The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-23
MINING ASSESSMENTS.
seattle May =. Is

Seattle. May =. 1855
To the Editor: ] have read with much
interest and satisfaction. your editorials
OF last week fayorsng the suspension. tor
this year. Of the law applying to the an
nu2l assessment on mining Claims. 1t
seems 10 me 10 be 8 move ii the right d.
rectior. n this time and one which viii,
Z congress viii do as YOU suggest. result IN
great benefit 10 many deserving people OF
this scatA
l noticed in last Saturdays issue OF your
paper. that Mr.. j. W. elise. Of this city,
has addressed you q letter against the
proposition
With all due respect to Mr.. elise, think
1 voice the sentiment OF ninety per cent.
or the people OF this state who are small
holders OF mining claims. when / say
that. while the opinions or Mr.. elise would
be all right In ordinary tines. in my optn-
son they are decidedly AL wrong in these
extraordinary times OF war. advanced
prices OF provisions. and ssringency or
money.
am surprised that the chairman OF the
committee Oh mines OF our Chamber OF
Commerce. should be so unmindful OF the
interests Of the individual poor man who
Is the present holder OF a mining claim
or two. which he has located and devel-
oPeu so Tar At great risk and cost. while
oareiy able TO support himself and fam
lily for the last several years; (tlis being
one OF the hardes) and there are many
sucn. who wish TO maintains their holdings
until better times arrive.
II is just such doctrine as he advocates
that gives to large mining corporations
undue advantages. and enables Them at
hetie or no cost. TO freeze out small hold
ers OF limited means. and gobble up all the
most valuable mining claims which they
may coyes
Ii is news to many OF us. to learn from
Mr.. elise that the entire stagnation of
everything pertaining to mining. for the
years 1885 and 1884, was due to the sus-
pension OF the assessment law"
AS , matter or fact, the stagnation re-
Ierreo TO was solely due TO the terrible
financial str.ngency which began In 1Sas
ana from which we have not vet recoy-
cred. At present, the farmers who were
blessed last year with bounteous crops
are having degree of prosperity, and
some miners who of late went to the
Atoncike have met with success; but the
vast majority OF Washington c,aim-holders
are desperately in need of help They must
Iaca one or two propositions; either aban-
don their claims. or throw up Their hands
40 the capitalist or corporation that stands
ready 90 develop the country" provided
Ae can possess IL on his own terms and
at his price.
Does Mr.. elise know so little of mining
customs as TO seriously state that 200. oo1
would De paid for assessment work on
1s'vo claims? Not one-fourth of that sum
"ouiu De paid for such work, il done at
an IL not done, however, they would be
Jumped by the paid agents OF corpora
lions, or would be worked by contract at
from SIS to SO a claim.
While the rigid enforcement OF the law
would. perhaps, aid Mr. elise personally.
and perhaps the other members OF the
elise investment Company also. as mines
could be bought for song, Il will simply
take from the holders of a claim or two.
with but little wealth to back their inter-
ests. what mining rights they possess, and
IN most cases take with such rights the in
Vestments. labors and results of one or
more years OF severe individual priyation,
What they need is further time to do
tneir work. And the granting Of such time
10 the thousands Of such needy ones
should not, in any way, delay nor retard
development work by his more fortunate
neighbor, who can continue his work.
ship his ore and pocket his wealth. What
We object to Is the opportunity afforded
to ship the other fellows ore and pocket
the wealth therefrom. if the new law of
assessment cannot be suspended
In conclusion, I believe that the large
majority OF mining men and others inter-
ested are heartily in sympathy with your
editorial suggestion in the matter and /
believe a man in the position OF Mr..
elise, as chairman OF the committee on
mines. ought to be guided by the opinion
OF those whose interests he is supposed to
represent and not seek to disguise or
mlrepresent their interests and opinions.
E. D. MLAUGHLIN.