The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-13

l. +. Shaw. a miner from the Atlin
mining district in British Columbia. ar
rived In the city yesterday rs q repre-
sentative Of the alien miners OF Atiin. and
ali day remained closeted with ex-Con-
gresham James Hamilton Lewis. whose
services he has secured in what Will prob
ably prove TO be the most interesting con-
troversy over mining property ever held
In the United States. and viii no doubt
develop many new and knotty points OF
law. Mr. Shaw Genes here as the repre-
sentative OF some DO alien miners who
once held profitable claims about Asiin.
Through SIR. Lewis they win present their
claims to the United States government.
with q view OF having the matter taken
up internationally and adjusted without
respect TO damages against the British
government.
On January Is OF the present year the
Canadian government passed and ap-
proved what has become known as the
Attn law an act prohibiting ali persons
not subjects of the queen from engaging
In any mining operations, such as buying,
selling. trading. prospecting. developing
or handling mining property in any man
ner Whatsoever In British Columbia.
For some months prior to that date large
numbers Of mining men from all parts OF
the United States crowded into the dis
trfct. and OF the number In the neighbor-
liz
claims. To all such the gold commission
er OF the Atlin district issued. on payment
Of the sum of s., what was known and
headed Free miners iisence." the form
OF which read as follows:
valid one year. This il to certify that
-. OF ----. has paid me this day the
sum OF 49, dollars. and Is entitled TO all
rights and privileges Of a free miner for
one year from date hereof Signed W. ,.
Gore, Gold Commissioned.
OF those who staked last fall. not one
but who was given a receipt OF the form
above. The final record. however, was
not made at the time of the issue OF the
receipt but all were told that this would
be done In the spring. When that time
arrived the alien law had been passed and
record was refused.
Men who had left good positions. sold
out business and endured every hardship
for the privileges contained In the receipt
given by the gold commissioner after jan
uary 1s found that the money invested n
the claims they had staked was lost No
tees were served upon each that, being
aliens, they would have to relinqutsh all
rights and privileges accorded to a free
miner, and even the ore on the dump, Oft
times representing the sole possession OF
the miner he was not allowed TO touch.
To such an extent was the game worked
that the gold commissioner refused TO re-
turn even the license fee paid
Unable to accomplish anything In British
Columbia, a meeting was called and
large sum OF money subscribed for the
purpose OF prosecuting the case through
the United States government. Mr.. Shaw
was dispatched here with Instructions to
secure the best legal representatives possi-
BILE Within few days. Mr.. Shaw states.
Mr. Lewis will 60 East. and no time VIII
he lost In an effort TO get some redress
for the miners. many of whom, Mr.. Shaw
saws have the last dollar they possess In
the world sunk in the A,lin mines.