The CHAIRMAN. I was about to say that that being dated last January, that we have a report under date of March 21, from the bureau, reporting unfavorably. Senator WALSH of Montana. I understand that. The CHAIRMAN. Last year it was reported Senator WALSH of Montana. I was reading this letter, Mr. Chairman, to indicate to the members of the committee how little significance there is to the suggestion that the true way to solve this prob lem and give the people of Cooke City an outlet is to build it through the park. Senator KENDRICK. Pardon me. This road does not touch the park at all. Representative WINTER. Will the Senator yield to a question there? Senator WALSH of Montana. Yes. Representative WINTER. In view of this attitude of the department on this whole situation, I agree with you as to the position of the Park Service. Senator WALSH of Montana. But you always overlook the fact that the Park Service is backed up by a powerful public sentiment. Representative WINTER. I corroborate you on that. But are you prepared to admit that the natural and right way for a road to Gardiner is to be abandoned because the Park Service opposes it, and that this committee should yield to that organization against its better judgment, if that is the better way down there? Senator WALSH of Montana. If it was simply a problem of convincing this committee that that is the reasonable and natural and proper thing to do, I would not have any hesitancy at all in endeavoring to convince the committee. I do not think I had the slightest difficulty at all in convincing the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid Lands that that weir should be built there at Yellowstone, but I was compelled to abandon it. It could not possibly get through, and the people at home recognized that it could not. Senator FRAZIER. It is not only the Park Service that has to be convinced, but the general public. Senator WALSH of Montana. Yes. Why, the Saturday Evening Post printed a cartoon representing a power development plant right at the foot of the Yellowstone Falls and a great pipe line running from that clear down the valley; and that was scattered all over the country, and that was the sort of stuff that induced the opposition to it. I just want to conclude, Mr. Chairman, by reading this statement [reading]: To whom it may concern: We, the undersigned, hereby certify that on the 25th day of February, 1928. we went with snow motor and team from Cooke City, Mont., to the Clarence Linn ranch, on the Clarke Fork River, in Wyoming, a distance of 12 miles over this end of the survey of the line leading from Cooke City toward Red Lodge, Mont. No traffic had been over the said road since the 30th of November, 1927. We remained over one day at the Linn ranch and came back to Cooke City on the 28th day of February, 1928. We also made another trip over the road on the 4th day of March, 1928. We hauled a cow and calf, a barrel of gas, oats, and hay, and provisions. about 1,700 pounds all told. The snow is an average depth for this season of the year. This proves that in case the road is build from Red Lodge to Cooke City it can be negotiated at any season of the year, as this part of the road that we traversed has just as much snowfall as anywhere along the line. Practically nine-tenths of the people here are heartily in favor of the road. Sworn and subscribed to this 6th day of March, 1928. [SEAL.] My commission expires November 15, 1928. O. B. HETLAND. H. F. HAMMOND. JAS. H. STINSON, Notary Public, Cooke, Mont. I understand, Mr. Chairman, these other papers which I have produced may be incorporated in the record? The CHAIRMAN. That may be done. PETITION To the United States Senate and to the House of Representatives: We the undersigned citizens and residents of Cooke, Parke County,, Mont., respectfully petition your honorable bodies to pass necessary legislation and appropriation to construct a road from Red Lodge, Mont., to Cook, Mont., for the purpose of giving Cooke a commercial road over which we can travel without restrictions in order that mines at Cooke may develop. The only outlet we have at the present time is through Yellowstone National Park, and park regulations make it impossible to serve the best interest of this community. V. R. Nixon, J. W. Moore, Scott Riley, Laura Kaufman, A. Schilling, Dr. J. C. F. SIEGFRIEDT, Red Lodge, Mont. WESTERN SMELTING & POWER Co., MY DEAR DOCTOR: Your letter of the 13th instant written from the Hotel Belmont, New York, was a great and pleasant surprise to me. I always admire a man who refuses to be defeated in his efforts and I feel that the people of Montana owe you a great deal of thanks for what you have already accomplished and what you are now trying to finish, to wit, a highway that will not only bring tourists into a section of indescribable grandeur and beauty in the Yellowstone Park, but also enable better development of the great mines in the New World mining district which were forced to inactivity heretofore by reason of the persistent refusal of park officials to repair the Cooke road for truck travel so the high-grade ores could be shipped into the 97823-28-9 world's market. You can rest assured that not only our company, but everyone of the 14 companies operating in Cooke, would welcome an opportunity to purchase their supplies in Red Lodge and Billings, and also use these cities as shipping terminals. I am inclosing herewith part of a report from Mr. A. L. Waters, E. M.. dated November 15, 1906, attested by S. H. Crookes, C. E., United States mineral surveyor, which will give a tonnage available on 20 claims. I am also inclosing copy of a report on the mines in the New World mining district as published in the Montana Mining Journal for the six months ending November 30, 1889, second revised edition May 10, 1890. by Mr. G. C. Swallow, inspector of mines. Also a report from Mr. James Collins, smelter manager, written under date of January 22, 1921. Kindly return these documents when you have no further use for them, as we have no copies of same. We have a report from Mr. Milnor Roberts, dean of mines of the University of Washington, but it is not available at this time, as it was sent to eastern capitalists who contemplated making an investment in our company. Under separate cover am also sending you a prospectus of our company termed "Copper," which contains nothing but facts from the first to the last line. I hope that you will have no further difficulty in obtaining the funds with which to build a good road with easy grades-one we can use all the year around-and you may rest assured that the business people of Red Lodge and Billings will scon notice a substantial increase in their bank accounts. During the past season we have spent over $60,000 toward development of mines and completion of our smelter. If nothing unforeseen happens the smelter will be blown in early in the spring as it is complete in minute detail. With best wishes and kindest regards, I am, as ever, Very sincerely yours, G. L. TANZER, President. Assays from 20 claims on Henderson Mountain New World mining district, Park County, Mont. [From the report of Mr. A. L. Waters, E. M., November 15, 1906] NOTE. By probable tonnage is meant the ore on dumps, and estimate of ore in mines. Many valuable properties on the north and west of the district are not included in the report. Smelter returns (the Republic Smelter) can be obtained to verify the above assays, in the majority of cases. LIVINGSTON, MONT., December 20, 1906. The foregoing report, made by Mr. Albert L. Waters has been read by me and in the main I can verify his statements, as I was over many of the claims shown above and had some of the assays made myself at the time the report was made. Dr. G. L. TANZER, S. H. CROOKES, C. E., United States Mineral Surveyor. SEATTLE, WASH., January 22, 1921. President Western Smelting & Power Co., Seattle, Wash. MY DEAR DOCTOR TANZER: In view of the many inquiries that come to you relative to the holdings and possibilities of your company, the following may be of interest to such as are interested. I was employed in an official capacity with the Anaconda Mining & Smelting Co. for 20 years, during which time I gained much valuable knowledge relative to mines and smelters, which I feel places me in a fair position as one capable to know and qualified to give an opinion on the resources and possibilities of your company. I consider your company's holdings advantageously located in what I feel convinced will eventually be the greatest mining camp in Montana, with the advantage of having every resource at hand to make it a successful dividend payer. I would like to call your stockholders' attention to the following: First. The greatest and most diversified ore bodies to be found in any camp. The great advantage of some of those ores, carrying besides a great mineral value, also a fuel value in quantity sufficient to furnish at least 75 per cent of the fuel needed for the reduction of the ores, the great value of which can only be appreciated by metallurgists. Second. Your great water power, which is the cheapest and best power known. Third. The abundance of timber on your properties for use in your mines and for building purposes. Fourth. Your wonderful achievements in the harnessing of the water power, the building and operation of sawmills, your mine plant and extensive mine developments and your modern smelter with sampling mill and laboratory equipment, now nearly completed. I feel that if your stockholders could appreciate the vast resources, possibiliries and accomplishments of their company they would bend every effort to get it on a producing basis. and I feel positive that the Western Smelting & Power Co. will prove to be one of the greatest dividend payers. In submitting the foregoing, I am, Respectfully yours, JAMES COLLINS, Smelter Manager. GLENGARY MINING CO., Mr. O. H. P. SHELLEY, Miles City, Mont., November 24, 1925. Secretary Beartooth Boosters' Club, Red Lodge, Mont. DEAR SIR: Doctor Gibb just turned over to me a letter from you dated November 21 in regard to the proposed highway from Red Lodge to Cooke City. I am very familiar with the country around Cooke City, as I have spent a great deal of time there in the last four years, and am very much in favor of a road that will not necessitate going through Yellowstone Park. Our property consists of 20 claims and fractions, or approximately 360 acres. We have at present about 30,000 tons of ore blocked out, averaging $12 per ton, and are now working in ore that averages $42 in gold, 2 ounces of silver, 8 per cent copper, and $32 in platinum. By spring we expect to have enough of this latter ore blocked out to keep a 50-ton smelter running continually. We have 205 stockholders in our company who live here in Miles City, and I feel sure that every one of them are interested in having this road made, as it will give us a much better route to our property. I wish you success and will be glad to do all that I can to help. Mr. O. H. P. SHELLEY, Red Lodge, Mont. J. T. SYMONDS, Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS, Beartooth Lake, August 18, 1927. MY DEAR MR. SHELLEY: In reply to your inquiry as to snow conditions on the survey of the proposed Red Lodge-Cooke City Highway, I am pleased to state that so far we have been able to avoid all drifts of sufficient magnitude to cause an early closing and late opening of the highway. In the higher altitudes in the survey we have been able to keep to the southern and western exposures where no drifting occurs. I anticipate no difficulty in avoiding snow for the remainder of the survey. Respectfully yours, H. E. MITCHELL. Senator WALSH of Montana. Now, Mr. Chairman, I feel very keenly about the position of these people who have gone into Cooke City and gathered up money from stockholders all over the country, men like Doctor Tanzer, who have spent their lives endeavoring to develop that property. Í spoke about an old friend of mine whom I encountered working on the road there. He had some prospects, I judge, as he went over the trail, over the road, which must have been at least 1,500 feet above Cooke City. He has spent his life trying to develop that property under the conditions that confront him. Now the Government of the United States blocked their outlet one way by establishing the national park, and blocked their entrance the other way by creating a national forest, and it seems to me it is due the people from the Government of the United States to give them a road so that they can get out and develop the promising property that they have spent their lives in developing. Now I appreciate the position of the two gentlemen from Chicago. I share that. Before the Glacier National Park was created I acquired a piece of property there, and I have got a nice cabin on it. It did not cost me $5,000 by any means, but it is a comfortable summer home, and that property belongs to me. When I began going there, in 1899 or 1900, nearly 30 years ago now, there were no telegraph lines and no telephone lines through there, and we were away out in the forest, away from everywhere. It was just an ideal place to go to get away from business and all diversions. But in the course of time other people got to know about it, and finally it has been opened up to the general public and a fine automobile road now runs past there, and it is not nearly as delightful a place, I must confess, to go to for a summer vacation as in the old days. But it seems to me I would have been very selfish if I had opposed the construction of the road there and had kept out thousands and thousands of people who come and enjoy the scenic beauty in that part of the country. So these people from Chicago, comfortably |