The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-11-21


claims en- national forests.
As fast as it was possible to do so
the forest service has been investigat-
ing the individual causes of dissatis-
faction, but the volume of complaint
has not yet been arrested. While in
vesIigation discloses exceedingly few
specific cases in which injustice of any
kind has been done, it is nevertheless
evident that a large number of mining
men are persuaded that there is injus-
tice in fact, and that undue hardships
have been imposed upon men engaged
in prospecting and developing mines.
More than rs per cent. of the claims
examined during the past year were
reported favorably, and we have en-
deayored to carry out the law and our
orders intelligently and fairly. But
doubtless improvement can be made If
the mining men will help. The forest
service is anxious for justifiable com
plant. 1t desires the cooperation and
friendship of the mining men, not their
opposition, and 1t is anxious to assist
in every legitimate way in the develop
ment of the mining industry.
Accordingly, write to ask whether
the American Mining Congress,
through you as its president, or by the
action of the executive committee, will
appoint in the immediate future com
mittee of three or five representatives,
as you may deem best, to co ooperate
with the forest service in an effort to
reach a mutual agreement, both as to
the rules which should govern the for
est service, under the law in dealing
with mineral questions on national for
ests, and as to the definition and inter
pretation of these rules, so that there
shall be no misunderstanding whatever
as to what is just and right for both
parties in the premises.
Very sincerely yours.
(Signed) CLIFFORD PINCHOT.
Forester.
In compliance with the request con
tanned in the letter quoted. President
Richards, through the executive com
mittee of the American Mining Con
gress, appointed committee which is
known as the forest reserve committee
Colburn, w. f. r. Mills, William p.
Daniel and George j. Bancroft of Den
yer, Colo
This committee has met several
times in connection with the work in
hand. 1t is now engaged in a compila-
ton of the mining laws, and studying
the regulations and Instructions of the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture for the use of the national forests.
At this time the committee recos,
nizes the necessity of securing full and
complete statements of facts in spe
cific cases where the regulations or
the spirit of their enforcement by the
worked undue hardships Or injustice
upon men engaged in discovering, de
veloping or operating mines. To this
end, it invites the presentation in
writing of all such statements of facts
wherein it may be shown that the reg,
ulations, rulings or instructions of the
forest service has in any way inter
fered with the prosecution of legiti-
mate prospecting, mining or the reduc-
ton of ore.
Specific cases involving the use of
timber, the mineraliZed character of
claims located, rights of way over ma
tional forests for all mining purposes.
together with the use of storage of
waters for power purposes or domestic
use in connection with the mining op-
erations of isolated claims, groups of
claims, or affecting the economic prob
lem of improved service throughout
mining districts or territories will be
considered by the committee upon a
presentation of facts in the premises.
All such statements should be ad-
dressed to the forest reserve commit
tee, American Mining Congress, 1910
Court place. Denver, Colo. They will
be regarded as strictly confidential by
the committee if so desired by the per-
sons sending them.
The committee expects to attend the
eleventh annual session of the Ameri-
can Mining Congress, to be held at
Pittsburg, Pa, December End, 3rd, 4th
and 5th, 1908, at which place Mr.. Pin
chot has promised to send some of the
most liberal and most qualified men
of the forest service to confer with it,
in order that better understanding
between the mining interests and the
forest service may be had, and an
improved service result therefrom
Mabel Quotes Scripture.
Mamma" said small Mabel. "the Bi-
BILE SAYS we shouldn't cut off the tails