The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-12

A ray OF light has penetrated the Alas
ka Miners Association in it's fight for
mining laws suitable TO the needs OF
Alaska. A meeting of the association has
been called for tonight at the stock Elk
change, where important letters VIII be
read from Congressman John +. Lacey,
chairman of the committe on public
lands. and from James Hamilton Lewis,
attorney for the association, who Is at
Washington urging the passage of laws
as advocated by the association
The executive committee, to which has
been referred beth communications, has
drafted a lengthy reply TO Congressman
Lacey's letter, which Will also be present
ed tonight. This letter deals in minute
way with needed mining legislation.
Congressman Lacey's letter is dated
February 2. and reads as follows:
From an interview with Col j. Hamil-
ton Lewis. infer that there Is some lack
of knowledge of the scope of the proposed
Cape Nome bill, If not actual misunder-
standing as to its provisions. q
''At present the shore diggings are not
lawful, and, while during last season am
icahle arrangements were made by the
miners. 1t is quite likely that with no law
on the subject and crowd of very large
magnitude, all wanting to work at the
same time and place, there may be serious
trouble next summer. Gov. Brady thinks
that If the matter of shore diggings is
not carried by law there may be seri-
Gus trouble, as no claims on the tide lands
would be valid. / wish you would confer
with other interested miners and sug-
gest any objection there may be to the
form or substance of the bill. The COM
mittee is anxious that the legislation
should be of such a character as will best
serve the interests of actual miners"
Col. Lewis writes OF the work he says
he has accomplished since going to Wash
ingtor. as follows:
"Many features in this bill are very bad.
The serious difficulty is the contention that
the law should absolutely prescribe the
think twenty feet is sufficient. Everyone
is anxious that the claim should be limited
] am struggling TO have that proposition
left open in the law for regulation by the
miners themselves.
THE pressure is very great against US
Our views seem TO be al variance with the
views proposed by others Interested There
seems 10 be a general feeling here created
by emtssaries of certain interests, that the
miners who are lighting those interests
and opposing the monopolizing of rights
are band OF bandits cutthroats and pub
lie marauders.
by coincidence dug up a report made
by the projectors of the Southern Pacific
railroad which charged the same condition
and offense against the early miners of
California. in view of what those miners
developed and the development through
which they themselves went, II seems that
such should be sufficient refutation OF the
present rumors and Impressions, and also
dfscloses that such charges are invariably
made by persons seeking TO crafty private
interest In such matters as our government
intended should be equally distributed 20
the public. The commissioner said that the
decision brought TO his attention from the
supreme court OF the United States seemed
to justify our contention. and IL he IL still
of the opinion upon reading them that they
sustain our principle. his recommendation
is likely to be in accord Herewith.
II am 10 20 over the military situation
and present the grievances OF the associa-
tion upon this branch. In this / have TO
a pleasant degree the cooperation IL
Gov Brady. He has changed his views
upon this question and realizes the danger
the rule of militia promi&s to any effort
he may make TO govern the territory by
ciyil authority"
The reply of the association TO Congress
man Lacey will contain a brief recital of
the conditions existing at Nome last year.
and praying for such immediate legislation
as win make the Nome beach free and
open for mining purposes Just as Il was
last summer. II recites the conditions then
and states there was no quarreling over
claims. ana ventures the assertion that
there will be none this year. when the rea-
sons therefor are greatly lessened. Ii cites
that wha, Alaskan miners want is to be
to mine on the beach 10 the line
OK vegetation. In other words TO class the
present beach at Nome as tide lands ana
permit it's being fully worked