Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-04-06
A BUSINESS DISCOURACER
DECLARE BUILDERS COMPANY
WAS ORGANIZED FOR THE
PURPOSE OF GRATING.
PROTEST AGAINST RAKE-OFf
Legality VIII be Attacked-Criticism
Coming-EXpress IL Desire to bc
Heard on Subject.

With strong resolutions from bota
the Tulsa and Muskogee commercial
clubs in the hands of the governor,
showing the sentiment of the people o
the east side of the state against the
action Of the state in granting a lease
to few lawyers, which gives them the
right TO levy a tax on every shoVelful of
sand taken from the Arkansas and
Grand rivers, there is every indication
that more protests will roll into the
governors office and that the lease
action will have to be rescinded.
The Tulsa resolution was forwarded
to the governor yesterday Thursday
night the Muskogee commercial club
held meeting and denounced the
sand company as pirates, hold-up
men, and thieves" Tams Bixzy de-
clared that he was in favor of taking
up arms if necessary to see that the
lease of the state to a few political
lawyers did not succeed in placing a
tax on the very material which should
be placed at a bonus.
Tulsnns at Meeting
At the Muskogee meeting, Tulsa was
represented by the p. l.. Price Sand
company and the o. X Sand company
and r. T. Daniel.
The Tulsa commercial club resolu'
ton as forwarded to Governor Cruce
was as follows:
The Tulsa Resolution.
Honorable Lee Cruce,
Governor of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City. Okla.
"Sir:
AT meeting of the Tulsa CONNER.
cial club, the following resolutions
We're adopted:
Whereas IT has come to the no.
tlce of the Tulsa commercial club that
a certain lease contract was executed
by the commissioners of the land Of
flee to the Builders Sand & Gravel
company, corporation of this state
with offices in Oklahoma City. on the
beds of the Arkansas and Grand rivers
and
Whereas, This contract empowers
the said Builders Sand & Gravel com.
pany to take all the sand and gravel
from the beds of the said rivers IN
consideration of a royalty paid to tht
state Of Oklahoma for so doing and
Damage to Business.
Whereas, Certain enterprises have
their capital invested in this sand
and gravel business, which would be-
seriously damaged through the en-
forcement of such q contract by tho
state of Oklahoma. the enforcement of
this contract would tend to discourage
and drive away the investment of for.
eign capital. and
Whereas, The city and county OF
Tulsa would be directly and indirectly
damaged by tho increased cost Of
building operations from fifteen to
twenty per cent. and from three hun
dred to five hundred would be forced
to seek other employment. and
Whereas. Sand and gravel have
been taken from the Arkansas river
from time immemorial without COM
pensation to the state and, as a con-
sequence. large industries have been
developed on the river because OF the
general belief that such burdens as
this contract Imposes would never be
and could never be imposed. and
See Purpose of Grating.
Whereas. There Is a grave question
az to the legal right OF the state to
the sand and gravel in question. and as
to its power to make a contract with
u corporation which is organized for
the purpose OF grating from a local
natural resource and which virtually
gives the said corporation monopoly,
and
Whereas. Assuming that the state
has legal right to this mineral re-
source. II would appear that had the
commissioners Of the land office de-
sired to protect the financial interests
OF the whole state Of Oklahoma. they
would have collected a royalty direct
from the sand and gravel producers
instead OF delegating unlimited powers
20 the corporation herein mentioned or
granting a rake-off to any privileged
coterie OF sharpers. thus making al
side issue OF the citizens Of oklahoma
and setting up favored concern l.,
endeavor to take advantage OF local
prosperity. and
Whereas The burdens imposed b.
said contract will make It impossible,
for local sand and gravel producers to
compete with sand prices made by
producers outside Of the state of Ok
lahoma. and
Tribute 10 Monopoly.
whereas. This proposed tax on a
very necessary construction material
would compel every citizen who con-
templates improvements Of any char