The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-06-05
Echo Mining Com
pany Wins Impor-
tant Decision
IN LOCAL LAND OFFICE
Forest Service Fails to Sus-
tain Charges Filed Against
Issuance of Patent

the united states ldnu OlIlCe dt
Coeur d'Alene have rendered a
decision in favor of the Echo
Mining company in a contest case
brought by the district forester OF
Missoula against the company's ap-
plcation for patent on group OF
claims near Burke. The decision Is
interesting as showing the persistent
obstructive attitude of the forest SER
vice toward the mining industry. The
claims offered for patent are in the
midst of a long established mineral
section in close proximity to produc-
tive mines, and while no valuable
mineral deposits have been discover
ed, the usual indications of mineral
are there to an extent that justified
the company in expending large sums
in development work. The ground in
controversy contains no valuable
timber as shown by the evidence sub
mitted, and whatever value 1t has Ia
due to it's mineral character. The
claims for which patent Is sought are
the Mill Mae, Famous, Blanche, Cora
Cora Fraction, Echo, Echo Fraction
and the Maggie Mcdonald. The Echo
company was represented in the con-
test by Walter II. Hanson, who has
Just received a copy of the decision
of the local land office.
Forestry Protest.
On August l, 1917. the Echo Mining
company filed application for patent
for the foregoing claims, and on De-
cember 29, 1917. the district forester
, filed a protest and application to con-
test the mineral application upon the
following charges:
81. A valid discovery Of mineral
. in rock in place has not been made
, upon the Cora, Cora Fraction, Maggie
Mcdonald or Famous lodes.
49, AS much as $500 has not been
( expended upon or for the benefit of
+ the Cora, Cora Fraction, Maggie Nc
e Donald or Famous lode claims"
0 on January 80, 1918. the Echo Min
n ing company, through it's attorney,
f filed an answer denying the charges
q and asking for hearing thereon.
a which after several postponements
= was held before the probate judge in
e this city on December II. 1918, with
J. final hearing in the land office on
t January %, 1919.
t Tho Decision.
L The decision confirms the conten-
e ton of the Echo company in all re-
: spects and the application Is now
: passed for patent, subject Of course
S to appeal on the part of the forest
n service. The decision Is signed by
e the register and receiver and here
follows:
1--WE have now examined the evil
dence submitted and find the facts
substantially as follows: The Echo
: group of mining claims embraces
lodes, only 4 of which are involved IN
= this contest. The group Is located IN
X the midst of valuable producing mines
y at Burke, Idaho, in the well known
IF and highly developed Occur dAlene
l. mining district The Hercules and
1t Tiger Poorman and other we'll known
le producing mines are located within
lie approximately one miles distance
lie The Forget me mot group, survey
l. 2S7S, Immediately adjoins the Echo
le group on the north. The Forget-me-
s not group, Coeur d'Alene, O577, was
patented September 10, 1915, to the
r. Dom Paul Consolidated Mining COM
ne pany after protest by the forest ser.
er vice containing charges similar tC
RS those here involved was disposed Of
a bv departmental decision of July %
n 1915. The Echo group contains M
ng valuable timber and has no value un
ir, less 1t be for mining purposes.
es 'In this case there appears to d.
e. no appreciable difference Of opinion
er between the parties as to the facts In
volved, but only a difference OF opin
ion as to the application of the las
to the facts. The defendants exhibi
4, which shows the location and ar
lth rangement of the claims and Of mos
of the development work is with tn
no record.
m "At tho time of the filing of the ap
)e- plication for patent 1t appears tha
a less than $500 worth of developmer
the work had been done upon or for tf
md benefit of the Maggie Mcdonald clail
w. but before the date of the hearin
Sie much more development work we
ern done upon the claim, and 1t appeal
his