Amador ledger., 1900-11-23

Association to force the hand of the
Anti-debris Association so that the lat
ter would be compelled to join in help
ing to prove the constitutionality of
the Caminetti act.
Senator John r. Davis of Amador
county, chairman of the committee on
Legislation, submitted a long report.
He discussed at length the present Fed
eral statute concerning hydraulic min
ing in the Sacramento ard San JOAQUIN
watersheds. He said that there was no
unexplained hesitation in the expendi-
ture of money appropriated by Con-
gress and by the Legislature for the
construction of restraining dams and
barriers.
John M. Wright then took up the
oil industry, and particularly the fight
between the ''scrippers" and the To-
Gators. The difficulty of the oil locator
he said was that it is some times several
weeks, and even months, before he can
tell whether or not he is on an oil pro-
ducing claim, and in the meantime the
scripper can come in and select" the
land under his scrip, which entities him
to agricultural land only. If the
scrippers would select unappropriated
lands where the presence of mineral
was not apparent, said Mr.. Wright, no
one would question his right to patent
nor would his right to mineral after
ward discovered be Questioned. But
in very many instances the scripper has
selected land within the well-known
limits of oil fields, lands known to him
to contain vast quantities of oil; and
he has even gone further and selected
land upon which derricks had been
erected and upon which wells were be-
ing sunk.
1t was the purpose of the committees
to prepare bill that would protect the
oil locator until he had either discover
ed oil or had demonstrated that there
was no oil on his claim. The bill pro-
vides that locators shall have thres
months after the marking of their
claims within which to begin work for
the purpose of completing discovery
the discovery, if made, to date back to
the time of the location in order to se-
cure a continuous title. 1t provides
further that so long as work is carried
on with reasonable diligence the To-
Gator shall be protected, but if he fail
to prosecute the work diligently or if
he fail to commence it within the three
months allowed, he shall forfeit his
claim.
The report of the secretary showed
the Association to be well equipped as
to members, and his report and that Of
the treasurer, showed that there is now
on hand to the credit of the Associs-
tion S32OS 65, with all bills paid. The
disbursements during the year were
S11, 315.41; the receipts were S11, 215.41.
At the Tuesday sessions petroleum
and debris dams were the main topics.
Davis and Caminetti indulged in a
spirited discussion.
At the afternoon session on Wednes-
day an election of officers was held and
ex-senator VOORHEES, of Sutter Creek,
was made president by reclamation.
VOORHEES, was placed in nomination by
Julian Sontag. Lieutenant Governor
Jacob h. Neff seconded the nomination.
VOORHEES, was presented with the
gavel by retiring President Ralston,
and in a brief address the new presi-
dent assured the convention that his
energies would be devoted to the inter-
ests of the association.
Fred Zeitler of Nevada and Lewis E.
Aubury of Los Angeles, were nomi-
mated and elected vice-presidents by
acclamation.
E. Fl. Benjamin of Alameda, was re-
elected secretary, and Samuel 81.
Hendy was again honored with the
treasurership.
The convention then adjourned sine
dia