The San Francisco call., 1898-11-20

There is every prospect of a large at tendance at the annual convention of the California Miners Association, which will tomorrow begin a three days session in Native Sons Hall in this city. Over 400 delegates have been reported as elected from the fourteen affiliating county or ganizations, and large proportion of them will be on hand Such display of interest will be gratifying in view of the fact that the important matters to come before the association are mainly general and familiar and do not so strong ly touch the local and self interests of the miners, as was the case when the battle in behalf of hydraulic mining began with the organization of the association late in 1891. That was an issue which every miner and business man in the counties affected felt keen interest in. The bat tie has been largely won and there re- mains in this field but little more than the securing of further appropriations and the hastening of the work planned in the way of restraining dams and river dredging-if such thing can De conceived.
 These and other matters have for a year been in the hands of committees which, as far as is known, will have but little that is new and striking to report. The mineral lands bill, which affects over 13,- GOO 900 acres of railroad land in this State, still sIumbers in a Congressional commit tee pieeonhole with a bright prospect of passage at the coming session. This con yention can help 1t along probably. The agitation for a Department Of Mines and Mining, which this association began, has become general and an effort will be made to mass a bill to that end at the coming session of Congress, instead of Senator Perkins compromise measure, providing for a mere bureau in the Interior Depart ment The entire Transmississippl region is now actively in favor of the measure and the California Association can agaln cooperate with it's influence in its behalf
 The committee appointed on the matter of California exhibits at Omaha ana Parls has not met for some time. It failed to secure funds for an Omaha exhibit, and if the industry in California is to re- ceive the enormous benefit of an adequate and well managed mining exhibit at Parls the Legislature must provide the funds, and the convention will doubtless so urge. The committee on mining Legislation IS another of the committees to report.
 The liveliest convention issue in sight appears to be that of the presidency. Lieutenant Governor-elect J. H. Neff an nounces that he will positively retire this time in spite of the unanimous wish that he remain for a seventh term, and w. c. Ralston and Secretary Julian Sonntag are lively rivals for the honor. Both have long and ably served the associa- tion.
 One of the new matters which is likely to come before the convention is one which has been but little considered by the delegates generally, but which may be of chief importance not only to the convention but to the entire mining in- dustry of the State. It Is proposed that the secretary shall be made the chief executive officer in effect, that an ade- quate salary be provided and that the office be filled by a practical, energetic mining man who will give it his entire time The scope of the association would be greatly broadened, and 1t would be energized in striking way. A permanent headquarters would be opened and made a fountain of information for the Califor- mia prospector and miner and for the Eastern and foreign investor, though in no way advertising or dealing with par tfcular properties. Such a bureau would advertise the California mining field at home and abroad in every legitimate way and in no field of human endeavor does advertising count for more than in gold mining.
 There are a thousand ways in which