Gilpin observer., 1905-02-23
A observation-disclosures LAW.

That the mining laws of the United
States are capable of improvement is
fact generally recognized by pro-
gressive folk. The extreme made
quacy of these laws when applied to
conditions in far northern country
like Alaska, and especially in the more
remote parts of the territory, is not,
however, SO well known, says the Chi
cago Mining World. Probably the
most urgent need Of the honest people
who are endeavoring to develop the
mineral resources of Alaska and Incl
dentally to advance their own for
tunes is substitute for the present To-
cation law. Until changes of a radical
nature, both in the laws and in the ad
ministration of the laws, are made, the
fields of that great treasure land, splen-
did as has been the record of the past,
will not be all it's resources warrant
The present location law allows a
given individual to go alone, save only
for the company of an imaginary host
whose powers of attorney he holds in
his itching palm. and there alone in
the wilderness to greedily stake out
whole creek valleys, which are thus
withdrawn from the area OF public
lands for period generally amounting
to eighteen months. He comes back
to the nearest recording Office and re-
cords the location of the claims in the
names of twenty or fifty men whom he
represents. They may never have seen
Alaska, but may be prize fighters in
San Frascisco, saloon keepers in Mem
phis. stock iobbers in Boston or fren-
Zied financiers in New York, so long.
only. as they are citizens of the United
States of an investing turn of mind.
BY the passing of quit claim deeds they
may change the ownership of their
claims among themselves as fancy die
tates. 1t is seldom that they intend to
operate the claims located in their
names. and thus produce gold; rather.
it Is their intention to hold them until
the camp booms and inexperienced out
siders are induced to buy them at fig
ures based on the supposed value OF
the unprospected ground.
Beyond sinking a small discovery
shaft, no work is required on claim
for the remainder of the year in which
the location is made and up to the end
of the following year. In the meantime
honest prospectors who have come into
lAC ulStliCI Ca6Cl " PiostSuNN eAAS
search for gold to the full extent of
their physical and financial powers.
find all the promising ground labeled:
Holy; Keep on"
This unjust and deplorable condition
of affairs is not the case in occasional
instances only; it is the general rule
at present in all the placer districts
of Alaska. 1t will be remembered that
in the early history of the Nome gold
district, of the Seward peninsula, bit
ter complaint was made by prospect
ors who visited the field. only to find
that INSCRIPTIONS persons had,
through using the power Of attorney
conferred on them by absent friends.
located more than 1000 acres OF
ground and left nothing of value for
others. Similar conditions have re-
Gently been observed by travellers in
the Solomon and Council districts of
the Seward peninsula.
In no part OF Alaska are the evil ef-
fects of the present location law likely
to be more apparent than in the new
Fairbanks district Fairbanks is stu
ated on the Tanana river in region
where many a Jason may hope to find
a golden fleece If the fire-breathing
bulls will just keep off long enough to
let him try. That portion OF the
Alaska territory which lies between
the Yukon and Tanana rivers is one in
which the auriferous gravels occupy
wide area. II all this rich district Is
allowed to be progressively withdrawn
from possible gold production, the de-
velopment of the terrieory will be
greatly retarded and no one-not even
the absent claim holders-will be
benefited.
According to the latest reports from
AlAuka, the practice of exercising the
power of attorney location law Is
growing very rapidly. In view OF It's
general abuse. the law should be sum
marily suspended. The rights Of the
honest miners and serious settlers OF
the territory should be protected by
legislation; and it is hoped that
Congress will see its duty in this mat
ter and act without delay.