The San Francisco call., 1906-08-09
Inquiry Into
Timber rauds

4 lAAk1SA < LOSOANAC
land in this state that have been To-
Gated as placers are covered in part or
in whole with splendid bodies OF tim
her. The major part Of such locations,
50 declares Nineralogist Aubury. who
IS charged with the duty Of looking
after the interests Of California min
crs and of protecting them, were not
made ia good faith. The prime object,
Aubury says was TO obtain the tim
her. as the land did not give evidence
OF mineral jim paying quantities
II called the attention OF President
Roosevelt and the Secretary Of the IN
terror in 1902 10 the attempts al whole
sale land grabbing Ia this State. The
creation OF several forest reserves I'M
rle5rately followed. since that time
niany attempts have oeen made by the
timber ring TO acquire timber lands in
temporary OF permanent forest reserves
10y means Of placer mining locations.
80 the lands in the reserves are not
subject 10 other than mineral entry.
TNFEIENCES ARE STRONG.
Where desirable timber lands are
situated in temp0rarS or permanent re-
serves strong Influences have been eX-
CRIED 60 have such lands thrown open
again for entry 50 that the timber
BAteLs may NAfl4lE AAti4l- II llelS re-
QuirrG constant WatcMfuIness to thwart
these efforts.
Much Of the timber land is prac-
rlcally valueless directly for mining
Use, but its preservation conserYes
water for mining. agricultural and
power purposes. Such land, considered
as source Of future supply for min
ing. timber and lumber, is OF ines
Unable value.
within the reserves the miner IS
amply protected by the Government
and the forestry policy has been broad
erred so by Clifford PinchOt that the
miner is granted every reasonable priv
Iege."
Aubury also declares that where min
irg lands containing timber. are open
TO entry the miners are subject 10 con-
slant attacks by the timber men. For
this reason the miners have been con-
tented 10 remain under the protecting
arm OF the forest service.
letter has been received by
Aubury from l. A. Barrett forest su-
pervisor Of the Plumas forest reserve,
which is. in part, as follows:
The forest service expects TO examine
the lands in the Plumas forest reserve
as to their mineral character, look into
the nature OF the so-called- assessment
work done on most of the claims 10
Gated within the past four years in
rtfs region. obtain hearings in the To-
cal land offices and as speedily as pos
sible secure decisions declaring all To-
eral TO be invalid. After hearings and
decisions that claims are invalid the
forest service VIII take charge or and
use such claims as though the loca-
Tions had never been made. selling tim
Der from such lands or granting II TO
settlers under the free use privilege.
The nature of the so-called mineral
locations made in this region the past
few years has been called 10 the direct
attention Of the President and Secretary
Of the Interior, and the combined de-
partmenrs expect to commence and
prosecute TO the utmost a campaign
against the illegal mining locations
within forest reserves, beginning the
work upon the Plumas reserve in the
Immediate future: The nature OF these
locations is well known TO the ma
jority OF the people OF the region in
question and through the newspapers
has been brought TO the attention OF
the residents of a considerable portion
OF California
FRAUDS ARE NUMEROUS.
At this time the forest service ex-
poets TO be able TO prove that so per
cent OF the mineral locations in Plu-
mas and adjoining counties made with
in the past four years are invalid and
We're taken for timber only. as the as
say OF pine trees is much better than
that OF auriterous gravel The char
acteT Of the assessment work done on
these claims Will also come in for care
ful investigation. and the construction
Of telephone lines wagon roads, reser-
Voir systems. etc. will not be consid-
cred as actual and legal development
work to open Up the mineral possibiU-
ties OF the locations in question.
To one at all familiar with the situ-
alton In this region II is evident that
the law has not been complied with as
regards annual assessment work, and
a large portion Of the proofs Of labor
and assessment work certified TO in the
county records of the past few years
are rank perjuries, as can be shown
by actual investigation on the ground
such as viii be made in the future.
Without going into details il is only
necessary TO state that the largest To-
Gator Of this class Of claims is the
North California Mining Company Oh.
II. Yard locations), which has been fol-
lowed in the work by many Of the resi-
dents Of this region, acting either for
themselves or as agents for outsiders.
The forest service is well supplied with
Information concerning all these ioca-
tons and copies Of the records as well.
We wish IL understood the bona 1de
miners viii be protected in all their
interests, and the forest service will
do all possible to promdte legitimate
mining on the reserves.
Aubury has not been informed con-
cerning the names Of the persons who
viii come to California TO Investigate
but a dispatch from washington says
Edwsre c Finney of the General Land
Cffice VIII represent the Interior De
rsTtment and A. c. Shaw the forest
scrvice.