The Alaska daily empire., 1918-10-31
Mining Exemptions.
(DaWSOn News


 The Northwest Mining Association representing British Columbia Alaska and six western States, met last week in Spokane It passed some good resolu- tons in favor of giving relief to the gold mining in dustry. It also is reported to have passed resolu- ton or two which, while evidently intended for the best. will work detriment to the industry.
 One of those resolutions of detrimental tendency is to exempt mining and all gold producing proper ties from representation or assessment during pe riod of the war For who have gone to the front exemption is but fair But for owners not with the colors it is better that the requirements remain as they These facts patent from what has occurred in Alaska.
 Last year the United States passed law exempting all gold producing pacers from representation What is the result? The answer is brief and simple. The placer fields of Alaska being deserted, and pros pectors have ceased to search for gold The miner and the prospector hurryng to fields where there seems to be greater temporary reward. Fairbanks, Nome, Ruby and other Alaskan camps being stripped of their
 It is anomaly that the government should be asked to give bounty in order to encourage the gold production and that at the same time asked to exempt men from producing. The government needs gold today much it needs guns. This ap- plies in Canada, Britain, America and France. With the gold back of it, the nation will have the inan- cal integrity to the confidence of other na tions with which it wishes to trade. Hence the understood that many of the American Congressmen have this point and have agreed to it. Sec retary McAdoo a6 is quoted as favorable to the en- couragement of the gold production. He realizes the vital part gold plays in the great struggle . When Alaska passed it's law exempting the gold miner from representation during the war, the ment hailed in Alaska great boon to the prospector. Now Alaska sees the mistake The Ter ritory is short of labor, and the do not plan to return to their properties until the war Is over and also when the costs of material make gold produc- ton less expensive and gold reganis it's lost purchas ing power.
 A message from Ottawa to the News states that Dr. Thompson, member for the Yukon, contemplates in- troducng bill to exempt placer claims in the Yu- kon from representation. Allowing that the report the doctor must have been misnfOrmed as to effect such act has northern placer fields Possibly he heard of the step taken by Alaska and the belief that prevailed there when thai passed namely, that it great favor to the and the country and that he has not heard of the unhappy results since developed in Alaska
 At the meeting of miners and business meL of Dawson held recently in this city resolutions were passed asking for government aid to tn egod mining industry the way of bounty, waiying of duty on gold mining machinery and abolition of the royalty One present suggested exemption of claims from representation but not another man of the meeting supported the proposition All held that Yukon needs labor with which continue it's operations and that exemption of assessment would have the tendency to cause an exodus labor from this field the in Alaska The proposition for exemption of assess ment failed there to receive the endorsement if the of the big companies in this district and the managers of four largest holding operat ing companies of this field were present. The man who raised the question finally agreed that he was wrong and accepted explanations of others that if the desired bounty and other relief asked is ob- tained the miner will be compensated thereby sui fcently to continue represent and work his claim and then will be under burden by of having to represent Gold Commissioner Mackenzie was pres ent; and agreed in general wtn the attitude or the meeting and said he would do what he can at Ottawa for the benefit of the gold industry if this territory, there is every to hope that when the sua- tion is explained Yukon's member and the federal authorities the gold mining industry or thls terrlory will receive the support necessary to its continuance
 A German Admiral says "our cause is an exalted inc" Probably meant that it is up in the air.
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