The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-19

The bill now pending IN congress-
prohibiting Indians from leasing min
eral lands embraced in Indian reserVa-
tions. is being watched with much in
terest and considerable concern by
mining men and prospectors through
out this western country, and especial
" by parties who are looking with
longing eyes towards the Uintah In
dian reservation, in the northeastern
norton of this state and the rank and
file of Utah prOspectors are hoping al
most against hope that the Dill VIII
mass and become a law, as nothing
else IN the world will prevent the
mineral lands of the reservation from
passing into the hands of strong Synu-
Gates, moneyed corporations ana COM
bines, to the entire exclusion OF men
of limited means, but who have been
waiting for years for the opportunity
and privilege of stalking out mineral
claims in this land of promise, into
which more than one proSpector has
found his way secretly, returning with
stories of wonderful mineral wealth on
their lips, which, but Tor the prohiDl-
ton of the government, would enrich
more than one poor but energetic and
active prospector and miner.
In fact, it is we'll known that the
report of immensely rich deposits of
gold and silver in the Untah mount
aims is no fable. and every scheme to
be thought of has been brought to bear
on the influential at Washington to OBJ
tain leases on the best of these lands
by rich syndicates, to the exclusion OF
the hardy miner and the indefaugaDle
prOspector, and at times money has al
most encOmpassed the desired object;
but if this new measure becomes law,
the masses will have chance, at
least, equal with that enjoyed by the
man with a gigantic bank account, and
it will be the opening Of the reServa-
ton for settlement that will level all
class distinctions and give the poor and
rich alike q chance to get into this
region on an equal footing.
In speaking of the proposition TO
postpone the opening OF the reservation
from April l of the present year until
the 1st of October, a veteran pros
pector, who has prospected the Uintah
reservation thoroughly, informs The
Herald that in his opinion this meas
ure is both just and wise. as this is
region of high elevations, and it viii
be impossible for the people to get into
the mountains above Ft. Duchesne
until along in the summer. In fact, the
SIX principal streams of that section
cannot be fOrded with safety until in
September, but after the 1st of October
ii will be possible to explore the val
leys, as well as the highest mountain
peaks of the Uintah range, thus giving
the home-seeker and the prOspector, !
the homesteader and the claim-locatOr, !
an even chance, an even show.
Much has been heard OF the mineral
wealth of the Uintah mountains, and |
the legend of the Caleb Rhodes mine /
is still fresh in the memories of the .
people of this intermOuntain country. F.
The story of Dead Man gulch is often
told by the camp fireside of the veteran
miner, and it is only lately that fresh
rumors of the discovery of fabulous
wealth in the canyons and hillsides Of
this range of mountains have been /
given publicity in the press. But here /
halt must be made, as it is perilouS .
for the prospectOr to be found in that /
region, and as for the prosecution of |
regular mining there it is out of the
question, as the Indian police guard .
the passes with a jealous eye, and if [
caught within the prescribed limits,
the violator of the law must submit to
punishment by the government, if, in
deed, he escapes from bodily harm at
the hands of the Indians.
The mineral wealth is there, however
and the prospectOr mentioned above,
who agrees with the government as to
the proper time in which TO open the
reservation for settlement, while being
extremely reticent as TO what he dis
covered during his eight months So
9Ourn IN the mountain businesses OF
the reservation, allowed a few remarks
TO escape him which would indicate
that ii is not necessary to go to Alaska
for gold. as there is a KlOndike al
most at our very DOORS which time
and the government will render avail
able and accessible to the army of
mining men who have pinned their
faith on the future, when the Uintah
reservation would be opened for set
Element and the occupation of the seek
er after mineral wealth.