The Placer herald., 1859-01-29
The Land Sales in February.

The near approach OF the land sales at
Marysville ION the l4th of February is cal
ling the attention of persons in this section
of the country, whose lands are included in
the Presidents proclamation of sale, to the
necessity of taking the requisite steps to pro.
tect their interests, and within the week a
number of affidavits have been made out to
the effect that the lands of Township -
auburn Township and IS north, range s
east, are more remunerative for mining than
for agricultural purposes, having in view the
prevention of their sale. This move is made
by ranch owners as we'll as miners, who de-
sire the the lands to remain open for mining
occupation as heretofore.
The surveys in this county have been
made as far east in the foot hills as the wes-
tern line of the town of Auburn, and all of
the land ordered into market with the ex-
ception of the school sections 16 and SO of
each township. Much of this land is miner
al, and hundreds of miners are now engaged
in working upon it. Very few if any of the
sections were returned by the Surveyors as
mineral, and the Register at Marysvlle, hav
ing no information upon the subject, will Of
fer all the land. for sale at the specified time,
if he does not obtain satisfactory proof of its
being mineral land.
We will not stop to siisg..ss ahe question
whether the U. S. Sueea7s,.s had right to
survey these lands, it is sufficient for present
purposes to know that they have been sur
veyed, are now ordered sold, and that lit
tie trouble on the part of the occupants of
the valuable mining ground will prevent the
sale.
Recent instructions from the General Land
Office at Washington, to the Register at
Marysvle, instruct him that "The term
mineral land" is not to be understood as
applying to all lands on which minerals may
be found, but to those only which contain
such a quantity of the precious metals as to
render mining remunerative, and to raise
them in value above merely agricultural
lands"
10 enable him to withhold lands contained
within the Presidents proclamation the Reg
lister says it will be necessary for him 'to
have proof that the lands contain minerals
or sainess.-This proof may consist of the
atiidavits of respectable witnesses, who are
familiar with the lands, and should be sub
stantialy as follows:
81, A. B., of-county, California, being
duly sworn, depose and say, am we'll ac-
quainted with the following described land,
viz: Section, of township-,north of
range---, east Mount Diablo Base
and Meridian. | have frequently passed
over said land, and have held conversations
in relation to it; and know, from my own
personal knowledge, that the same contains
minerals, or sanes, sufficient to render the
Same valuable and remunerative for mining
purposes, and that the amount of minerals
in said land makes it more valuable for mi
ming than for agricultural purposes"
Sworn to-" etc.
Il, G. d., Notary Public, Tor other off1cer)
aforesa l. hereby certify that | am person
ally acquainted with the above affiant, A. b.
and know him to lie credible person,
man Of pectability, and that fall faith and
credit should be given to the above affidavit
&c. d., Notary Public"
If the affidavit is taken before Justice of
the Peace, the County Clerk must certify
that he is an acting Justice of the Peace in
and for that county.
The absence of official maps from which
persons would be enabled to designate the
sections they would desire to make affidavit
as being more remunerative for mining than
agricultural purposes, may embarrass many
as to the proper course they should pursue.
The difficulty can be obviated by sending to
the Marysvile Land Office, where compe-
tent person will be engaged to give cor
rect map from the plats there, for five dollars
per each township. With such maps, par
ties can designate the sections they wish re-
served from sale, and by filling up form of
the above affidavit, and swearing to the same
before the proper authorities, and send it to
the Register at Marysville, such sections will
not be offered for sale.
Much Of the mineral land in this county.
contained in the Presidents Proclamation,
if offered for sale would probably net be bid
upon, but for certain protection, those in
terested should not neglect taking steps i'm
mediately to prevent the sale of the mineral
lands they may be occupying.
OPPOSITION STEAMSHIP LlNE.-Among
our new advertisements will be found one of