The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-04-22
TO AID GOLD DISTRICTS
BY FEDERAL ROAD LAW
AMENDMENT SOON TO BE IN.
PRODUCED THAT DESERVES
SUPPORT.

william C. McNutt, Of Elk City.
Idaho, civil and mining engineer and
who is extensively interested in gold
mining in that famous old district. was
in the city the first of the week in
connection with plan to secure fed
eral aid to road building I'm mining
districts which are unable to take ad-
vantage Of present federal road laws.
To reach Elk City at this time involves
a stage ride Of two days from Sites
over an unspeakable road that crosses
two SUBMITS and which is open to
travel by vehicles only about four
months of the year. Mr. McNutt is
secretary of the Elk City good roads
association, and that organization is
striving to secure a wogan road from
sites following a water grade along
the South Fork of the Clearwater into
Elk City a distance of AZ miles This
plan may be changed through the
action Of Idaho county in building a
road from Grangeville TO the bound
airy of the forest reserve. which would
divert the proposed Elk city road by
way Of Grangeviile. and shortening
the original route about ten niles As
explained by Mr. McNutt the diff
Guilty with which Elk city has to con
tend. is that it is situated in great
forest reserve which is a bar TO state
and county cooperation under the fed
eral aid road act while the fores
service refuses to build roads alone
in its domain except for ite own bone
fit. Thus Elk CITY the center of
proved gold district 60 miles sauare
IS helpless in the matter of road thai
is absolutely essential 20 the develop
ment Of its mineral resources.
Proposed Relief Measure.
There are probably many other dis /
tricts in the west handicapped I'm tho 1
same manner in which Elk City finds /
itself and in order to provide general /
relief Mr. McNutt presented the mat
ter to the American Mining congress
nj its recent meeting in St Louis. sub
hitting an amendment 20 the federai
aid road law requiring the government
to build roads to isolated gold mining
districts situated I'm forest reserves
The amendment. which is IN harmony
with the widespread movement to i'm
crease the production of gold. was APP
proved by the American Mining con
gress and resolution asking CON
eress to enact it was unanimously
passed The proposed amendment
provides tha; where minnie districts
are situated as is Elk City "the score
tary Of agriculture shall. independent
Of state or local cooperation. upon the
finding OF the director of the United
states geological survey that mineral
discoveries. Of which gold predomin-
ltes. have been made I'm such districts
md are of such magnitude as to war
rant the construction Of roads or
trails for their further DEVELOPMENT.
md that in his opinion such improve
nent would result in "A material in ,
'rease in the production of gold" pro-
'eed to the construction of such roads. {
assessing the costs to the mining dis =
riots and forest service i'm just pro-
PORTION. This action must he support
ID by a petition by not less than four T
ifths Of the mining locations served {
'he cost assessed against the mining 2
district shall be repaid 'by the mines
r mining locations now existing or z
greater located at the rate of one N
er cent per annum on the gross an \
ual output Of gold from the said \
lines or mining claims" based upon
worn statements of operators F
Seeks Cooperation. 2
Mr.. McNutt says that this amend
lent will soon be introduced i'm con-
ress, and he hopes 70 have the Coz
peration of the mining interests
lroughout the state. He particularly
esires the commercial bodies of the
arious cities to adopt resolutions IA
rring the amendment The passage
the proposed amendment viii prove
great benefit to the mining indus
" of Idaho on account of the vast RI
ineral area i'm the state that is en-
'aced i'm forest reserves. The matter
IN be brought TO the attention Of the q.
Tallace board of trade and viii doubt p,
Re-. !.