The San Francisco call., 1899-10-24

Dor. 1t was with difficulty we could at first
obtain even hearing in Congress on this sub
ject, but finally only technical point prevented
the passage OF the bill. 1t is highly probable
that this pending measure Will pass the next
time 1t is considered by Congress, but we must
spare no efforts to see that 1t does. Week by
week, month by month, year by year, sees the
domain OF the pTospector narrowed, contracted
and lessened in space. throughout the mining
States by the present policy OF the great corpo-
rations who are claiming and taking what the
law never gave them and never INTENDED to
give.
Even while the question is pending. thousands
and thousands OF acres OF mineral lanas are
passing by railroad title into hands which COM
pei the miner TO pay for what the Government
expressly saved for him to open and develop
without cost
Then we want that Department of Mines and
Mining and that Secretary of Mines in the Cab
met of the nation. Why last year the miners
Of this country dug out of the ground mineral
products of the value of over seven hundred
millions of dollars and that was over sixty mil
lions more than in the previous year Why
should not industry with such growing,
substantial record have some representative in
the councils of the nation? Talk about the
need of protecting our Industries! Here is one
Of great magnitude absolutely unprotected. 1t
is unprotected, l say, from the assaults or the
great railroad corporations; from the sinister
attacks OF officials in the departments from
the very Ignorance of Congress Itself. What
ever attack may be made upon II in the shape
OF unwise laws and adverse legislation, there
Is now no man to say nay. There Is no one to
advise the President on the subject and it is an
industry which is scarcely recognized In Gov
ernment councils.
Why should we not have a Secretary of Mines
and Mining to pass upon and adJudicate mat
ters relating to mineral lands instead of
Land Commissioner and Secretary of the In
terror, with so much on their hands that they
scarcely have time to find out what mine is, much
less what the miners need? Why should
man who is from agricultural community,
with his sympathies and experiences all in that
direction sit in judgment on the property in
terests of the vast number of hardy men who
are digging their living from the rugged noun
talnS OF the western side of this continent2
We want relief from the present bGrdensome
system, and we want il badly and quickly We
must keep constantly agitating this subject.
Will back up.
These national matters on which I have
thus far spoken. But here at home in our
own fair State, where most of our work lies
we have important problems to help solve II
was TINS association which first suggested that
some general plan be urged for the conserva tion
OF water, aside from that in vogue among the
private f9lnlng and ditch companies. Their ex-
perience has shown what can be done by indi-
Nlduals, but vastly more can be accomplished
oy Pupllo assistance and the adoption of a gem
eral system. The experience OF the past two
years has shown what a vital necessity thts
IS Tor the general welfare of the producine
Gasses-the miner, farmer and manufacturer
Even In the dry years there Is plenty of
water In the high mountain regions could il hut
De conserved for use during the rainless
months The climatic features peculiar to this
out some thorough system which will enable ne
to control the flood waters and not allow them
70 pass of as useless when so badly need
them later
During the past summer and the previous
one, mines and mills have suffered an en-
forced idleness, and hundreds of miners have
neen thrown out Of work simply because scant
PROVISION had been made to hold back the
waters from the melting SHOWS And this con-
dition of affairs must be frequently repeated
until a remedy is applied.
RESOLUTIONS Will not build dams but worl,
ana money Will. This is the most important
problem the miners Of this State have yet to