The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-03
RADICAL CHANGES N L1lIN.
Plans of J. D Graham, the New
Gold Commissioner.
ENFORCE A RED TAPE POLICY.


SkAGwAY. Alaska. Der. es.--The advent
o. j. u. GRAHAM. the new gold commits
sscner Tor the Attn district and his views
az to tire enforcement II the law IN thai
country. have thrown Consideration into
the camp OF the proapecsors ard titoss
awaiting the cold weather. 20 move into
the new dsggIngs. and ieany can scarcely
realize the ultimate result 10 mining and
real estate holdings. IL The utserances OF
nr. Graham are any criterion Of the laws
rs intends 10 establish and enforce.
The gentleman arrived on the Danube
Thursday last. ard hSd hardy secured
quarters before he was besieged by miners
add prospective merchants as TO his inter
probation of the British Columbia mining
ana real estate laws as applied TO Atliri.
Though Mr.. Graham Is affabie and
courteous In the extreme. /; was to be seen
at once that the policy OF red tape and
officiaiism." carried on In Dawson,
was TO be the rule in Atlin.
Csaer the guise OF unfolding and adj
msnistering the Law TO the letter. many
harcships Will be 9savoidabiy worked on
The miner. that Until tbs commissioner
advent were not dreamed OF.
Regarding real estate holdings. the COM
missioner stated that such IL a misnomer.
as no one Is at presen' entitled 10 foot
Of ground in that district other than a
miner, and that In tine future such hold
ilzs would be very hfniteI.
VIII Have Atiin Repiatted.
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr.. y. w.
II. Rant and partner. III Victoria, b. c..
had at great expense cleared. surveyed
and plated the present site of Attn City.
their work went for nausht, and the com
missioner said he would disregard the
survey entirety. would reSuryey the town
himself. ard that many buildings. soriis
OF which cost much $500 now be-
ing built would have to be torn down or
moved, II he. the commissioner, 80 de-
sired. After the new $ srvey the lots will
Dc sold AT public auction TO tho highest
bidder, and any one having improvements
on the same are TO be recompcnsed out
OF the proceeds OF the sale
las act. II Is said. VII work a hardship
on present owners OF buildings. as the
most desirable lots Will not bring more
than $500 to $500 and the owners OF build
!hss win be compelled either TO buy in the
lot or lose their property. No priority
rights AS 10 holding " lots will be reeSg-
nizetf. AZ the ssiuatter has no rights in
British Columbus law. II 1s needless 10
say that these regulations seriously disturb
those who believe they are property OVID
ers in the new country.
The commissioner proposes TO crest fine
government buildings, wherever he desires
10 rake the seat OF administration ana
should this be Atlin, which he is not at
all sure alsoils ha VIII set aside $40 fee,
square on the lake front for the purposes
This VIII he regardless of any improve
fnents b. may ind on the chosen ground.
No Saloons I'm the District.
Regarding The liquor question, Mr.
Graham confirmed the report already re-
sefeed. that no saloons will be tolerated
In the district, and that the few hotel
licenses. with bar privilege. would be is
su-t only to those applicants who had
been residents In the district enc year,
Of which there are none. and who can
furnish bonds in the sum If slo.01 by two
reliable men who have also resided there
that length OF time. AS no one ba; Miller.
the discoverer OF Pine creek, has lived
In the country the length 81 time sFeof-
fed, the commissioners ruling makes the
sale OF intuxscanta prohinitlve. The four
licenses issued last September by Com
us5sssoner Rant VIII undoubtedly be re-
vokec.
During the rush to Atlin last summer.
the pres pertcrs, thinking the district to
e ia the Northwest territory. located the
entire length of Pine creek In 2%st-foat
claims. Later s. was fofffsd 10 be i'm Brit
tsh Columbia, and other lo2ators festakesf
the claims IN Ioslfoot lengths. "a only this
rnsffsh - allowed by the laws in That prov
ince Commissioner Graham says tina.
the surplus 10 feet OF each 10 foog claim
SO stakei Will he offered for sale AZ public
auction, and as this makes invalid the
claims OF fruEn q go 100 miners who have
staked in good faith along this creek. the
indignation ot many who are spending the
winter In Skagwav in expressed in no mild
manner. X Is also the intention Of the
nsw commissioners 10 levy royalty OF
per cent on every dollars worth 81 gold
taken on: Of the country. rot only In the
future but IN the pass as well.
To Control sale of Timber.
No timber holdings wifl stand, ana only
timber .ssg! IN the work necessary on the
claims and for fuel Will BE- aIlswei II
- understood that large traess If timber
lard haya been taken tap by synsicafea orsa
of which IS shipping into the country
large sawmAl. These acgs. says Str. IRA
ham, are Illegal. the EGVec nfrssfft Will
control tina sale of All gisrslb@r ard
the uwneFs ~ the sawfuiils wifi ~ made
"a dsssss or pay the goveTmfnens price for
staaraEe
The law governing TIRE holding Of claims
viii ha strictly adhered 20, aud IL 81 evil
dent that the Hew commissioner viii in no
Way ccaatessnCe cain jumpers who, IL
caaehf. wiz bs sssnrnar ~ dealt VITA.
lhs conclusion arrived AZ after "a talk
.s*a M tsrahSrn Is that many radical
and 81 wow-lse popular csSaggea are 80 be
nAae n TIE Mss na cement ct affairs I'm ais
silskrics. ARR that mary acts NJ MS sHs~-
IsceSSoT. Mr.. kans are Eo Ne revoked.
working IyreTe ~ less OF hardship oG ne
miner AID business man who Intends 10
eating Tn The new country In tae spring
ard esfnsng winter.
PRIOR 10 Fec~avtHg hIs pfeSnni apgxa4Yt-
neft Mr.. GRAHAM was the raafsastT ST 4
large nstz!sog 50 s4igats I'm Ekss;@rss. r. g.
ard before Sra Sula commissioner IN Rev
eAssoke.
He leaves hare tomorrow for Attn, whsre
he ~sll be joined later by has party az
veTors AID assistants
s4oSs or CANADIAN VAIL