Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-04-13
The Government and the Mineral
Lands.

The Government ana the Mlnefal
Lands.
"Castine," the Washington correspondent
of the Sacramento Union, writing under date
of March 18th, says:
1t is apparent that there is strong desire on
the pars of the Interior Department to procure
such legislation by Congress a. shall result in an
increase of the public revenIe from the gold sill
Yer and copper mines of the country. The L. ).
General Land Office has entertained an exagge-
rated notion of the proftableness of the mines OF
the western slope OF the Rocky Mountains, and
seems to have On irrepressibe desire to inaugu-
rate a system which shall make some portion Of
this supposed great yield pay something toward
the decreasing of the burdens OF the war; conse-
uuently nobody here is surprised that the Land
Office should suggest plan for taxing the mines,
of which the following memoranda are the prin-
cipal features:
First-Au mines and minerals upon the public
domain shall be held to be the property Of the
nation open to the occupation OF all loyal clti'
zens subject 10 such regulations, restrictions and
dues az shall be prescribed BY law, and sanction
cd by local usage, not in conflict with the laws
and executive regulations made in pursuance
thereof
Srcond-The miners laws and regulations of
the several mining districts NO far as they are not
incompatible with the United States laws or ex'
ecutive regulations, shall be recognized, subject,
however to modification by subsequent legisla'
ton Il shall be a personal ofenSe TO personate
another or a supposed individual under license
or permit
Third-The discDverer of any mine, placer or
lead shall be entitled to hold the same, subject to
the usual regulations as to occupancy and i'm
provemeut and the discoverer may claim or pre-.
erpt one additional claim in the same district to
the extent and upon the terms allowed TO other
miners But all others shall be restricted to one
claim each of the same kind, until that shall be
worked out or abandoned by REIMBURSEMENT upon
the record and any miner may hold one hill, one
fat one bar or river bed, and one quartz claim or
lead in the same district provided each shall be
worked in good faith in its proper season, within
each year. as may be prescribed by the local min
ng laws of the proper district or by any law OF
Congress or executive regulation made in pursu
ance thereof
Fourth-A declaratory statement may be filed
upou any quartz copper ore or silver lead to the
extent allowed by the local mining law Of the dis
trict upon the payment of IS, for the use OF the
United States which proceeding shall entitle the
claimant to hold such claim for one year, for the
purpose of testing its value a mining location;
but at the expiration of the year the right Of oc-
cupaucy 10 such claim shall cease and be forfeited
unless the claimant shall file proof Of occupancy
and Improvement, and his declaration permanent
Iy to work said claim As mine, and shall pay
for the use Of the United States. the sum OF one
dollar per foot for permanent license or permit,
which license or permit shall stipulate for the
payment of like sum of one dollar foot annual
iy thereafter upon failure Of which payment Tor
thirty DAYS all right to such claim shall be for
feitrd to the United States.
Fifth-The same privilege Of presumption upon
placer claims or other than quartz or ore leads,
shall be granted but the effect of the declaratory
statement shall be limited to thirty days. upon
the expiration of which the permanent permit or
license shall be taken out upon proof OF occupan'
cv, and the payment Of twenty-five dollars, to be
renewed annually by the payment OF ike sum-
in default of which forfeiture shall ensue.
Sixth-The product Of all mines shall be sub
Iect to such monthly, quarterly or annual tax or
percentage upon the Propuct as shall be pre-
seribed by law.
This sketch has been furnished by tho Land
Office, or Interior Department, rather, to each OF
the delegates from Territories which have mineral
lands lying within their confines There appears
to be very general disapproval of this plan by
the members of Congress who represent the min
eral interests Of the country; and should there
| be bill introduced in Congress to embody the
proportions contained in the above memoran.
| dunn il will meet with the united opposition Of
| California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Washington
| and Colorado congressman. II Is generally con-
| eeded by our people that the mines have been
| protitably and successfully worked without any
| special legislation; and, though reasonable tax
or realty would not be objected to- 1t Is not likely
that any chpropoStion as the above will pass
There need be no uneaSiness on that score.