The San Francisco call., 1898-12-15

terday in discussing the importance of the measure now pending in Congress.
 Ut is the desire of the mining men of this State" said he, that the Govern ment create a commission of competent men to classify our lands that are now in dispute and that the decision of such commission should be final. This has been done in Idaho and Montana and the plan has worked admirably. We cannot see why the same regulations should not apply to similar lands in this State. Un- der the application of the 1daho-Mon- tana act the cost was between 3 and cents per acre and there Is no reason why 1t should be more here. The measure has the support of the entire California del- egation In Congress and our organiZa- ton Is working diligently to assure it's passage. We do not feel confident that We will succeed at this session, but there Is little doubt that the bill will become a law in the long session.
 There are fifteen mining States in this country and we are confident of our abil- proposition. Of course, this will take time, but our interests are practically identical and we are bound to get to- gether on the proposition to demand the appointment of a Cabinet officer to at tend solely to the affairs of mines and mining. Other countries give to this in- dustry the consideration and support to which 1t Is entitled but the miners of the united States have been very shabbiIy treated in so far as recognition and pro- tection are concerned. Now is the time news ceed.
 'The importance of the mining industry or tnls state is not appreciated by the pnplc. II 1t were there would be more effort to assure it just treatment There are engaged in this work in California over ls,OO0 miners, every one of whom is a consumer. On the one-half basis of the Shlcago census We will estimate popula- I1 tion two to one: At a low estimate each will will consume m 50 cents, worth of supplies rY1I AnnN day-over a half million dollars a month and between six and seven million dol lars each year. If this mineral lands bill goes through this number will be in- creased to 25,000 or 30 900 men, every one or whom would be a factor in promoting 9ne welfare of other industries of the
 Another feature of the situation is the modest fact that California mines pro- ouced s60 900 this year which can be wealth of the i0 safa afh cq9rDqted Wtb s the eaton of the mineral lands many great mines would be developed and this i'm mense output largely increased We pro- pose 10 have this recognition and will keep on fighting until we get 1t. If if is necessary the great copper, silver. oil. coal and iron interests can be combined SoI SWi1n such an interest brought to bear on congress there can be no doubt as to the result. At the same time there should be no necessity for such strife to secure rec 9sntu,o 99gItu,on Tor one or the most important in-
 
 We must have a department of mines and mining in the place of the Interior department, which necessarily cannot glVe us the proper attention. In addition to this the men interested in such enter prfses should have the benefit of an off, clal geographical map, showing the loca- tlon or mineral lands, quantity and uual- lty or timber, water supply and the means or transportation to reach such lands Other countries encourage the industry by such means, and there Is no reason why the United States should not do so. There Is untold wealth lying in the noun tains of California, and every due en- couragement ought to be given to the men who have the enterprise to dig it out and contribute to the wealth of the nation"
 The California Miners Association hopes to accomplish some good work in the next Congress. one part of which will be to impress the Government with the necessity of dredging San Pablo Bay and the Sacramento River. which are being made shallow by the erosion of adjacent lands If France and Italy had not ener- getically pursued such work their rivers would now be dry land. It is only a ques- tion of a short time when our lawmakers will appreciate the vast importance of these matters to the country at large The association may find 1t necessary to send an able man to Washington to set be- fore the coming Congress the necessity of establishing the new branch of gov