Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-11-25
TAKE IT OUT OF THE FOREST RESERVE

TAKE IT OUT OF THE FOREST RESERVE
The subject of taking part of the Galce mining dis
trct out of the forest has attracted widespread
attention In this issue of The Courier will be found
letter from the well known mining man, C. l.. Mangum
of Grants Pass, who takes up the communication from
Galice published last week Had Mr.. Mangum taken
more time to consider that letter and had noticed the
editorial comments on the same he could hardly have
misunderstood the question as he apparently has done
The only argument advanced by this correspondent for
retaining these mineral lands in the reserve is the one
given by The Courier that it prevents entry under the
timber and stone act We wish to repeat here what has
been said editoray before that whether the lines were
movd by act of congress by proclamation there could
and should be provision eXempng them from timber or
stone entry. There is precedent for such provision
The act opening the Set lands forbid timber entry and
every act order of recent years opening lands excluded
from forest Indian reservations has regulated the me
and kind Of entry under which title can be Sc
cured there real for Mr. Mangum getting
excited His charge that it would fall into the hands Of
timber sharks is mistake.
The editor of this paper has during the past two years
devoted great deal of time to getting information
gardng the mineral wealth of the Galce mining camp and
many columns of valuable space has been given to bring
before the public the great wealth of that section and by
this means The Courier has every to beevemany
of our county In visits to Galce we have
learned things which seem to have escaped the at
tention Of Mr. Mangum. For instance, learn Of
only one group of mines in the district going to patent
since the organization of the reserve, and this is the Gold
en- Wedge The owners of other properties have very
much desired to do but could not under the rules get
title to any but the claim claims actually operated with
out the expenditure of thousands Of dollars opening up
each claim the group and then be at the mercy of
$50 day government expert who has the power to hold up
the patent This Mr. Mangum knows to be true, and if
So why continue the policy longer? If the government
is asked to take that section out of the and open
it to mining there danger to be feared from the tim
ber and stone fend.
What is needed is to have such regulations as will
permit the of mining property to get financial
help without the interference Of forestry officials 1t has
been the claim of The Courier that the government should
help the miner instead of robbng him of his hard earned
labor and actually prevent him from acquiring capital ol
development If we 90 into this subject it will be found
that capital absolutely refuses to go into district that
is in the forest reserve Since this controversy started
information has come to that the famous Blue Ledge
copper mines tributary to Medford on which has beer
expended more than S50O0O0 for development work. have
been idle for the past two years by the forestry service
The company asked for patents far back the earl,
part of 1905 and Notwithstanding the fact that it il
known to be of the richest properties in the United
States the forest has in way and another pre-
vented the company from securing title This is grea
injury to this part of Oregon and calls loudly for some eX
planation from the forestry service.
The Courier, while it differs with Mr. Mngum it doe
not question the honesty of his opinions The regulation
look all right ON their face and place restrictions OF
gouging few holes ON a mining claim for the pmpos
of organizing company with high sounding name 81
that stock can be sold in an imaginary BONANZA vet whe
capital needed to open mine it refuses to invest be
cause the property in in forest reserve. The Gallo
post office and some of the adjoining mines are in schoo
section and for this reason have protection from th
stone and timber shark but one of these days the govern
ment will the necessity of taking of the miner
There is thing that is needed at the present me
that is to shove back the forestry line at Gace T. miles
and if this is done will be eNaggcraon to say ha