The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-18
MINING LAW ron CARE NOME.

Seattle, Dec. Is. 1872
To the Editor: was very much In
terested In the acknowledgements account
OF remarks made by Gov. Brady, Of Alas
kA and others. before the Seattle Cham
Der OF Commerce, and was somewhat sur
prfsed at 50 much conflicting opinion. It
rather looks az though information was at
a premium on the condition Of Nome beach
AFFAIRS, and the mining laws In general, as
administered In that district. beg per-
mission to add my opinion to the general
pot through your columns.
Z II this IL not preliminary move where
by individual rights are to be sacrificed in
order to make an open road for some
OF the companies who wish to obtain pos
session of the entire beach, can certainly
zee nothing wrong with Commissioner
Hermann's decision in regard to the tide
lands.
A. one who spent the entire season at
Nome, and the last two years in. Dawson
and Alaska, as one who wishes that every
man who goes to that country may re-
turn with competence, fail to sec how
1t could be arranged any differently.
According to the account published. Coy
Brady says that the decision of the COM
missioner has left Nome IN deplorable
condition"
Perhaps. but this is precisely the condi-
ton that has prevailed there since August
And, II this "dcplorable" condition Is not
continued. very few people will have any
business in Nome next season. other than
those who already have interests there.
Outside of this stretch OF beach between
high and low water mark, 1t will not be
possible to- obtain ground. unless 1t Is pur-
chased, as everything is stakcd for nun
dFed miles.
II It had not been for that little stretch
cf open leach, three-quarters Of The men
suvh-< -
have been ''assisted emigrants." saw no
trouble between the men who worked on
the beach. Everyone knew that he was
entitled to an equal show. ana no more.
1t would not be possible to make laws to
govern such a case, and none are needed.
There II just one thing wrong with the
mining laws an administered at Nome; that
is claims located by power of attorney
should be der Jared Illegal.
The miners themselves would have made
the necessary amendments to the local
laws at their meeting on July 10. II hey
had been allowed to do 20. but that mcAt-
ing was broken up by United States troops.
have never been able to determine that
there was such law in United States min
ing laws. It iS certainly not In practice
In any other camp I have known of It's
being tried before. but the people always
declared against II. and they would fave
done so in this instance IL they mai been
allowed to have any voice in the matter.
And the spectacle Of ono man locating q
whole creek or score OF contiguous
claims. by virtue OF the powers Of attorney
he carried in his vest pocket, you'd have
been avoided.
The power of attorney claim Ii certainly
incorporated in the bylaws Of the original
organizers OF the. district, but appears to
have been put In as an aftcrthought-
has It to please some Of the companies To-
Gated at st. Michael, SO they could send
Laplanders out with power Of attorney to
the country in the winter time. Very re-
spectfully. J. r. SPAULDING.