The San Francisco call., 1906-10-15
Important Report to
Be considered
at Denver.

at denver.
The American Mining Congress.
which will be in session in Denver this
week. opening tomorrow proposes
among other matters to take I'D a re-
port made by a special committee rec
ommending the adoption of plan for
the creation OF mine. drainage districts.
After the convention has suggested
various amendments it is expected that
the Legislatures of Western mining
States will be requested to move along
the proposed lines
The proposition is to create a mining
district of a new kind. A mining dis
trict q political or geographical di-
vision is not new. but 1t is proposed to
create that which shall have the power
of an Improvement or school district
In a municipality. The right is con-
ferred under the committee plan, to-
undertake an enterprise In which all
the mine owners of the district are
interested, to levy taxes, to issue bonds
for securing funds and to take all the
necessary steps to put the project
through to successful issue
The form provided by the committee
limits the functions OF a district to the
drainage of mines. Organizations of
mines in a district for the execution of
other plans were also suggested In the
discussion that preceded the filing of
the report The establishment of a
common reduction plant, the develop
ment of a water supply for the common
use of all the mines IN district, or any
other enterprise that might be sug-
gested would be the possibilities If the
provisions of law were made sufficient
ly elastic
The newness of the proposition will
cause much interest to attach to it,
/ Assessments for the purpose of raising
money, so the committee desires,
! should be based on valuation fixed by
county assessors and the expense of
/ improvements, jointly undertaken, con-
/ fined to the district where the work is
performed.
DETAILS OF THE SCHEME.
Some of the provisions of the plan
are condensed herewith:
Any number of persons not less than
+ ten so the committee suggests, own
ing mining claims in any mining dis
trict the aggregate acreage of which
/ is not less than 320 acres may move
/ for the organization of a mine drainage
district. Five persons, to be known
as supervisors, are to administer the
affairs of a district. They are to select
1 the system of mine drainage and have
authority to assess the cost of the con-
struction of such system upon the mine
owners in the district. By the super
visors a tax not to exceed so mills a
year may be levied on every dollar of
valuation in the district Bonds may
be issued to raise money, to carry in
terest at not more than per cent
year.
! A drainage district shall have the
power under the law of eminent domain
to proceed for condemnation of rights
/ OF way, etc. No provision shall be con-
strued to repeal the provisions of State
law concerning drainage where no min
! ing drainage district exists.
A long programme has been prepared
for the mining congress. Governors
Pardee of California, Mcdonald of Colo.
rado, Cutler of Utah and Hagerman of
New Mexico will be among the at
tendants. Governor Pardee will read
an address on the prevention of min
ing frauds by State legislation. A
paper by State Mineralogist Aubury of
California on needed legislation for the
protection. of forests will be submit
I ted. Dr. Walter Lindgren of the United
States Geological Survey will speak on
the development of the metal mining
| industry of the Western States .Presi-
dent Colburn of the Colorado Miners
of a national organization of mining
men.
STIR AT DEADMAN'S FLAT.
Just now" so reports the Grass
Valley Union, there is more prospect
/ ing going on at Deadmans Flat than
/ at any other place in this part of the
country. The old mines of the Grass
| Valley district cannot be said to be
prospecting, as the ores and values In
! them have been assured, while on
Deadman's only the surface has been
/ scratched. The nearest approach to
deep mining there has been done by
/ the Kenosha, which has passed the
uncertain stage and is now an assured
mine. Work continues to be vigorously
prosecuted on the mining property re-
Gently purchased by Spokane COM
pany from a number of local men.
Manager Dennis put down a shaft for
/ short distance and then ran an in
cline on the ledge to the old shaft.
! Good indications have been encoun-
tered"
Large operations in the Wild Rose
district in Inyo County are possible.
/ Two mills of fifty stamps each will be
/ established at the Thompson & Ram
! say property at Emigrant Springs.
I This property is owned by George A.
Smith of Los Angeles, Robert Mont
gomery and Matt Hoveck. Grading for
1 the first mill has been started Ac-
/ cording to the present plans a new
camp to be called Montgomery will be
| established
A good strike is reported to have
been made on Weed Creek, Plumas
! County in the Five Bears mine which
property has been under development
three years. A tunnel has been run
100 feet to depth on the mountain
| of 500 feet. The Five Bears property
was known formerly as the Centennial
mine. 1t is something more than half
mile south of the Gruss mine where
good ore is reported to have been dis
covered also.
Eastern stockholders have recently
n,soaasro0 nsarnrNnxs ~