The Alaska daily empire., 1920-12-16
PROPOSED
 BY RIGGS AIDS IN DEVELOPMENT
British Columbia Proves Scheme Practical
 Development Furthered.
(By Jack Lincke.)

l 1 ing enrineers to assist in mining de- velcnnent and to aid the prospector
 in securing capital.
 ] W,ile the scheme is new to Alaska l the schcne is meeting with signal
 success in British Columbia, where
 for the nast two years mining activ- ] ity has been at it's peak and where
 millions of American capital that should te invested in Alaskan mines
 is porr,ng into that province
 Tie system emoloyed in British
 Columh,a is what is known as the Miners Aid Act It has for it's pur
 pose the examination of prospects,
 giving to the prospector tie advan taea of technical knowledge in de- velopnent the construction of trails and roads, and even goes 50 far as to provide capital to assist the pros pector in marketing his initial ship. ment. Owing to the shortage of funds, only $25O,0OO was appropriated
 for the latter purpose in 1918 and eff forts have been directed to the ques.l ! ion of roads ."
 The department of mines is pre- sided over by a minister of mines,
 with deputies stationed in various districts of the province. When d
 prospector has discovered something and desires a trail or road, he files 6 written request with the nearest district deputy, asking for an ex-
 omination, setting forth in his oWn' way the character of the property distance from roadways, and the ex-
 tent of the proposed development.
 The district deputy arranges nis schedules to meet the exigencies of the occasion and goes to the prop
 erty, examines it. passes on it's mer-
 it's as prospect, and in the absence
 of a technical knowledge of mining
 on the part of the prospectOr, maps
 out the working and directs him how
 to proceed. If the district has the
 appearance of being important, steps
 are taken for supplying means of
 access and egress. The first step
 is trails. Upon the owner of the
 claim desiring roadway, the Gov
 ernment supplies 50 per cent of the capital neccessary, or the owner may
 construct the road and erceive re- imbursement to the extent of 50 per cent, if the roadway is purely pri-
 vate one. In the event of the road
 becoming an avenue used by others
 the government eventually reimbur- ses the builder
 Should prospector get out a
 dump warranting shipping, the act
 provides that the government may,
 upon recommendation of the dis trict engineer. advance the funds for
 placing the ore in shelter. To protect the public against wild eating, the government reserves the privilege. after examination fto, in the event of false statements printed
 to influence the sale of stock, publish the facts.
 | When stock company calls for an exa :nination, the district engineer 1 makes it as for a private individnal.
 He then examines the books of the company and extracts pledge that i the findings of the government en- gineer will not be employed for ad- vcr. aing purposes. If the company / IS a bana fide corporation entitled i to aoiirit funds from the public, 1t | has the aprroral of the government. i The reports cf the. engineers are printed in the annual provincial re- | ports. and a prospector or company 1 having kept faith. these reports be- come the most valuable aid in fin ancingN
 Previous to the adoption of the Miners Aid Act, trail and road con struction was under the Department | of Works, and all requests for these essentials to development passed i through that department. This often
 created confusion and long delays in getting access to mining properties, Hence the mining needs were separ-
 ated from the public highways de-
 partment Upon the mines depart ment supplying the works depart'
 ment with the necessary data ol roads and trails to mines, the works | department appropriates funds as recommended by the district mining
 engineers.
 In this manner there is never any
 conflict as to the necessity or feasi
 bility of a road or trail and the funds
 are appropriated on estimates bS
 technical men rather than upon thF request of a layman for a certair
 amount with which he thinks h' may make the improvement. One will readily recognize the aif to the road commission and to tho mining industry by the adoption o some such plan in Alaska.
 With the introduction of the Mn CTS Aid Act came a steady trend 0 : American capital to British Columbl : where 90 per cent of the mines of th' : province are owned by Americal capital
 Former Premier. w. Bowser | authority for the statement that 3 per cent of the natural resources ar owned by American capital so on 3 may visualize the volume of mOns' ,bat has oona to deyplOD British Col