2004-03-11_REVISION - M1985029 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 5, 2004 Page 2. 1. ACCESS ROAD. In April of 1985 this writer communicated to a prospective Leassee of the Alma Placer (Panhandle Drilling Co.) regarding certain concerns of the Gumaer owners regarding that company's projected activities at and on U.S. Forest Service Road #441. (This communication and map was sent to the Board and it remains in the Board's file). This writer's concern today and for the immediate future remains as expressed in that 1985 communication: reasonable and continued access on #441 as we, the Gumaer owners, and many others have for decades. Access road #441 has been designated as 'access #3' on the Mine Plan Map C-2. We have noted, however, that while map C-2 did close off ("#441/ access #3') but did allow for the construction of another access road on the far eastern edge of the project - and quite reasonably close to old '#441/access #3" - then re-connects to '441' to the north. We are most appreciative of that alternate access road (access #5; C-2). Unfortunately, the alternate access #5 has been completely eliminated on the Final Land Use Map F-2. Therefore, the Gumaer owners - and we speak for no one but our- selves - request the Board to reconsider blanket acceptance of any developer's final plans to eradicate old '#441' - now, access #3. Quite acceptable to the Gumaer owners would be a final use plan with 'new alternate access #5' as a permanent use road on the eastern peripheral of the entire project. It would be most unreasonable - not to mention unconscionable - to require a land owner to access his lands from miles to the east after establishing his uninterrupted and historical use much, much nearer his lands. 2. COLUMBIA DITCH. (aka: Alma Placer Ditch) In this writer's 1985 letter to Panhandle Drilling the Gumaer owners noted that the Columbia Ditch was flooding the western portions of the Gumaer Placer. We also recognized that the ditch had inherent rights to remain at its present location as it coursed through the Gumaer Placer but, impliedly, the Ditch did not have the inherent right to damage the adjacent ground of another. For whatever reasons the Panhandle Co. removed themselves early on from the area. In recent years, however, a gold mining company and then a sand and gravel company began working on the Alma Placer and the Columbia Ditch was activated. The resultant damage to the Gumaer lands from ditch seepage has been significant. Specifically, an old and abandoned house/ assay-lab completely collapsed due to the torquing and shift^