- te tee

THE OMINKCA MINER, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1011,

The Omineca Miner

PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT HAZELTON, THE CENTER OF THE
GREAT OMINECA DISTRICT oF British COLUMBIA,

Macdonald & Rauk, Publishers and Proprietors.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada and British Possessions, Two Dollars a
year; Foreign, Three Dollars a year.

ADVERTISING RATES: Display, $1.50 per inch per month; Reading
Notices, 15 cents per line for first insertion, 10 cents per line for each subsequent
insertion. Legal notices inserted at B. C. Gazette rates.

VoL. I.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1911, No, 10.

To Prevent Wildcatting

Omineca district has so far been most fortunate in its freedom
from wild-cat mining flotations. With the opening up of our
great mineral resources, which cannot be much longer delayed,
there may be another tale to tell, unless some means are adopted
to nip in the bud any discreditable mining enterprises. We have
a great many prospects which, under careful. and competent
management, are likely to develop into mines, and there will be no
difficulty in obtaining the necessary capital if the district is kept as
free of irresponsible promoters as itis at present.

Apropos of this subject, it is tobe noted that at the last meet-
ing of the western branch of the Canadian Mining Institute the
question of wild-catting was one of the leading topics of discussion,
The president, in an address to the association, expressed the opin-
ion that doubtful mining promotions could be prevented by adopt-
ing’ proper precautions. In the first place, he maintained,
there must be reasonable grounds for believing that ore exists in
payable quantities in the prospect. Secondly, the distribution of
capitalization between promoters’ and treasury stock should be on
a basis to provide for the development of the property. Thirdly,
the management of the property should be placed in. competent
hands. Fourthly, no promoters’ stock should be placed on the
market until the claims are developed beyond the prospect stage.

It is our opinion that the solution of the problem lies in the
enforcement of laws covering the last three points touched upon.
It. would prove almost, if not quite, impossible to arrive at any
basis for judging the merits of an unproven property. The
opinion of a qualified and unprejudiced mining engineer that a
property was worthy of development should be sufficient justifi-
cation for incorporation. The setting aside of sufficient shares
for treasury purposes is a matter which may well come within the
jurisdiction of the provincial government, The most important
point, and one upon which too much stress cannot be laid, is the
character of the management of any mining’ company seeking to
obtain capital from the investing public. Great profits have been
made in mining, and those who use discrimination and judgment
in making investments in mining ventures have as good a chance
of success as in any other line of business, while the profits in suc-
cessful mining enterprises are, as a rule, much greater than in
ordinary commercial business, § The only safe rule for the invest-
er who is not personally equipped to judge of the merits of a
property, is to be certain that the management of the company to
which he proposes to entrust his money is capable and honest.

Men of character, standing and experience in the mining busi-
ness may be trusted, first, to see that the property they propose to
develop is of such a character as to give reasonable promise of
success; second, to conduct the operations of their company in an
efficient and economical manner, and finally, to see that every
shareholder gets a square deal.

An alluring field for investors is being opened up in Omineca
district, and it is certain there will be many gains and few losses
if the people who put their money into mining enterprises here
follow the rule given. The government can, by making necessary
regulations, discourage the practices of irresponsible promoters;
but the best safeguard for the small shareholder igs in the good
character and capability of the men to whom he entrusts the spend-
ing of his money.

An Important Discovery

In view of the considerable proportion of zine in the ores of
this district, the announcement which comes from Nelson that a
practicable method of handling complex zine ores has been dis-
covered is of much importance to the mining men of Omineca. It
is stated that A. Gordon French, a metallurgist who has a small
plant in the Keotenay city, has succeeded in recovering the zinc
values in silver-lead ores without sacrificing the other contents,
The process, which is as yet secret, is said to consist in first
roasting the ore, then dissolving the zinc. by the aid of a chemical
reagent, after which the zinc is recovered in metallic form by
electrolysis and the residue smelted for the silver and lead. The
miners of this district will wish the discoverer every success in his
efforts to perfect his process. If it proves practicable it will
greatly increase the value of ninety per cent of the mining proper-
ties in Omineca.

The Chinese Situation

The Manchu rule has resulted in the most complete and abso-
lute conquest and thorough subjugation of the Chinese people, and
for two hundred and fifty years and more they have been the object
of cruel and unjust laws, no privileges whatsoever being granted to
them and the study of literature the only field open for their
energies. Official positions were only given to Manchus, whose
lives have been made easy for them, wealth being settled upon
them at birth, so that no such thing as a poor Manchu has ever
existed. But this method, although giving them great power, has
as surely resulted in decay, Withoutincentive to work, their lives
have naturally been idle and given up to reekless and lavish expendi-

“ture ‘of the country’s revenues. Their licentious habits have
turned the palace into a frightful house of misrule, with the natural
consequence that the people of the country have been fleeced and
misgoverned to an extent hardly paralleled in the world.- The
result of this iniquitous system has been the gradual awakening of
the Chinese themselves to the manifold wrongs inflicted upon them,
wrongs which already, about one hundred years ago, led up to the
demand that they should be~qualified to hold official appointments,
both military and civil.+ The granting of these privileges among’
other causes has given rise to the hope which actuates the reformers
in their effort to cast off the yoke of the alien rulers against whom
they have rebelled, One of the results of the defeat of China by

‘the Japanese has’ been the création of a feeling of patriotism

~ hitherto unknown in the ancient kingdom, and in the very probable
event of success attending the revolution, the solidarity which 4s

_ becoming evident in Chinese’ national life will make the Flowery
Kingdom a. power to be reckoned with,

In an interview published in
the Vancouver Province, C. B.
Clarke, who recently bonded the
Dominion group from Carr Bros,, |*
said:

“There are greater evidences
of mineralization in the Hazelton
district than any other region I
ever visited. It will be a won-
derful mining center as soon as
railway facilities are provided,
I searched the coast of Alaska
from end to end in a fruitless
quest for a good proposition, but
I had to go to Northern British
Columbia before I secured what
I wanted. I can assure you that
Isaw a better and more varied
assortment of ores on exhibition
in Hazelton than could he secured
in all the cabinet collections in
the towns of Alaska,”

~No Merchant Marine

The shipping interests of the
United States look to the Panama
Canal as a means of restoring to
the seas the Stars and Stripes.
The fact. that the United States
has no merchant marine in foreign
trade is unpalatable to Atlantic
and Pacific coast people, but they
do not seem to be able to arouse
any interest in shipping matters
among the residents of the in-
terior states, Not somany years
agothe United States had astrong
merchant marine, but the Stars
and Stripes have now practically
disappeared from the seas, The
United States has only nine
steamers in overseas foreign
trade. Not many people realize
thisfact, butitisso. The Ameyi-
can flag is rarely seen in the ports
of other countries, while Great
Britain has 11,562 ships in foreign
trade, to say nothing of the home
trade boats; Germany has 2178,
Norway 2149, France 1517 and
Japan 870, and these figures show
that the United States is abso-
lutely dependent on other coun-
tries for the carrying of her com-
merce. ,

For A Library Policy

An association has been form-
ed to encourage the organization
and development of public libra-
ries in this province. Its first
and immediate aim is to secure
the passage of a modern public
libraries act. Such an act would
provide for the establishment of
library boards in any part of the
province, whether organized
municipalities or — unorganized
districts, besides giving authority

make provision for a provincial
grant in proportion to the amount
raised locally, and provide for the
organization, inspection and as-
sistance of public libraries in the
province by an officer or officers
appointed by the government,
Anyone interested may obtain

Library Association in Victoria,

The Panama Canal

Foreshadowing the early com-
pletion and opening of ‘the Pana-
ma Canal, the Isthmian Canal
Commission, in its annual report,
just made public, recommends
congressional legislation govern-
ing canal tolls, organization for
the operation of the canal and for
government of the canal zone,
utilization of canal revenue to pay
operating expenses and to repay
the capital invested. Expedition
is urged in~order to advise the
commercial world of the use it
may make,of the great water-
.way, of the cost of sending ships
through it and just when it will
be opened,

The commission wishes to give
at least eighteen months’ notice
ofthe rates, to permit the world’s
maritime interests time to read-

portation companies. It is also
deemed desirable to put the canal

only to ‘secure financial returns
on the enormous capital invested,

but to make possible the passage
of the world’s fleets without con:
fusion or delay. The commission

iis already preparing much infor.!

to municipalities to levy a rate|#
for library purposes and would] |}

full information from the B, C.1§

just their rdutes, to build new|
ships and organize new trans-|'

to usé as early as possible, not!

aya 7 . t ' .
A Wonderful District . {mation on these ‘points for the! 7

guidance of congress.

The commission is insistent
that the revenue of the canal
shall yo to pay not only the operat-
ing expenses, but to repay the
capital invested, Every legiti-
mate means for raising revenue
should be adopted, says the re-
port.

The commission has given much
thought to the disposition of land
in the canal zone, important he-
cause of its bearing upon the fu-
ture administration of the zone
and the operation of the canal,
Of the 486 square miles of land in
the zone the government owns
368, of which 96 miles are occu-
pied by the canal. A large part
of the government land will be
required for military, naval, and
other official purposes, It ig
deemed essential that the Spanish
law shall continue to prevail. to
prevent. friction with the neigh-
boring Panamanians in the cities
of Panama and Colon.

The commission wishes to get
rid of the great body of foreign
laborers who were imported to
dig the canal as soon asthe work
is completed. They now popu-
late the established ‘ townsites,
and the commission declares that
they should be repatriated after
work no longer can be given
them.

As to the form of government
forthe zone, the commission di-

tary necessities, the canal being
deemed a military asset.

: Road Work Finished .

With the exception of a little
work on the sleighroad from
Pleasant Valley to Francois lake,
the season’s program of road im-
provement in this district has
been completed. On Monday
Road Superintendent Williscroft
returned -from South Bulkley,
having inspected the sleighroad
from that point to Old. Woman’s
lake. This road, which will be
useful to settlers in that vicinity,
is on the line of the main trunk

: troad, and will, when converted

into a wagon road, form part of
the Pacific Highway,

Parcel Mail Refused

It is reported that postoffices
throughout the country refuse to
accept fourth-class matter for
Hazelton, though the mail con-
tract provides for sufficient
weight to include at least a bart
of the parcel mail,

rects special attention tothe mili- | ;

Provincial
Free Cirenlating ,
‘Library
AT ADAMS’ DRUG:
STORE

Call and Examine

. Mason Adams
DRUGGIST

Hazelton

Royal 3
Seft Drinks

are made here ---"None_ better
made anywhere"

Try our Ginger Ale
Lemon Soda
Cream Soda

On Sale Everywhere

Royal Bottling Works

a
!

- Hazelton, B. C.

The Coffee
House

q Where everthing is well
cooked and appetizing.

j

Our Pies, Cakes, Cookies,
Doughnuts, Bread and Buns; are
the best.
Try a pound can of our Special

Blend Coffee. There is none het-
ter anywhere. ,

Hazelton Bakery

Opposite Hazelton Hotel

JOIN. ONE OF OUR

SUIT CLUBS

You may get a $20 Suit
for $2 or $3

Drawing Takes Place Every
Saturday Night

Noel & Rock.

Hazelton, B. C.

Fifty-one Bunks. of
Solid Comfort

Clean Beds, Clean Bunks,
Tobaccos, Cigars, Candies,
Nuts, Soft Drinks, Fruits in’
.. Season, ele, etc, ono”

The Grand.

Opposite Harclton Hotel

Ferguson & Steele —

oe

A. Chisholm

General Hardware
BuilJers’ Material
Miners’ Supplies

Hazelton, B. C.

5 ~+

Why Buy a Ready-Made Mack.

inaw Suit when you can buy a

Tailor-Made

iIMackinaw

Suit at

Suit $759 4
Anger te Tailor ©

Opposite Police Station
Hazelton, B. C.

Quality Right

] SARGENT'S

Prices Right

The Favorites
In Footwear

SHOE PACS.

Nine inch top, Soled and Nailed Nailed, regular $7 now $6,0°
Twelve inch top, Soledand N Nailed, regular $8.50 now $7,50

Long-wearing
Comfortable

7 UNDERWEAR |

A. complete assortment
of the best garments
in medium and

heavy weights

~ for
Fall and Winter Wear

~

broken’

| Better ‘call and select
what you require be-
fore sizes are:

RUBBERS
A complete line of new

and reliable goods

for Men and ‘Women

All Styles
All Sizes

| You'll

and

faction in these

find good service
complete satis-

rubbers

Hazelton _

R S. 3. SARGENT

GENERAL MERCHANT,

_ Talla)