Mr. Banks. It is an under-estimate to that amount.

Mr. Sutro. It is an underestimate absolutely, and it makes an unfavorable showing as regards the comparative working of the tunnel. It is my endeavor to show that these people here who have made these figures have not told the whole truth; they have withheld certain facts which are highly important to know; and they can only be brought out by having these gentlemen state, of their own knowledge, what they know of the accuracy of these figures, and what we can arrive at by examining the official reports which are made from year to year to Congress by the Commissioner on the mineral resources of the country.

Mr. Negley. Mr. Chairman, right here I wouldlike to ask one question of General Foster.

Mr. Waldron. Certainly.

Mr. Negley. During your investigations there, Mr. Foster, did you discover any feeling of antagonism among the owners of these properties to the projected tunnel?

Mr. Foster. Yes, sir; decidedly.


Q. My inquiry arose from the fact, that miners in our coal mines are almost invariably opposed to any innnovation or new custom in the old established rules of mining?

A. Now that you have mentioned that, I will say the miners, as far as I could get information from prominent men, seemed to be in favor of the tunnel. I believe the Miners’ Union is in favor of the tunnel.

Q. Did they give you their reasons? A. No; they had no reason that I knew of. They had their preferences, though.


Mr. Sutro. General, do you know who are opposed to the tunnel, or at least who are charged with being opposed to it over there by these people you speak of? Who is at the bottom of it?

Mr. Foster. If you want a straightforward answer, I would say that the property-owners in Virginia City, those that have money invested in the mills around there, the Bank of California, through its agent, and the railroad company.

Q. May I ask you who the owners of the railroad are, as far as you know: whether it is owned by the Bank of California or its men?

A. I don’t know who the owners are.