The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-29
Especial to The Heraldl

4
w tary of the interior today trans
mitted TO the senate the long
delayed papers and documents called
for by Senator Kearns in his resolu-
ton of Jan Z. and for the first time
all the facts Of record in the case OF
the lease of the Florence Mining COM
pany were brought 10 light
In transmitting the report of the
commissioner of Indian affairs, the sec
rotary of the interior states that the
only movement then being made look
ing to the leasing of the lands in the
Uintah reservation is for the Florence
Mining company, which lease has been
presented with a request for his ap-
proval, but as yet, the secretary states,
l have not given it final considera-
ton
There is also incorporated with the
report a stenographic report Of a hear
ing had in the office of the secretary
of the interior during December, at
which Senators Kearns and RaWlins
and Representative Sutherland were
present, and conducted the cross-exam-
ination, particularly of Agent MytOn.
The commissioner report states that
the lease is for the purpose of mining
minerals for a period Of ten years and
allows the selection of forty acres in
the Uintah reservation.
Up to Jan. ,, 1902, the department,
the report says, knew nothing official
~ about the Florence Mining company,
and on that date requested the secre-
tary of that company to forward proof
of Incorporation and organization of
the company and a list of the officers.
The company was incorporated under
the laws of New Jersey on Jan. q, 1900,
and that the home office is in Chicago.
The original officers were Henry c..
Payne, president: William L. Ward
vice president; Benjamin B. Odell, new
governor of New York; treasurer. and
Leroy D. Thoman, secretary.
Officers elected at the last meeting
of directors, Feb. %, 1901. were Charles
Pfister of Milwaukee. vice president;
George F. Tins, treasurer; William L.
Ward, treasurer. and Leroy D. Tho
man, secretary. The directors were
Charles Pfister, William L. Ward,
Henry c. Henderson, Charles n. King,
George r. Tins, T. H. Anderson. (pOw
judge on bench in District Of Column
bla), and Leroy d. Thoman.
A telegram from Agent Myton is also
Included among the papers which re-
lates to affidavits taken by Commits
sioner Pack, as follows:
IF any affidavits were taken. they
were taken without my knowledge. If
you believe any of them have. the mat
ter will be investigated by an inspec-
tor or special agent"
There is also filed kilograms and let
tiers from Governor Wells and a great
number of citizens and officials of
Utah, protesting against lease: also the
correspondence of Harper, Mease. Nc
Andrews and Miller already published
in The Herald. According to the sec
rotary of the company. Payne and
Odel resigned all connection with the
company July q. 1900. Another Wis
cOnsin man, Charles Pfister, was elect
ed in place of Mr.. Payne. There is
also flied with the papers a letter from
Senator Boies Penrose Of Pennsylvania,
who, on behalf of friend in Utah and
of Indians themselves. asked the sec
rotary to disapprove the lease. He
quotes President RoOseveIt's message,
in which the president stated that a
stop should be put to indiscriminate
leasing by Indians of lands occupied
by them.
Among the papers transmitted is a
letter to the secretary from the attor-
ney Of the company, dated Oct. 10. He
says the company is composed of men
of large affairs and ample financial
ability. and was organized for the sole
purpose of operating under these leases.
The secretary asked the commissioner
of Indian affairs for a report upon the
lease and the latter. replying under
date Of Oct. is last, said he understood
that the company desired to prospect
for minerals north Of Strawberry river.
and recommended that the necessary
be given the company TO ne
gotiate with the Indians.
On the same date the commissioner
sent messages to Indian Agent Myton
and others notifying them that the
secretary had been granted this au-
thority.
Dec. "a Senator Kearns sent letter
to the secretary, informing him of re-
ports that the prominent Indians Of
the tribe had not been summoned to