Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-22

California changed all this, Business
revived and civilization and the man
hood of the people advanced more in
that decade than in three preceding
centuries. Such was the result which
all historians and political observers
know and which cannot be gain
said.
is WORTHY IT'S REWARD
California is worthy it's reward. It
should not now be oppressed and de-
| spoiled. AS California has in the past
she can in the future legislate best for
! the protection of her own interests.
Congress might repeat it's indiscretion
as in its grants without restriction OF
vast areas of land to the Pacific rail-
roads now the weapon of oppression.
! The California mining laws were not
changed until an occasion arose by the
discovery of silver in Nevada.
| At the time of the discovery of sill
yer but cry few Americans knew of its
| formation in the earth or any feature
of it's composition as an ore or of its
reduction into metal. Many states
men, bankers and writer's of high rank
know nothing of it to this day. The
first silver miners located on the broad
Comstock lode according to the custom
of California for gold.
Later in eastern Nevada, narrow
veins were found, called razor blades"
in derision, and the locations became
complicated. A new system was nee
! essary; and in the broad expanse of
unsurveyed and unknown wilderness OF
national domain where prospectors
were wandering a defining of their
rights was required. There existed
then, as now, q jealousy of the acquisi-
tion of wealth by its discovery on pub
lie land.
At that time I was editor of the
Reese River Revielle, a daily paueI in
the vast wilderness in the midst of the
razor blade lodges and studied the
question for solution. Persistent adYo-
cacy and correspondence with SEN
ators and representatives AMI other
officers of government for some years
at least produced the passage of the
law known as the CONFESS Act, of 1886
This has been regarded as the most
important law relating to mining and
locating on the public'lan ever placed
on the statute books. It's great princl-
pie was the legislation of the right of
American citizens to go on the pupllc
lands and locate mining claims ac-
cording to the rules and customs OF
mines. 1t also gave the right to ex-
cavate on an inclined vein under the
property of another within the length
of the claim.
PERPETUAL GRANT
It was grant to go upon and own
forever, while working, a tract of pub
lie land without hindrance or eXaction
from the national government or pollt-
ical agitators. 1t was a grand and
statesmanlike concession on the prin-
ciple named by President Fillmore, and
it's wisdom and beneficence have been
proved by the widespread area of the
mining region over the barren lands
of the nation, the vast wealth pro-
duced and the prosperity of the peo-
pie unprecedented in the history or
the world. The simple liberty of the
blood and adventurous prospector 10
attempt-often failing-to turn barren
wastes into treasurers or the public
good. 1t was also the acknowledgment
of the principle that the public lands
belonged to the people, and not for
government exploitation or profit.
These principles have been followed
for forty-four years. They have Deen
the foundation of great prosperity, de-
velopment and confidence in mining
investments. They should not be dis
turbed. The danger is in the rise OF
the spirit of royalty and tyranny OF
the sixteenth century.
The location of oil claims on public
lands have been made under the placer
laws of the gold miners. The contro-
yersy Of the present is for change
in these laws and the assumption of
ownership, exaction of royalty and pro-
duction of oil by the national govern
ment This would be intolerable, I'M
practicable and revolutionary. The
reservation of the forests was JUSTIFIED
as a check on destruction and to teach
a lesson, but not as a permanent con-
dition.
The reservation of oil lands, or other
lands desirable of the common holder,
would be an act of usurpation ana
tyranny. In the present condition 1t
would be unusually unfair.
ON PRIVATE LAND
The greater portion of the oil wells
are on private lands.
Some on Spanish grants and others
on lands long ago purchased from or
given away by the national govern
ment. Through the great oil region
of the San Joaquin valley lies the
grant to the Southern Pacific railroad
covering every alternate section. This
gives that company an overwhelming
power in the production and marketing
of oil. With other monopolies, ana
now as threatened, the United States
producing It's own oil for the navy ana
transports and commercial lines as
some propose, there would be poor
prospect for the common owners.
Would not that be revolution? AT the
present llllIG llAG plOlOSblOAiJ AiSip NAAN
generosity of the government to the
people is asked and not it's enmity.
President Taft has suggested the
reservation of the oil lands for the
supplying of fuel to the navy.
Now theer appears a tendency on the
part Of the old states of the east to
claim ownership of and profits from
the public lands of the far west. The
principle of government ownership as
a guardian or trustee only for the
purpose Of equitable transfer TO an
occupant is to be ignored and the ma
tion to become farmer, miner, manu-
facturer, merchant and owner, aided
by q myriad of officials, bosses and
grafters.
Such will inevitably be the outcome
if our old principle is abandoned to
the 'paternal' control of the gov
ernment.