The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-26
MAY INVESTIGATE
UINTAH CLAIMS
Belief That Federal Grand Jury Is
Likely to Probe Subject
ACCOUNT OF MINERAL BEDS
gibson ASPHALTUM COMPANY
NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION.

1t is not unlikely that when the fed
eral grand jury meets in this city in
April some steps viii be taken to de-
termine to what extent the govern
ment has been a loser through the
alleged illegal conversion of public
lands on the Uintah reservation, par
ticularly those in which discoveries of
Silsonite and asphalt have been made.
Charles ). Solomon Of New York,
who has been investigating the matter,
is now in Washington and has sub
mitted his evidence to the department.
Of the interior and the prospect is that
the subject matter he has i'm hand will
figure in the future conduct of the
cases now under consideration by the
government officials. Mr.. Solomon is
quoted as saying:
Il will show that the same concern
which is appealing to the government
to intervene in the Venezuela affair
to protect its alleged rights in the de-
velopment- of the asphalt beds of that
country, is seeking to defraud the
government Of its own country
He also charges that in June, 1900,
the gilsonite properties in Utah, owned
by Adolphus Busch of st. Louis, were
taken over by the ellison Asphaltum
company, a branch of the asphalt trust,
which was organized i'll New Jersey
for that purpose. An effort has been
made during the past two months by
the promoters of the gilSonite beds to
dispose of the properties to a syndicate
Of German capitalists, but it is not be
lieved, in view of publicity thus Tar
given the project that it will be Sucv
cessful, foreign capitalists as a rule
being skeptical of any American in
Vestment over which there may be q
cloudy
The ellison Aspbaltum company has
issued $4,000 i'm common stock and has
a funded debt of 1926, 900 in I'VE per cent
gold bonds. The officials Of the depart
ment Of the interior are now making
n careful investigation of the records
of the company submitted by Mr. Solo
mon. and it is said in Washington that
it will be impossible for the company
to obtain fun and final control of the
mineral lands without legal payment
to the government
Two Companies Entitled to Operate.
There are two companies which were
/ legally entitled TO enter upon the res
crvation and develop the mineral de
posts. These are the Florence Mining
company and the Raven Mining com
pany, each of which is protected by the
appropriation bill passed March ,. II
is stipulated in that act that within
sixty days of its passage, or by May
: next. the Raven Mining company
must lie CPGUHlCdleS OF It's l1lllIlS 10
calitieS with the recorder Of the COuu-
ty in which the mineral lands are To-
Gated with the department of the in
terror Each certificate must be ac-
cOmpanied with map and an accurate
description of the land claimed. i
must also state specifically what min
eraI is found on the property. The
secretary OF the interior viii then make
an investigation to ascertain if the min
eraI designated is found on the claim
and, after taking proper precautions
must issue patents for the claims. Or
each claim. when developed. a royalty
must be paid the Uintah Indians on any
mineral taken out and sold.
The Florence Mining company is en-
powered by the same bill to select on,
square mile of mineral land, $40 acres
! within sixty days, and to pursue the
/ same course IS that prescribed for the
/ Raven Mining company The Flor
/ euCe Mining company obtained pros
pecting license early in 1902, good fol
| ten years. with the privilege of 10
| eating one square mile of land Thi'
area has never been increased
The royalties to be paid the Jintal
| Indians, through the secretary of tn
! interior. on all minerals taken unde
/ the leases of the Florence and RaveI
/ Mining companies range from 8 pc
| cent on ores netting $50 a tor or les
| to Is per cent on ores netting owe
/ 1928 a ton