The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-11

Proposed legislation held to be needed
for the proper administration of the Nome
district OF Alaska and the locating OF and
digging in the auriferous beaches has at
last been agreed upon by, the Seattle
Chamber OF Commerce, the special commit
tee of which yesterday submitted its final
report. 1t Is taken that all the shore
lands of that district below the line Of
vegetation should be exempted from To-
cation under the placer act. and given to
the free use of the public. and that more
courts should be had in Alaska. The COM
mittee was composed OF Judge Burke, Il.
F. Blaine Josiah Collins, jr.. w. d. Wood,
]. b. Howe and A. r. Griffiths. The re-
port was unanimously adopted by the
chamber. and will be presented to the real
estate board this afternoon The report
was drafted by Mr.. Collins.
Great Rush Promised.
The document cites numerous whereas
es, to the effect that as 600 was taken
from the Nome beaches by thousands OF
prospectors last fall; that confusion exists
as to the right Of making placer locations
and mining In these beaches; that thou
sands Of new prospectors are going to the
country the coming spring. and that con-
tinued uncertainty and perhaps disorder
will exist without suitable legislation, and
continues with the following resolutions:
Resolved, by the Chamber of Com
MERGE of the city OF Seattle, That our
senators and representatives be and
they are hereby earnestly requested to
take all necessary and proper steps for
the purpose OF procuring from the con-
gress OF the United States Of America
immediate legislation to attain the
following objects:
/. That all beach or shore lands of
Alaska, lying between the line Of vege-
tation and a line fifty feet seaward OF
and below the line Of ordinary low toe
chan a
nary placer locations under the gen.
eral laws OF the United States, and any
person over the age of IS years shall
have the right to occupy for actual
mining purposes a strip of land OF such
beach or shore not exceeding fifty feet
in width. extending from a line meas
said line of vegetation seward to
line parallel to said first line and fifty
feet below the line of ordinary low
land, such persons shall have the right
to dig and mine therein and to appro-
pirate to his or her own personal use
all gold and gold-bearing dirt found
therein. !!
Subject to Local Rules.
Such mining right shall be subject.
however. to all such local mining rules
and regulations as to the manner Of
location, recording and occupancy OF
claims as may be made by the miners
in the district where such beach or
shore lands are situated: provided.
however. that such license to mine up
on such beach or shore lands shall at
all times be subject to the right Of the
public to have free access to and egress
from the sea. and shall not interfere
with commerce or navigation, and shall
also be subject to the right Of persons
mining upon claims upon the tundra
to draw water from and discharge the
same into the sea by means'of pipes or
fumes laid over and along such strips
of land; provided, further, that such
legislation shall not impair any. vested
rights legally acquired prior to the time
such legislation takes effect.
Q. That the location of placer mining
claims In said district of Alaska. under
and by virtue of powers Of attorney, be
prohibited.
g. That there be appointed for the
district Of Alaska three Judges in addi-
ton to the judge now holding Office in
said district, and that Alaska be d.
vided into judicial districts.
4. That in addition to the existing
United States commissioners, addition
al commissioners be appointed for said
district of Alaska.