The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-11-17
MINING ON THE
FOREST RESERVE
Mining Congress Asked to Co.
Operate With Forest Service
in Adjusting Complaints.

mining congress has received, through
the hands of A G. Brownlee. chairman
of the forest reserve committee of the
congress, the following letter addressed
by Clifford Pinchot of the United States
forest service, to President J. II. Rich
ards of the American mining congress,
relative to complaints with regard to
mining claims on the national forests
This is a subject of considerable inter-
est to prospectors and mine operators,
and 1t is the desire of the committee
that all parts of the country be heard
from in this connection, as it is believed
that the question Will be fully discussed
at the coming session of the American
mining congress to be held at Pittsburg
in December:
Forester Pinchot's Letter.
"A variety of complaints have reached
me In the last two months with regard
to mining claims on national forests.
AS fast as il was possible to do, the for
est service has been investigating the
individual causes of dissatisfaction, but
the volume of complaint has not vet
been arrested. While investigation dis
closes 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 per
suaded that there is injustice in fact.
and that undue hardships have been
imposed upon men engaged in prospect
ing and developing mines. More than
rs per cent of these claims examined
during the past year were reported ia
vorably, and we have endeavored to
carry out the law and our orders, intel
ligently and fairly But doubtless i'm
provement can be made. II the mining
men will help. The forest service is
anxious for justifiable complaint. 1t de-
sires the cooperation and friendship of
the mining men, not their opposition,
and il is anxious to assist in every le-
climate way, in the development of the
mining industry.
Accordingly, I write to ask whether
the American mining congress, through
you as Its president, or by the action
OF its executive committee, will appoint
in the immediate future a committee of
three or FIVE representatives, as you
may deem best, to cooperate with the
forest service in an effort to reach a
mutual agreement. both as to the rules
which shall govern the forest service,
under the law dealing with mineral
questions on national forests, and as to
the definition ana Interpretation of
these rules. so that there shall be no
misunderstanding whatever, as to what
is just and right for both parties in the
premises"
Committee Now Gathering Data.
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,
composed Of A. G. BrownIee, T. A. Col
burn, ". F. r. Mills, William P. Dam
iels and George ]. Bancroft of Denver
Colo.
This committee has met several times
in connection with the work in hand 1t
is now engaged in the compilation of
the mining laws and studying the regu-
lations and instructions of the United
states department OF agriculture, for
the use of the national forests
AT this time the committee recognizes
the necessity of securing full and COM
plete statements of facts in specific
cases where the regulations or the spirit
OF their enforcement by the forest serv-
Ice, are alleged to have worked undue
hardships or injustice upon men en-
gagged in discovering, developing or op-
Grating mines. To this end, IL invites
the presentation ir writing of all such
statements of facts wherein 1t may be
shown that the regulations, rulings or
instructions of the forest service have
in any way interfered with the prosecu-
ton OF legitimate prospecting, mining
or the reduction of ore
Subjects for Consideration.
Specific cases involving the use of
timber, the mineralized character of the
claims located, rights of way over ma
tonal forests for all mining purposes,
together with the use or storage Of wa
tiers for power purposes or domestic use
in connection with the mining opera
tons of isolated claims, groups or
claims, or affecting the economic prob
lem of improved service throughout
mining districts or territories, will be
considered by the committee, upon
presentation of facts in the premises
All such statements should be adj
dressed TO the Forest Reserve Commit
tee, American Mining congress. 1910
Court Place, Denver, Colo. They VIII
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 20 be held at Pitts
burg, Pa, Dec. ., 3, 4 and 3, 1903. at
which place Mr.. Pinchot has promised
TO send some of the most liberal and
best qualified men of the forest service
to confer with il, in order that a bet
ter understanding between the mining
interests and the forest service NAV be
had, and an improved service result
therefrom.