Stikeen River journal., 1899-07-15
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BAD MANAGEMENT
Of Affairs in Atlin District.

Hans Helgescn has just arrived in i Victoria from Atlin, heading delcga- tion of miners who are to ask that changes be made. The following stat mcnt to be presented to the executive Council of the Province of British Col umbia was shown your correspondents:
 To the Hon Executive Council of the Province of British Columbia:
 Gentlemen: have been delegated by the merchants and other business before you, in conjunction with the dcl- eCation of working miners of the same district certain matters of grievance that are laying heavily upon the indus tries and general prosperity of the dis l trict have been chosen to represent. cannot believe that the Government is cognizant of the loss, hardship and suffering which has been accustomed by several acts of your administration in the Atlin District.
 Disputed Claims. The unfortunate tanglc which took place in the record- CTS office at Atlin last fall has been the occasion of much trouble and delay in mining operations in the district and this has been greatly aggravated by the outlay which has taken place in the opening of the enquiry of your jud- ical commissioner appointed to settle the existing disputes. The inquiry has now been opened, however, and we are hopeful that there will be a speedy settlement of the disputes as to the claims, but in the opinion of myself and the people 1 represent. it is unfair and unjust to force such claimants whose cases may come before the commission CT to pay $25 to have established the right by which the law already gives injustice, for many claimants are mOn- eyless and their just claims on this ac- count alone will be sacrificed. The rule should be established at least that where d claimant makes good his case the money paid in shall be returned. in any case we believe the charges to be too heavy.
 Another matter in this connection. the powers of the Gold Commissioner should be enlarged so that he will be enabled hereafter to settle all disputes as they may arise. otherwise, if he is compelled U accept any record that is offered him. as in the past. and then tie up all claims that are in dispute, the same difficulties that have origin ated in the past will be repeated in the future to the great loss of the whole community.
 The Close Season. of the most harmful and disheartening features of your administration in the district has been the successive extentions you have made of the close season on placer mines The date first set for the open season to begin was June 1st. It was next changed to June 15th., then to July lst. and now it is announced that the season will not open till August lst,
 
 really ridiculous to the working miner. We have no hesitation in asserting that at no time has there been any just req son for these delays. Your honorable body can not be aware of the suffering and loss inflicted on the miners and the business men of the district by these repeated delays, and d unanimous de- mand goes forward from Atlin that a date. several weeks earlier than Au- gust lst should even now be set for the open season to begin. There have been, we understand, some 5000 to 5000 claims recorded in the district aud mony hundreds of working miners came in at great expense early in the season. fully expecting that as all these claims must be represented each by at least one man there would be abundance on and after that date, and there undoubt-