The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-24
MINING MEN IN PROTEST.

The Tribune commends unreservedly
the move proposed on tho part Of min
ing men 10 protest against the Govern
ment's policy towards the mining inter
ests OF the West, and against much of
the ruinous conservation idea that is
so mistakenly applied throughout all
this region. The meeting OF mining g
men in this city on Monday evening 10
set 90 foot an activity through public
meeting for giving expression to the
feelings OF mining men with regard to
the Government metalminiug policy
and some Of it's conservation prscuces,
is precisely in the right direction. We
trust that the meeting may be held,
and that the mining men will give full
freedom to their ideas upon this most
important subject.
One of the melting causes OF this
movement of the mining men uudoubt-
edly is the action of the clerical force
in the Department OF the Interior in
imposing new and impractical coudi-
tions for the obtaining of mining pat
ents, II has been the rule from the
first of mining on the coast and all this
interior region. rule that has ap.
piled from the beginning of quartz
mining and the discovery ard develop
ment of mining lodges, that when a
prospector had found and located
lode ia place, bad marked his discovery
point. had staked his claim, had re-
corded it, bad done the required devel
opmept work, and paid all fees and cH
penses. his patent would issue upon sp
plication therefor in due form as pro-
vided By law and regulations. This is
clesr-cut, straightforward practical
process, which any prospector of iu-
telligenee and enterprise can comply
With.
Bu, now we are confronted with rul-
ines msde By clerks ignorant OF min.
ing and full OF foolish conservation
notions which require impractiesble
things 10 be done. Not only must
everything be done that has been re.
quired heretofore, but the prospector
must develop his claim, prove that be
has found a vein OF mineral that will
paw. aud that will afford him practical
profit. That is 10 cay, he must not
ouly discover mis- mine. but be must
fuliy develop Il before he will be en-
titled TO receive patent for the
ground from the United States.
Needless 10 say, this is precisely what
pine out OF ten prospectors arc quite
unable 10 do. so that the ruling will
not only discourage prospecting. but
will say 20 prospcctors that IL viii not
profit them at all TO find lode or
ledge Of mineral, so far as getting q
patent therefor Is concerned. To b.
sure, II it should prove 10 DC a boranza
from the grass roots. the prospeetor
would no, care what sort OF ruling
the department MAJ make; he will be
able 10 comph with ANYTHING. But
how mary mineral finds are bonanzas
from the grass roots' Perhaps one in
. Thousand. 50 that the cNactions I'm
posed ~ The clerks 10 tbe Interior ne
raF,msn; afford real grievance 70
miuinE men. and these men arr fully
iustified in making their complaint,
ard protests
or the general question involved.
also. % finding and opening minin.
claim., tho nin'u- men have good
grouud fcT protest II q. necessary for
then. ir opening their minos. % use
the fuel Aai ,hs timber that is - band
Tor 30 purpose Of uet d>vslopuen:
u "a nsecssary for them 10 nee water
-oNrr far The running % their mill snd
ths rnchtoery rorrreteI With their
niaiTs operations Bu, The Govern
prnt -esiristio-s upor the use ~ ,irr
Ter ard upon zee appropriation ~ W
fsr Vow@r arc .o encrous 'As, much
difficulty car rss'y hs made for min
irz meH wh7 undertake 20 de,slor
,helr slsims; in fact. they ean b, ALSO
ltsiv barred
or all grounds. therefore. IN. u,ini-r
men % Utah are no, only iuttifisd. ia,
are virtually eoursIlsd. 90 nak, rro