The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1907-03-14
Protests Against Omission i,
Mine Inspectors Report
LETTER FROM {. ?. sPALD|MG
Thinks Murray Mines Have Been I'm.
justly Trsated..Editor Aulbach's
comments

OF Idaho was an almost ideal one
and reflects the greatest OF credit on
him, but 1t had an important and
unfortunate omission in that It said
practically nothing Of the North Side
of the Occur d'Alenes or Its mines.
This Is the more to be regretted as
in every other particular The Occur
d'Alene district was well and accu-
rately described. so we'll In fact that
we have quoted from his report very
freely.
The Miner feels. however, that a
grave injustice has been done the
North Side, we are sure unintention-
ally or by reason Of lack of time to
make personal visit to that Sec
ton, and we would be glad to see
this error rectified by bulletin from
| Mr.. Bell as soon as he can get
around to 1t and in this connection
we would point out this. Even his
| slight reference to the North Side Is
inaccurate In at least one particular.
The mines OF that section are not all
in slate. One of them, at least, the
Monarch, Is In Burke quartzite.
North Side Protests.
How the matter Is viewed in MUIR
ray will be seen from the following
excerpt from the Murray Sun:
Editor Sun: A careful pe-usal of
the 1905 report of Robert N. Bell,
state inspector of mines for Idaho,
raises the query as to whether or
not the Office is being prostituted to
the purpose of advertising certain
localities and personalities, in place
Of the legitimate functions for which
the Office was created.
A report of this character should
be, and Is supposed to be, an official
and unbiased report of the mineral
resources and production of the
state as whole. Different districts,
such for instance as the Occur
d 'Alene. should be treated as a
whole in the same manner. Does
this report do SO?
From page 1877 to page 1866, in
elusive, this report fairly covers the
Wardner. Burke. Mullan and Wal
lace localities. but who, upon read
ing the report, would be able to dis
cover aught Of that great mineral
section with Murray as its central
supply point, known as the North
Side?" From personal inspection,
what does the state mine inspector
know of It? Judging from his lack
of treatment, | should say, nothing.
From its present and growing i'm
portance, and the further fact that
1t gives promise soon OF becoming
close competitor In tonnage output
with the South Side," are we not
entitled to at least a small modicum
OF official recognition In said annual
reports? What are the facts in this
respect? On page 1149 OF the 1906
report are found IA lines that, to
one not knowing the facts, would in
dictate that the Monarch, Black
horse" and "Beartop" were the only
properties worthy Of mention in the
Murray district, which. by the way,
is not on the North Fork of the
Occur d'Alene river, except in the
sense that Prichard creek is a tribu-
tary OF that stream. In that sense
the Hercules, Tiger-Poorman and
Hecla would be located on the south
fork instead Of on Canyon creek.
The point that l contend for Is
that the "North Side" or Murray
district, should be properly located
geographically and treated under a
subheading as prominently and as
fuzzy as its importance justifies, and
not be passed up, metaphorically
speaking, like white chip.
There can be no valid excuse for
his treatment, or lack of treatment,
II the North Side.' Notwithstard-
ng the infrequent visits OF the state
Inspector Of mines, I will state that,
It his request, full description OF
he developments and activities, GOV.
'ring the whole Murray district for
he year 1905, was sent him for his
Information with reference to said
annual report.
e. P. SPALDING. 4
The contention Of Mr.. Spalding Is
veil grounded. and for the reason he
las assigned the Sun has made no |
mention heretofore Of Inspector
'ell's annual report for 1906. Weld
bought we were justified In treating
with silence. according to Its mer- !
Ia. but as It's defect has been drawn
nto the limelight by Mr.. Spalding, I
re will give Mr.. Bells allusion to
he Murray district, which we md on >
age 149, connected. with the Calla- I
an mine on the south slope Of Sun
et. =