Volume 24 (1872) (424 pages)

February 10, 1872.] SCIENTIF 1C PRESo. 89 Earnest Talk to Miners. {For the Purss—Br Orn Mixer —Xo. 2,} THE MINING INTEREST. Logislating on Dangorous Ground, Miners’ Rights and Miners’ Wrongs. The success which has attended the sehemes of the wealthy and influential land-grabhers hy which they haveacqnired pessossion of the hest located ngricultural, timher and swamp lands in the State, appears to have emholdcned them te mako dosperato offorts to obtain the incalenlably yaluable mineral lands also, before the people shall bo awnkened to the importanco of the question. There are a number of hills before Congress and the State Legislatnro now in session, designed for this object. Tho most dangerons of which, and that to which we dosire to call the attention ef the miners of the State, on this occasion, is the Bill or Resolution, asking Congress to graut all the unsold minoral lands to the State, er in other words, to place them within reacb of the land-grabhers. As the qnantity of these lands sold is not the one-thousandth part of the whole, the maguitude ef the grant asked for becomes apparent. The pretence for this insiduous schome to deprive the miners and other classes, of the only free field at present existing, for oxereise of their enterprise and the employment of their labor, is, that existing legislation is too cumbersome to acquire title to tbe mineral lands. To those nnacqnainted with the “Ways that are dark, And the tricks that are vain,’’ of the California land speculator, the advocacy of their scheme for ohtaining the mineral lands, hy some of the papers puhlished in the mining districts, would appear to express the views of the miners on the question. But appearances are not always to ho relied on in such cases, The proverhial carelessness of the miners on all matters except sucb as directly pertain to the working of their claims; the ardnous character and protracted hours of their lahor; the distance from newspaper and post offices of the majority of mining claims, cause the miners very rarely, if over, to express their opinions on any suhject through the colnmns of the local press. It was a knowledge of this trait in their character, derived from many years experience among them that induced us to commence this series of ‘‘Harnest Talk to Miners” to obtain their opinions on questions of the greatest importance to their interest. Tbe land-grahhers are also aware of this trait in the miner’s character, and thus kuowing that no miners will take the trouble to contradict any statements which may appear in the local papers, they manage to induce the over-worked mountain editor to publish, as editorial matter, articles written by the land speculator’s agents. There is scarcely one editor in twenty, in tbe mining districts, who can spsre the time to go among the miners to obtain their opinions, consequently they are but too glad to accept tbe opinions of those who assume to speak for them. Such articles, publisbed in good faith hy the country editor, become formidahle weapons when used in Congress, or in the State Legislature; because they are received as tbe opinion of the miners in the locality, while in truth they only express the views of tbe land grahhers. What advantage would the miners gain, should Congress grant the unsold mineral lands to the State ? Ahsolntely none, while they would lose muchmore than many of them suppose, and every interest in the State, except that of the land speculators, would suffer an irreparable injury. Under tbe existing state of affairs, the miner's claim, being part of the public domain, is not taxahle. Should the State obtain the mineral lands, every claim would be subject to taxation, The peorest, as nsnal, paying the largest portion. Estimating all the mines in the State to he worth enly $50,000,000, at throe per cent., the cnrrent rate of taxntion, these mines would he taxed $1,500,000 annually, which weuld be a direct loss to the miner, and but little benefit to any other class of peeple, except office holders. The miners in every district now enjoy the privileg of making laws to regulate their ewn affairs. Were the State to hecome owner of the mineral lands, special legislation would give tbe capitalist such advantages over the working miner that the latter would he compelled to work for such wages as the employer of his labor would dictate, or seek fer other employment. The miuers, during twenty years of free mineral lands have ehtained enormous qnantities ef the precious metals, which has cirenlated among eyery class in the community. Whbat prohahility is there tbat the product would he increased, should the mineral lands he owned by a few companies of capitalists? The strongest arguments advanced hy tbe advecates of the proposed disposal of the mineral lands, in large tracts, is tbat such a disposition of them would increase the product of the precious metals, by inducing capitalists to erect cestly machinery and to employ a large force of organized lahorers, exposes the aim of thoso whe seek to ohtain these lands, and explains tbe loss the miners and the State ut large would sustain, sbonld they succeed in gaining their object. The whole tenor of the legislation sougbt, is for the benefit of capital at the expense of labor. The assertion made hy tbe advocates of tho land speculators, that tbe granting of the mineral lands to the State would indnce foreign capitalists to invest their funds in the mines, is one of the strougest reasons why Congress should not thns dispose of them. Should these lands he granted to tbe State, the State would sell them in the same manner as it has sold its school, nniversity and swamp lands, in large bodies to speculators, who in turn would sell them, at enormous profits, to foreign capitalists. Is it quite certain that the sale of the mineral, or the swamp lands, to uon-resident foreigners is either a present or will hea future henefit to the State ? Suppose, for argument’s sake, that one or fifty foreign companies should manage to obtain possession of » large portion of these lands. They would take all the profits of such investments out of the State. The comparatively trifling sum they would pay for taxes, would he no equivalent for the loss of the State’s resources. It is infinitely more to the interest of the State to defer the exhaustion of its mines, till such a result can be effected by its citizens, than it is to make enormous sacrifices to reach that result through the aid of non-resident foreign capitalists. To develop the resources of the State, free, intelligent laborers are more essential than non-resident foreign capitalists, The influence of foreign capital already too poteut onthe Pacific Coast, to place the control of the mineral lands witbin its reach, would make California assume more the character of a forcign colony, than tbat of an independent member of the States composing the Great American Repnblic. We trust our friends among the miners will think over this question, and inform us of their opinions thereon, that we may place them before tbe people and the Legislature, in time to prevent the infliction of a ruinous blow to the mining interest : ae se Tue West Sipe isa bandsome journal published at McMinnville, Oregon, hy Handley Snyder & Wm. Boone; tbe latter was once typo and clerk in this office. A New Cooking Apparatus. We give herewith an illustration of a new cooking apparatus, a recent invention, knowu as ‘** Paine’s Culinary Apparatus.” For summer use, it wenld be difficult to find, among all the numerous inventions of this kind, anything which is neator, more conveuient, compact or cbeaper than this device. Among the advantages claimed for it, is the fact that it can bo placed ou the kitchen table aud a meal of victuals cooked without any perceptible increase of heat in the room, or creating a smoko, or making a litter of any kind. It is also a great economizer of tho housewife’s time and labor, as it ean be instantly made ready, and the PAINE’S CULINARY APPARATUS. meal cooked with much less lahor, and convenience, than when a fire has to he made in an ordinary stove. The cost of fnel is merely nominal, while it is entirely free from dust asbes or dirt of any kind. The ordinary variety of food can be cooked, coffee made and water heated at the same time. It appears to be well worth the attention of housekeepers. Wiester & Co., No. 17. New Montgomery street, are the agents for its sale. An Improved Shoe Fastening. Among the recent patents obtained through the Screntrrie Press Agency is one which relates to a device for fastening sboes, by which the shoe can he speedily and effectually secured upon or removed from the foot as desired. The present style of shoes worn hy ladies are fastened on the side with buttons. These fastenings may be used upon them with great convenience, doing away with the necessity of a button hook, and at the same time presenting a neat appearance. The under flap of tbe shoe is fitted with peculiar metal standards having holes in them. Atthe base of the standard is a flange and upon the opposite side of the flange is a screw. Tbe screw is passed througb a hole in the under flap, and also througb a stiffening, if desired, wbere a nut is screwed upou it, securing the standard firmly to the flap. Eyelets are inserted in the overlapping flap which are of the proper form to allow the standards to pass through them. To fasten the sboe, a string with a knotted end is passed through the holes in each of the standards successively from bottom to top. Tbe knot prevents tbe string from passing through. By using a string of moderate length there is no necessity of uulacing, merely loosen the string, draw it downward, and the sboecan be removed. The device is neat and simple, as may be seen from ourcut. Aaron Lawson, of Petaluma, Souoma Co., is tbe pateutee. Wiester & Co., No. 17 New Montgomery street, are the agents, Trade Marks. The right of a tradesman to the exclusive use of his trade marks, whether it consists of words, letters, figures or other symbols, has always been recognized by our laws, and to iiuitate a trade mark, cither precisely or so ucar us to lead the puhlie to mistake the imitation for the real, is au actionable offvucc, as it uot only damages the rightful owner, hut perpetrates a fraud upou the community. The general governmcut has recently specially provided for granting letters patent for trademarks, so as to more surely proteet the rightful proprictors, although the right to use a special mark to represent a pnrticular class of merchandise is as truly aud lawfully the exclusive property of the original user without a patent as with it. By patenting his trado mark the proprictor makes a record of its existence, which the public ure bouud to recognize, and the patent, is an evideuce of its originality and} proprictorship, which wonld otherwise he a matter of doubt and would have to he proven. The slight expense of ohtaininga trade mark patent, shonld uot detain a tradesman from securing a governmeut license and a lawful register of his marks or designs. Every individual should depend upon his own exertions to introduce his own mannfactnre, and when his goods have become known to the public, his trade mark will be a guide to the hnyer and a protection to the mannfacturer. We are led to make these remarks from the fact that the imitation of trade marks in our commnnity are hecoming very frequent of late; for instance, if we inquire for Hucks and Lambert's axle grease, a very useful and serviceable compound, in inany places an axle grease put up in cases and hearing marks similar to the H. & L. grease, is thrust upon us as the original article. In the matter of soaps, and in almost every other department of trade we find these imitatious, ssa general rule. The greater the reputatiou of any article the more uumerons the imitations, and the nearcr the resemblauce of the trade marks used to that on the original article. Mining Accidents. A cave occured in the English Co.'s claims at You Bet last Saturday hy which three men were injured, some of them serionsly. A msn by the name of Tucker was seriously injured a few days sinceat the Stetefeldt Mill at Belmont, hy inhaling the flames and fumes from tbe furnace, tbe damper of which was out of order and which be was arranging. He is in a critical condition. John Hnstis, of Blue Tent, had his leg broken last week, by a mass of pipe clay which rolled dowu j}from the hank snd canght him. The National Gazette says that R. Trotter of the Sogges mine met with a painful accident on the 29th ult. A number of giant powder caps were condemned as non-explosive and were lying ina tin box ona piece of iron; Mr. Trotter struck one of the caps, whicb was lying on the iron, outside of the box, with a piece of iron which he hsd in his band, when the whole ex ploded, blowing the tin hox to pieces and burying a dozen or more pieces in his face, arms and body. Tue Resourcrs oF Carirornra.—The first uumber of the second volume of this valuable publication bas been laid upon our table, and is replete with carefully compiled facts relating to tbe various industries and resources of the State. It furnisbes a large amount of matter of especial] value for parties in other countries desiring to chunge tbeir residence to this State. As an emigrant aid document, it possesses especial value, and all who receive it will do well, after carefully reading it themselves, to send itto some friend in the Isasteru or Western States, or to England. The paper is published by Jno. H. P. Wentworth & Co., at 302 Montgomery street, in this city. Hyrcrenro anp Prrenoxociean JournaL.— We have received a nninber of this new monthly which is edited and pnblished hy Dr. Barlow J. Smith. It treats of very important subjects, and presents a neat typographical appearance,

February 10, 1872.] SCIENTIF 1C PRESo. 89 Earnest Talk to Miners. {For the Purss—Br Orn Mixer —Xo. 2,} THE MINING INTEREST. Logislating on Dangorous Ground, Miners’ Rights and Miners’ Wrongs. The success which has attended the sehemes of the wealthy and influential land-grabhers hy which they haveacqnired pessossion of the hest located ngricultural, timher and swamp lands in the State, appears to have emholdcned them te mako dosperato offorts to obtain the incalenlably yaluable mineral lands also, before the people shall bo awnkened to the importanco of the question. There are a number of hills before Congress and the State Legislatnro now in session, designed for this object. Tho most dangerons of which, and that to which we dosire to call the attention ef the miners of the State, on this occasion, is the Bill or Resolution, asking Congress to graut all the unsold minoral lands to the State, er in other words, to place them within reacb of the land-grabhers. As the qnantity of these lands sold is not the one-thousandth part of the whole, the maguitude ef the grant asked for becomes apparent. The pretence for this insiduous schome to deprive the miners and other classes, of the only free field at present existing, for oxereise of their enterprise and the employment of their labor, is, that existing legislation is too cumbersome to acquire title to tbe mineral lands. To those nnacqnainted with the “Ways that are dark, And the tricks that are vain,’’ of the California land speculator, the advocacy of their scheme for ohtaining the mineral lands, hy some of the papers puhlished in the mining districts, would appear to express the views of the miners on the question. But appearances are not always to ho relied on in such cases, The proverhial carelessness of the miners on all matters except sucb as directly pertain to the working of their claims; the ardnous character and protracted hours of their lahor; the distance from newspaper and post offices of the majority of mining claims, cause the miners very rarely, if over, to express their opinions on any suhject through the colnmns of the local press. It was a knowledge of this trait in their character, derived from many years experience among them that induced us to commence this series of ‘‘Harnest Talk to Miners” to obtain their opinions on questions of the greatest importance to their interest. Tbe land-grahhers are also aware of this trait in the miner’s character, and thus kuowing that no miners will take the trouble to contradict any statements which may appear in the local papers, they manage to induce the over-worked mountain editor to publish, as editorial matter, articles written by the land speculator’s agents. There is scarcely one editor in twenty, in tbe mining districts, who can spsre the time to go among the miners to obtain their opinions, consequently they are but too glad to accept tbe opinions of those who assume to speak for them. Such articles, publisbed in good faith hy the country editor, become formidahle weapons when used in Congress, or in the State Legislature; because they are received as tbe opinion of the miners in the locality, while in truth they only express the views of tbe land grahhers. What advantage would the miners gain, should Congress grant the unsold mineral lands to the State ? Ahsolntely none, while they would lose muchmore than many of them suppose, and every interest in the State, except that of the land speculators, would suffer an irreparable injury. Under tbe existing state of affairs, the miner's claim, being part of the public domain, is not taxahle. Should the State obtain the mineral lands, every claim would be subject to taxation, The peorest, as nsnal, paying the largest portion. Estimating all the mines in the State to he worth enly $50,000,000, at throe per cent., the cnrrent rate of taxntion, these mines would he taxed $1,500,000 annually, which weuld be a direct loss to the miner, and but little benefit to any other class of peeple, except office holders. The miners in every district now enjoy the privileg of making laws to regulate their ewn affairs. Were the State to hecome owner of the mineral lands, special legislation would give tbe capitalist such advantages over the working miner that the latter would he compelled to work for such wages as the employer of his labor would dictate, or seek fer other employment. The miuers, during twenty years of free mineral lands have ehtained enormous qnantities ef the precious metals, which has cirenlated among eyery class in the community. Whbat prohahility is there tbat the product would he increased, should the mineral lands he owned by a few companies of capitalists? The strongest arguments advanced hy tbe advecates of the proposed disposal of the mineral lands, in large tracts, is tbat such a disposition of them would increase the product of the precious metals, by inducing capitalists to erect cestly machinery and to employ a large force of organized lahorers, exposes the aim of thoso whe seek to ohtain these lands, and explains tbe loss the miners and the State ut large would sustain, sbonld they succeed in gaining their object. The whole tenor of the legislation sougbt, is for the benefit of capital at the expense of labor. The assertion made hy tbe advocates of tho land speculators, that tbe granting of the mineral lands to the State would indnce foreign capitalists to invest their funds in the mines, is one of the strougest reasons why Congress should not thns dispose of them. Should these lands he granted to tbe State, the State would sell them in the same manner as it has sold its school, nniversity and swamp lands, in large bodies to speculators, who in turn would sell them, at enormous profits, to foreign capitalists. Is it quite certain that the sale of the mineral, or the swamp lands, to uon-resident foreigners is either a present or will hea future henefit to the State ? Suppose, for argument’s sake, that one or fifty foreign companies should manage to obtain possession of » large portion of these lands. They would take all the profits of such investments out of the State. The comparatively trifling sum they would pay for taxes, would he no equivalent for the loss of the State’s resources. It is infinitely more to the interest of the State to defer the exhaustion of its mines, till such a result can be effected by its citizens, than it is to make enormous sacrifices to reach that result through the aid of non-resident foreign capitalists. To develop the resources of the State, free, intelligent laborers are more essential than non-resident foreign capitalists, The influence of foreign capital already too poteut onthe Pacific Coast, to place the control of the mineral lands witbin its reach, would make California assume more the character of a forcign colony,

than tbat of an independent member of the States composing the Great American Repnblic. We trust our friends among the miners will think over this question, and inform us of their opinions thereon, that we may place them before tbe people and the Legislature, in time to prevent the infliction of a ruinous blow to the mining interest : ae se Tue West Sipe isa bandsome journal published at McMinnville, Oregon, hy Handley Snyder & Wm. Boone; tbe latter was once typo and clerk in this office. A New Cooking Apparatus. We give herewith an illustration of a new cooking apparatus, a recent invention, knowu as ‘** Paine’s Culinary Apparatus.” For summer use, it wenld be difficult to find, among all the numerous inventions of this kind, anything which is neator, more conveuient, compact or cbeaper than this device. Among the advantages claimed for it, is the fact that it can bo placed ou the kitchen table aud a meal of victuals cooked without any perceptible increase of heat in the room, or creating a smoko, or making a litter of any kind. It is also a great economizer of tho housewife’s time and labor, as it ean be instantly made ready, and the PAINE’S CULINARY APPARATUS. meal cooked with much less lahor, and convenience, than when a fire has to he made in an ordinary stove. The cost of fnel is merely nominal, while it is entirely free from dust asbes or dirt of any kind. The ordinary variety of food can be cooked, coffee made and water heated at the same time. It appears to be well worth the attention of housekeepers. Wiester & Co., No. 17. New Montgomery street, are the agents for its sale. An Improved Shoe Fastening. Among the recent patents obtained through the Screntrrie Press Agency is one which relates to a device for fastening sboes, by which the shoe can he speedily and effectually secured upon or removed from the foot as desired. The present style of shoes worn hy ladies are fastened on the side with buttons. These fastenings may be used upon them with great convenience, doing away with the necessity of a button hook, and at the same time presenting a neat appearance. The under flap of tbe shoe is fitted with peculiar metal standards having holes in them. Atthe base of the standard is a flange and upon the opposite side of the flange is a screw. Tbe screw is passed througb a hole in the under flap, and also througb a stiffening, if desired, wbere a nut is screwed upou it, securing the standard firmly to the flap. Eyelets are inserted in the overlapping flap which are of the proper form to allow the standards to pass through them. To fasten the sboe, a string with a knotted end is passed through the holes in each of the standards successively from bottom to top. Tbe knot prevents tbe string from passing through. By using a string of moderate length there is no necessity of uulacing, merely loosen the string, draw it downward, and the sboecan be removed. The device is neat and simple, as may be seen from ourcut. Aaron Lawson, of Petaluma, Souoma Co., is tbe pateutee. Wiester & Co., No. 17 New Montgomery street, are the agents, Trade Marks. The right of a tradesman to the exclusive use of his trade marks, whether it consists of words, letters, figures or other symbols, has always been recognized by our laws, and to iiuitate a trade mark, cither precisely or so ucar us to lead the puhlie to mistake the imitation for the real, is au actionable offvucc, as it uot only damages the rightful owner, hut perpetrates a fraud upou the community. The general governmcut has recently specially provided for granting letters patent for trademarks, so as to more surely proteet the rightful proprictors, although the right to use a special mark to represent a pnrticular class of merchandise is as truly aud lawfully the exclusive property of the original user without a patent as with it. By patenting his trado mark the proprictor makes a record of its existence, which the public ure bouud to recognize, and the patent, is an evideuce of its originality and} proprictorship, which wonld otherwise he a matter of doubt and would have to he proven. The slight expense of ohtaininga trade mark patent, shonld uot detain a tradesman from securing a governmeut license and a lawful register of his marks or designs. Every individual should depend upon his own exertions to introduce his own mannfactnre, and when his goods have become known to the public, his trade mark will be a guide to the hnyer and a protection to the mannfacturer. We are led to make these remarks from the fact that the imitation of trade marks in our commnnity are hecoming very frequent of late; for instance, if we inquire for Hucks and Lambert's axle grease, a very useful and serviceable compound, in inany places an axle grease put up in cases and hearing marks similar to the H. & L. grease, is thrust upon us as the original article. In the matter of soaps, and in almost every other department of trade we find these imitatious, ssa general rule. The greater the reputatiou of any article the more uumerons the imitations, and the nearcr the resemblauce of the trade marks used to that on the original article. Mining Accidents. A cave occured in the English Co.'s claims at You Bet last Saturday hy which three men were injured, some of them serionsly. A msn by the name of Tucker was seriously injured a few days sinceat the Stetefeldt Mill at Belmont, hy inhaling the flames and fumes from tbe furnace, tbe damper of which was out of order and which be was arranging. He is in a critical condition. John Hnstis, of Blue Tent, had his leg broken last week, by a mass of pipe clay which rolled dowu j}from the hank snd canght him. The National Gazette says that R. Trotter of the Sogges mine met with a painful accident on the 29th ult. A number of giant powder caps were condemned as non-explosive and were lying ina tin box ona piece of iron; Mr. Trotter struck one of the caps, whicb was lying on the iron, outside of the box, with a piece of iron which he hsd in his band, when the whole ex ploded, blowing the tin hox to pieces and burying a dozen or more pieces in his face, arms and body. Tue Resourcrs oF Carirornra.—The first uumber of the second volume of this valuable publication bas been laid upon our table, and is replete with carefully compiled facts relating to tbe various industries and resources of the State. It furnisbes a large amount of matter of especial] value for parties in other countries desiring to chunge tbeir residence to this State. As an emigrant aid document, it possesses especial value, and all who receive it will do well, after carefully reading it themselves, to send itto some friend in the Isasteru or Western States, or to England. The paper is published by Jno. H. P. Wentworth & Co., at 302 Montgomery street, in this city. Hyrcrenro anp Prrenoxociean JournaL.— We have received a nninber of this new monthly which is edited and pnblished hy Dr. Barlow J. Smith. It treats of very important subjects, and presents a neat typographical appearance,