Yukon Valley news., 1907-06-05
PLEA FOR EQUALITY FROM A NEW
 QUARTER.

Guggenheims have decided to suspend all placer mining operations in British Column bia. The announcement is certainly sur pr:sing when it is remembered that these shrewd mining investors had gained control of properties in the great Pacific province of Canada popularly credited with capacity for yielding immense profits--like the gravel in the Cassiar district and that at Quesnelle and around Caribou. Following only few months after their withdrawal, at a loss said to exceed a million and half dollars, from the Nipissing field in Ontario, it suggests the question, What is the matter with the Gug- genheims in Canada anyhow?
 The question far British Columbia placers are concerned has been answered by Guggenheim representative. He says the system of leases in vogue does not afford protection sufficient to warrant the outlay of large sums of money. The complaint ap- plies with perhaps greater force to the com pany's water privileges. The position is this" said the company's representative; some of the leases, such as those at Caribou and Horseffy, are held by special legislation. Now, this special legislation may be re- scinded by the first subsequent legislature that takes a notion to do so. We don't want special grants or leases granted by special legislation. We want to hold our titles un- der a general act, just the same as lode miners do. Lode miners get a crown grant, which is unassaila ble title. Placer miners only get a lease, hedged about by all sorts of technical conditions, default in any of which might mean the loss of millions of dollars worth of property. For instance, we have to take out n special miners license year by year to hold our leases. If our book keeper should overlook remtting for this license the specified day all our interests would revert to the crown. There seems to be an impression that because q concern is a large one, operating on big scale, it wants special grants and privileges, and all that sort of thing. This is a big mistake. We would much rather hold our titles under a general act that would give the man with the shovel and goldpan the same protection would have. Titles granted under a general act can not be rescinded. We want no special privileges, but are willing-in fact want-to come in on par with every other miner, and hold our properties under an act that gives all the same protection but ample protection"
 There is yet boundary line between us and the millennium, which must be ready to dawn when men like the Guggenheims seek equality with those of the shovel and the pan and the longtom. In no land covered by the United States flag has capital cried out for n fair fight and no favor. On our side of the line capital looks for safety anywhere but in equal privilege and open opportunity.
 Yet it may very well be that the Guggen- helms have learned caution from schooling got in the states, where an unnatural condi- tion seems to he approaching a natural end. At all events they appear to have accurately measured the exts rnal advantages for placer mining big scale in British Columbia and to have baked only because the Iegiti- mate employ n ent of their money could not be safeguarded against possible hostile par liamen,s and future popular demand for curtailment of their rights.
 In the light of past events it may he said the Guggenheims did but exercise reasona- ble care in withdrawing from the British Columbia placer fields although. in truth, it k strange they first spent so much money there. The province has always regarded the placers as belonging to it's own people. The alien act of 1898 "a, since modi- fed, was intended to save them from what was likely to become an overw heimiug inHux of foreigners.
 iR other things the province has appa- rently cared more for the welfare af ffs awn people than the making ot rleh men in his schsmes of modern progress. splensild road vas built to the Caribou mines. hut when C was proposed ts put traction ea- Al. A.