The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-23
Attempt to Gobble Up the Uintah
Reservation.
HATHENBRUCK'S SCHEME
SYNDICATE WANTS ALL THE
GOLD AND SILVER.
Expect to Secure a Lease From the
Interior Department Within Thir-
ty Days-Senator Rawlins OPP
poses Such Disposition Of the
Mineral Lands.

For the past year or more a scheme
has been in process of incubation which
has for its object the exclusive right
TO mine the precious metals believed
10 exist in great quantities within the
boundaries of the Uintah Indian res
ervajion. A syndicate represented by
+. W. c. Hathenbruck of Provo is APP
plying for a lease from the secretary
of the interior which will enttle it to
mine for gold, silver, copper, etc, on
the reservation and pay to the gov
eminent, for the Indians, a certain
royalty on tae values extracted.
With this lease secured the company
obtaining il will be ready to suitcase
to whomsoever it sees fit such mineral
lands as the reservation may contain,
on terms to be decided upon, and thus,
in the language of Mr.. Hathenbruck,
practically throw the reservation open.
When seen regarding the matter, Mr..
Hathenbruck admitted that such an
undertaking was being matured and
he hoped to have the business wound
up within the next thirty days. He
stated, however, that 1t would be pre-
mature 20 make the scheme public at
this time, as it might interfere with
his plans.
Leases to Others.
Inc government mas seen Salu
Mr.. Hathen.r uck, Ito allow other folks
to mine for hydrocarbons, and it is
just as reasonable to give us the right
TO mine for precious metals, though
Senator RawlinS opposes the scheme,
on the grounds that the reservation
should be thrown open"
Mr.. Hathenbruck contends that his
leasing scheme would open the reser-
walton fully five years in advance of
the time that would naturally be con-
sumed by allotment and purchase
Senator Rawlins' Position.
Senator Rawlins was seen yesterday
and questioned on the subject. He
stated that he was opposed to the leaS-
ing scheme because, first, he did not
believe in allowing anyone to monopo-
lie that which should belong to all
the people, and also for the reason that
he did not believe the Indians owned
the metals in the earth. They owned
the right to occupy the lands during
their lives. but that right did not carry
with it the power to give to others the
minerals beneath the surface The
only Just way to settle the question
was to allot TO the Indians such lands
as they needed, purchase the balance
and give every citizen an equal oppor-
tunity to get a share of it. If the right
to mine on the reservation was given
by lease or otherwise. IT would have
tendency, if nothing else, to en-
nance the value of the land to such an
extent that when the purchase from /
the Indians finally became necessary it |
would likely be worth many times |
what it now is in an undeveloped |
state.
Mr. Rawlins believed that a strong !
financial syndicate was behind the |
Hathenbruck scheme, and if il was sue |
cessful few men would soon have !
all there was or might be of value in
the way of minerals on the reservation. |
He opposed the scheme just as he had !
opposed the hydro-carbon or elaterite |
leases, and he intended to do all he |
could to have the reservation thrown |
open during the next session of con-
gresS.