Evening star., 1900-03-22

Secretary Roots Statement in Re-
gard to Them.
NO EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGE GIVEN
Authority if They Do Not interfere
With Navigation.
GENERAL WILSON'S ACTION

Secretary Root made a brief statement to
the press at the War Department this after
noon in regard to the action of the War De-
partment in granting licenses to prospectors
to dredge the water front Of Cape Nome,
Alaska, in their search for gold. He ad-
mitted that one or two such licenses had
been issued. but to whom he did not remem-
ber. as it was in the regular routine OF the
department. There were about a dozen
more applications Of the same kind, and
they will all be granted. The Secretary ex-
planned that his authority in the matter was
based upon the statute giving the War De-
partmeut jurisdiction over the navigable
waters of the United States. Under that
statute it was lawful to excavate in any
port, Toadstead, haven. harbor, canal. lake,
harbor of refuge or the channel of any
navigable water in the United States,
whenever it was shown to the satisfaction
OF the chief of engineers that the granting
of such concessions will not interfere with
navigation or riparian rights.
Would Not Affect Navigation.
Under this law no one could have done
any dredging on the water front of Cape
Nome within the three-mile limit without
the authority Of the War Department. and
this authority had been granted in several
instances, because 1t was shown that the
proposed dredging Of sand would not inter
fere with navigation or riparian rights of
owners of adjacent territory.
The particular character Of the sand to be
dredged did not enter into the considera-
ton of the case at all. The Secretary said
further that anybody was privileged to
dig for gold in the open sea, and the only
question considered by the War Department
was whether such operations conducted
within the thrce-mile limit was an interfer-
ence with navigation or an infringement
or the rights of others. When these condi-
tions were complied with the department
was prepared to grant permission to any one
to dig in the beach at Cape Nome or at
any point lying within three miles Of low
water mark. Although he did not go into
details, Secretary Root made it clear that
the privileges In question Were free to all
responsible persons. and that discrimina-
ton had been intended in the cases that
had been already acted upon.
No Exclusive Privilege.
From other sources it is learned that one
of these licenses was issued to George w.
Easterly, deputy auditor Of the State De-
partment and it was originally supposed
that he had been given an exclusive couces-
sion to mine the gold-bearng sands on the
shores of Cape Nome. According to Secre-
tary Root. Mr.. Easterly was not given such
exclusive right. The permit authorized Mr..
EaSterly to operate dredges 1000 feet for a
stretch of two miles along the coast outside
the low-water mark. The privilege is re-
garded a valuable one, in view of re-
cent reports that the sands of the beach in
that vicinity have yielded from S25 to $3.50 q
day with the use of only a cradle and
shovel. On that basis it is estimated that
powerful steam dredges could easily in
crease the yield to a much larger amount.
limited only to the quantity of gold in the
sand.
According to Capt E. S. Walker. sth In
fantry. prospectors on Cape Nome beach
have found as high as 10 cents to the pan,
and that many of the miners along the
Nome river. Anvil Glacier. Sanke and Grip
pie rivers have made very rich strikes.
All Gen. Wilson Did.
1t is learned at the War Department that
Gen. Wilson. chief of engineers, who has
supervision of the navigable waters of the
United States. had nothing more to do in
the matter of the Cape Nome beach grants
than to pass upon the purely technical
questions as to whether the proposed dredg-
ing involved In the licenses was a danger
to navigation or an infringement of riparian
rights The question of the propriety and
legality of such permits was passed upon
exclusively by the Secretary of War.