Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-28
BY JAMES wYNKOOP

The subject of conservation prac-
tically consumed the two sessions of
the American Mining congress yester-
day. Everything was not clear sailing
for the conservationists, however, for
there were present men representing
powerful interests who are opposed to
conservation for one reason or another,
and these men expressed their views
in keeping with the express wish Of
the congress-. The object of the gather
ing, as announced, is to ascertain the
views of all the mining men, and
through the medium of resolutions urge
their needs at washington.
Among the principal speakers of the
two sessions yesterday were Thomas
A. O'Donnell in the forenoon, against
conservation, and Thomas e. Gibbon,
who spoke for conservation, as enun-
ciated by Mr.. Pinchot, with amend
ments or suggestions of modification
for the benefit of California oil men.
AS supplement to these arguments
were talks by prominent men, some in
opposition and some in favor of con-
SerVation.
During the day several resolutions
of Importance were adopted by the
congress as follows:
Favoring a chemical laboratory to
the benefit of the mining interests.
Favoring the federal inspection Of
mines.
Favoring publicity in all doings OF
the bureau of mines in relation to
mining transactions.
Favoring the protection of water
holes In the desert and the establish
ment of sign posts in the desert.
WARM DEBATE STARTS
At the morning session nearly all
the talks were by anti ti-conservationlsts,
but in the afternoon the conservation-
lists came back in manner that
aroused the entire gathering.
George E. Whitaker of Bakersfield
favored the Endorsement of the Ameri-
can Mining congress by the California
oil men, elieving, as he said, that
the majority of the oil men favored
the congress and its work in advancing
the cause of mining in general. He
said he believed that the congress
could do the oil men a great deal oe
good.
He favored upholding oil operators
who had made location prior to with
drawal last fall by the government,
thus supporting policy of Mr.. Pin-
chot, who Monday night said such
locations should be protected by
patent when the locator had demon
strated by good faith and development
that he was entitled to patent.
Following in the trend OF argument
advanced by many oil men Of Cali
fornia, Mr.. Whitaker advised that the
present placer mining law, under which
oil lands are located, should be LETT in
force, but with certain amendments
favorable to the location of oil lands.
BY this he explained that location
should be made for the purpose of
prospecting, and that if oil be found
on the claim patent should be given
and prospector be permitted to pay in
the usual form of a fee simple or in
other words, to the state rather than
to the government. This policy is In
line with the Smith bill and the argu-
ment similar to Congressman Smiths.
He said that the recent rulings Of the
land department we're unfair and un-
Just to the people.
BALLINGER'S LETTER READ
Temporary Secretary Sidney Norman
of the American Mining congress read
a letter from Secretary Ballinger. set
ting forth his views and regretting his
inability through official business az
Washington to be present at the con-
vention to speak personally. Mr.. Bill
linger's letter follows:
Because OF my interest in the develop
ment Of the mineral resources Of our public
domain. would be pleased to attend tie
Continued ON Page slxl