The Coconino sun., 1924-11-21
MINING A TRAIL POLITICALLY?


1t is rather difficult to tell from the editorials
in the Miami Silver Belt, Mr.. VanDyke's paper,
whether the Bright Angel trail is mining claim
or a trail down into the Grand canyon From his
editorials ne@is inclined to believe he has been
advised that there is a great body of platinum
on this trail and is much provoked because gov
ernment experts are unable to find it either on
the Bright Angel trail or on the numerous mining
claims that were plaStered across it and adjacent
thereto, claims now supposed to be owned or claim
ed by the Stetson outfit
1t is a measly shame that government as
large and rich as the United States will permit
its mining experts to make examinations and re-
port that there is no platinum In mining claims
which the locator has gone to the trouble of To-
eating, and, further specifically stating in his To-
cation notice that there is mineral in the claims
located Many locators of mining claims have
made good stake without digging into the
claims. Mineral it has often been said, is where
you find it, consequently person locating min
ng claim in Arizona has perfect right to dig
up the pay mineral back east.
For over 30 years mining claims have been
aiken up around in the Grand canyon but the only
mineral ever taken out in quantities that paid
For mining was at the old Last Chance Mine" at
Grandview. That lasted for few years and has
long since been abandoned because of its being
worked out, at least worked until it was unprofit-
able to continue. 1t is probable that this old mine
could be bought very cheap now for mining pur-
ooses though its location may have considerable
scenic value.
Think of it For 25 or possibly 80 years. these
valuable" mining claims have been fought over
all the courts of the land up to the supreme
court of the United States, and all courts have
tecided they were not mineral claims within any
literal meaning of the law No mining has even
been done on the claims that produced mineral
Except the worked out old Last Chance mine" al
1randview. Grandview is some IA miles east of
he Bright Angel trail and the mining" claims
that the Millionaire Stetsons of Philadelphia seem
o claim at the present time.
In the past 80 years no prospector or actual
miner ever got pay for the time he put in at
mion scale, trying to get mineral out of the
Irand canyon for himself or his boss-except the
hort interval at the Last Chance" mine, above
mentioned.
1t is rather puzzling and hard to understand
ust why the Bright Angel trail is always tied into
lewS articles in certain papers, when the mining
3laims contests are mentioned.
Is there any one SO ignorant that he would
believe any man or set of intelligent men would
eeep up mining a trail down into Grand canyon
lespite the fact that not an ounce Of pay ore had
)een produced in all that time? Also how could
my man or set of men fight in all the courts up
20 the supreme court of the United States, and
)ay the costs, when the best experts of the coun-
,ry swear there is no mineral in paying quantities
IN any mining claim said parties have located?
Where could enough money come from to help
)ut an 'old prospector" in such fight of 80
ears, and no pay mineral dug?
1t is truly wonderful to think that man or
set OF men can work bunch of mining claims for
80 years on trace of pay dirt" and prosper
Without getting an ounce of metal into the mar
ket.