. After the min
ers aifix their signatures the petition Will
be forwarded to the Washington deiega-
ton.