Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-11-18
TAKE MINING DISTRICT
FROM NATIONAL RESERVE

GALlCE, Ore, Nov. 11.-Condi-
tions in Josephine county are ripe for
the Inauguration of progressive
methods and it is pleasing to note
that there is one subject being
taken up by all classes and that is
the encroachments of the forest
service on the mining industry of
this section. 1t is unfortunate. that
the national forest includes within
It's boundaries a number of town
ships at Galice, which is a great det-
rlment to the whole mining interests
OF that section. The people of
Galice district have spent millions of
dollars in the way of development
and are still continuing to put in
capital and this should have en-
title them to have been left out of
the forest reserve. 1t seems to me
that the time has come for this mat
ter to be taken up by the people of
the whole county of Josephine, and
the government asked to change the
line by taking off strip the width
OF townships on the north side of
the reserve, thus pushing the reser-
vation II miles south of its present
limit. If this were done it would be
a great help to the many miners who
are hard at work trying to develop
this district. The government, If
asked will, l think, be glad to do any
thing that will assist in the develop
ment of mining in this section. The
government can afford to do this for
the sake of helping that worthy
class, the prospector and miner. they
should have free cutting of such
timber as they may need. As 1t Is,
they must be prepared with money
in hand to buy every stick of timber
that may be called for in the devel-
opment work done on any mine.
noticed in the case of the Almeda
people the forest service has made
them few concessions, but they
have heretofore held them back for
many months from operating their
smelter. There is some light tim
ger on the hills near the mine and
the government insisted that the
smelter should not be operated un-
I'll the company put up heavy bond
to ensure payment for the timber
mentioned. All saw timber within
the whole township would not bring
the sum demanded in the bond. II
people will ask the government
for relief it will undoubtedly be
granted If Grants Pass and the
balance of Josephine county will take
this matter up in earnest It would be
the very best thing that they can do
for an interest which must become
In the near future, II It has a fair
opportunity. of more . importance
than even the growing Of fruit, which
has been attracting so much atten-
ton Your correspondent trusts that
he Grants Pass Commercial club
WIN tale mp this subject without de-
lay. as Il IS very important 10 the
'arge number Of miners now engaged
| 'N developing the many good prop
critics IN and about Gallce. What
over builds up this camp builds up
Grants Pass, and in fact, the whole
Of Josephine county A large popu-
'atlon in the Gallce district means
home market for the farmers who
win soon be raising crops under irrl-
cation IN and about the capital Of
the county
do not desire 10 even infer that
| the local forest supervisor has In any
way treated the miners harshly; In
| fact the contrary IS the case. Every
-on~,-v has been extended ard every
raerost waao has received attention.
IThe employees. one and all are
| friendly to the mining interests The
whole trouble IS, We are IN the forest
reserve and no relief can be given un-
lul we are taken out Of It. think
lthat the department itself II re-
7restod. will grant rs the relief
asked GAL1CE MINING MAN.