The San Francisco call., 1901-10-22

6E HE convention of the California
Miners Association, now in ses-
sion in this city, raised $500 yes
terday through a committee to
pay James OBrien, that the op-
ton he gave to the United States for
lands needed for a settling basin in con-
nection with Yuba River dam might not
lapse. There was other business before
the convention, but this was the matter
of emergency and it was promptly and
vigorously met. Indeed, before the con-
vention had been properly organized, be-
fore the committee on credentials had a
chance to report, O'Brien's case received
attention. OBrien was in Golden Gate
Hall. where the deliberations of the con-
vention were in progress. President Voor-
heis was in the chair, sitting under an
arch which was decorated in the center
with festooned American flags, at the
ends with crossed picks and shovels and
heroic figures of athletic young miners of
California The handsome banner of the
California Miners Association was at his
right hand.
President VOORHEES, had successfully in
troduced Governor Gage and Mayor Phe
Ian and they had welcomed the miners
from the many counties of the State in
well turned phrases that were pleasing
and encouraging. The committee on Gre
dentiaIs had been named by the chair and
the proceedings of the first day were run
ming along in a routine way. Just at this
point Lafe Pence, who was sitting beside
ex-President w. c. Ralston at the left
of the president in the body of the hall,
arose ard made a statement that for the
time dwarfed the interest in all other top
les before the convention.
Mr.. Pence said that he had been in
communication with the members of the
California Debris Commission, consisting
OF the United States engineers in San
Francisco, for two days. He had, just
before the opening Of the convention,
read the contract or option that had been
signed by Mr. O'Brien, and he had dis
covered that the instrument was dated
October 22 1900, and that it provided that
a payment Of $25O0 must be made in one
year from the date mentioned. There
was in the contract the customary clause
that made time an essential part Of the
consideration. Therefore the money must
be paid to O'Brien at once or the option,
that is of so much Importance in the work
that will run up into hundreds Of thou
sands of dollars of cost, would lapse.
This statement at once chained the at
tention of the convention. 1.-THE way to
attend to a thing" continued Pence, "is
to act quickly"
The members acted with promptness
justifying the emblems Of vigor typified
by the picks, shovels and other adorn-
me1ts Of the hall. Pence suggested the
appointment of committee to get the
money needed.
o'Brien Makes Statement.
Secretary Benjamin also had a surprise
in store for the convention. He had re-
ceived letter from O'Brien, and this he
read. 1t was dated at Smartsville, Octo-
Der 9, 1901, and set forth that OBrien was
as anxious as he ever had been that the
dam should be built, but he also described
his grounds for raising an objection to
the conditions that he thought were detri-
mental to- him, as follows:
Any lands which own or are owned by any
companies that represent can be used by the
United States Government for the purpose of
building barriers free of charge No rights will