The San Francisco call., 1899-11-25
GAGE STRONGLY
CRITICIZED BY
THE MINING MEN
His Last Appoint
ments Unpopular.
FAT OFFICES FOR FRIENDS
Two Of the Executives Los Angeles
Supporters Placed in Power and
Popular Candidates Were
Given the Overlook.
FAT OFFICES FOR FRIENDS

Governor Gage has again demonstrated
his proficiency IN the gentle art OF making
enemies. He has displayed no small abil-
ity along that line ever since he dropped
into office, but latteriy he has quit Great
ing individual political and personal foes
and gone 10 making them in punches.
Mr.. Cages latest official vagary has set
talking every mining man on the mother
lode. There is a roar TO be heard from
French Camp to the Costumes, and there
is a reverberating echo OF IL here in San
Francisco In the numerous places where
local and sojourning mine owners are
won't TO congregate.
The Governors two latest appointments
are at the bottom of the row. Three days
ago a wire from Los Angeles announced
that he had appointed Stephen Bowers
State Examiner OF Mines and w. L.
Watts State Oil Lands Examiner A bill
passed at the last Legislature empowered
him to make such appointments, and ap-
propriated $4,000 TO pay the cost OF subse-
dent Investigations. The measure was OF
interest TO every mining operator in the
State, and had as well their unqualified
approval No mining legislation then ac-
complished created more comment, and
prominent miners have been pulling wires
and exerting influences toward having the
biggest men among them selected by the
portant a matter with them. in fact, that
at the recent mining convention in this
city numerous recommendations were
made regarding the matter.
There were competent mining men ga
lore in both the northern and southern
mines who were recommended and who
would have been satisfactory TO a ma
jority OF those interested. Among the ap-
proved names mentioned were Thomas
Houghton, Thomas II. Hayden and Ben
jamin Parlow Of FL Dorado County; State
NJ. Mcdonald OF Tuolumne, j, j. Crawford
and a half dozen others who have. en-
viable regulations In the mining sections.
OF all these facts Governor Gage was
informed, and the miners were confident
he would hand the places out TO popular
candidates. When. two weeks ago, he left
for Los Angeles those interested under
stood that they might receive an an
nouncement any day. They got the an
nouncement all right enough, and that is
the two men named was known outside
the citrus city. They have not been iden-
titled with the largest mining interests
of the northern and central miners knew
had not practical knowledge of the bust
ness.
that the northern and central portions
should have been figured in when the ap
pointments were made, and were led 10
believe that they would be.
The Governor, however, took quiet
trip south and celebrated II by putting
two more of his southern friends and sup
porters into fat Offices, to the exclusion
sections OF the State. Powers, made EX-
aminer OF Mines. bears the title OF Ph.D.
and two or three other alphabetical at
tachments. He is well known in the south
as an excellent theoretical miner and bet
ter known as the editor of the Voice. the
official organ Of the Prohibition party.
He has been close to the executive for
years and has published his numerous eX-
plantations when no other publication
could be found to handle them. w. l..
Watts, the new Examiner OF Oil Lands.
is said to have mastered that science
within the last year or so, and although
not widely known is reported to have es-
tablished a considerable reputation within
his limited sphere.
The miners at this end OF the line
however. are not figuring on matter OF
ability but upon the question OF sectional
rights and practical results. The dozen
and more who are at present in the city
are holding daily indignation meetings at
the Lick House, and the Governor is COM
ing in for the severest censure that has
been his lot since the late unpleasantness
in Sacramento.