The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-08-07
THE PROSPECTOR, MINER AND
NATIONAL FOREST.

In another part Of this issue of TIL
Miner viii be found somewha
district forester at Missoula, Mont
In defense Of the policy and practice
Of the forestry bureau in dealing
with prospectors and the mining in
dustry on the forest reserves. The
writer Of this article appears to have
a desire to state fairly the position
of the forestry bureau and, taking
his statements as true, it would APP
pear to be the earnest desire of the
bureau to deal fairly in these rela :
lions.
This article does not differ materi
ally from many other statements that
have been put out by the bureau. 1t
contains many assertions of interest
in the promotion of mining and num-
governing the bureau in dealing with
prospectors, all of which are unobjec-
ionable so far as they go. The chief
difficulty, however, in matters of this
lind lies in the application of these
Jules. Even in the hands of a person
v.bn oirIx ,n
application of general rules to con-
crete cases sometimes causes seri
GUS difficulty, and when the APP
,lication of such rules falls into the
hands of one unfriendly to the pros
,ectors, as has often happened, what
Appears to be a very fair general rule
nay be made to be very unfair and
work. serious hardship.
The writer of the article in question,
fter stating the absolute right of the
)rospector to go upon the public land
the forest reserves and search fol
amable minerals, says: mo forest
fIicer is allowed to interfere in any
iay with legitimate mining on the
aational forests, and, In fact. 1t Is the
esire to assist the miner as much
g practicable and to encourage the
lineral development of the land when
: is undertaken in good faith" That
ounds fair enough, but what does
he forestry bureau call Legitimate"
mining and what are the tests Of
good faith that have governed the
orestry bureau in the past and will
"overn 1t in the future? If an ex-
oarienced prospector is willing to en-
gend his money, time and labor on a
lineral bearing vein which he be- |
iicves he can develop into paying |
line. and the forestry expert who ex-
r mines his claim gives it as his |
pinion that the showing does not
! nrrant the expenditure of such |
oney, time and labor whose judy |
ont is to control? 1t is a well known
.!Ct that most capable experts have
)ndemned as valueless prospects
hich through the industry and per-
,Verence of their locators, have de-
2oped into paying mines What
etter evidence of good faith can be
fsred than a willingness to put un-
I'D labor on prospect which has
tile if any value unless a paying ore
o1y is found in it?
But it seems from the language Of
lis writer that If mining location,
hpugh having mineral value that can /
lot be denied, has other value as well. /
will probably be assumed that the :
)cator is not acting in good faith in =,
tempting to acquire it. Yet Con- =
rcss has not anywhere intimated i
nat title to mineral land whose value v
S such can be demonstrated may not :,
e acquired because some one con-
ected with the forestry bureau thinks -
e can see In this land In the re- n
'cte future a great value as town a
ito, or a power site, or because such D
erson thinks a railroad may desire a :
such land for right Of way. II
Water power has been a great aid II