The La Jara chronicle., 1906-10-19
N me DRAINAGE
LAW RECOMMENDED BY MINING
CONGRESS.
OTHER IMPORTANT ACTION
Invitation to Jamestown-Depart
of Mines Asked For-law Wanted
to Stamp Out Bogus Mining
Schemes.

|
Denver-"By long odds the biggest
and best days work the American Min
ing Congress has ever accomplished"
was the verdict rendered by every Off
Ger and delegate when the daily ses-
sion closed Wednesday night at 10
O'Clock.
From 10 O'Clock in the morning un-
til 10 at night these sturdy exponents
of all that is best in the industry
which founded this state and opened
the way for its present prosperity.
worked increasingly with but two re-
cesses, and when the final gavel fell
they had laid the foundation for re-
forms in the mining world which when
carried out will exceed in their bene-
fetal effects all previous efforts of the
congress put together.
In the morning the delegates took
action which it is expected will lead
to the establishing of Department of
Mines and Mining at Washington. In
the afternoon they agreed upon law
which, If put into effect throughout the
United States. will effectually stamp
out the promoter of bogus mining
schemes. In the evening they
framed law for the creation of min
ing drainage districts, which has long
| been one of the most crying needs OF
the mining industry.
The law, which was drawn up by
committee, of which David w. Brun-
ton of this city was chairman, provides
in brief in its amended form that any
number of persons, not less than ten.
owning mining claims. in any mining
district, whose assessed valuation is
not more than one-third of the total
valuation of the district. may at any
time file with the clerk of the District
Court of the county in which such
claims are situated. a verified petition
addressed to the judge of the District
Court, praying for the organization of
a mine drainage district. A board com
posed of mine owners, it is proposed,
shall be appointed to have charge of
the work and the beard is to be given
power to levy and collect a tax upon
all mining claims within the district
This tax. however, is not TO exceed
in any one year 80 mills on every dol
lar OF valuation as shown by the as
sessment rolls.
Provision is made for bonds, liens,
interest. publication, etc. a new sec
tion in the bill, to he section Is. was
introduced to provide that all parties
in interest in the district may have al
all times free access to the avenues
and laterals of the drainage systems,
subpject to rules and regulations
adopted by the board of supervisors,
which is to consist of not more than
fifteen nor less than nine men.
Another new section. number "a,
provides for the collecting of equable
,afl, g.. b.. .Nff hs fuh Nf W n
the drainage district, the funds thus
accruing to be used to. reduce the tax
rate.
The following resolution, By Gov
ernor Pardee of California, was unani-
mously passed:
believing that the cooperation OF
farmer, through the Department of
Agriculture, has demonstrated the wis
dom OF this cooperation in giving di-
rection to American industrial forces;
and,
believing that the cooperation of
our government with the American
miner. through Department of Min
ing, will give an additional and con
elusive proof that American industrial
progress can be most permanently ad-
vanced through this method OF coop
Grafton between the government and
the people; therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Min
ing Congress-. in convention assembled,
most earnestly urge upon our federal
Congress the Importance of creating
Department of Mining, coordinate
with the Department of Agriculture"
President Richards was then en-
powered. through a motion by Delegate
Fred King of Connecticut. to appoint a
committee of five men to discuss ways
.l.a
plated department. After some inter
vening business it was announced that
the committee would consist of John
Dern, f. Wallace White. George E.
Dorsey, E a. Colburn and Thomas
Ewing.
Secretary Callbreath then read tel |
egram he had just received announc-
ing that another city. jamestown, Vir- |
ginia. had entered the field hitherto oc-
cupied by Joplin. Missouri. and was
seeking the convention for next year
William NJ. Porter of New York City |
called attention to the Mining Expo |
sition Company, with offices in Chi |
cago.
After citing several instances of !
fraudulent schemes which had come |
under his observation, notably that of |
the notorious Glover Creek PROPOSE |
ton, which had its headquarters in |
Philadelphia. and calling attention TO |
the fact that the emily way the pro |
moters of the latter scheme were |
reached was through the government |
postal laws. Governor Pardee read a |
proposed bill TO make false statements |
in prospectuses and reports a criminal |
offense punishable by Imprisonment |
for not more than ten years and a fine |
of not more than 100000. The bill was
adopted.
A. L. Herrici of Pennsylvania intro,