Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-12-16
sale Of the Mineral lands.

By the report Of the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury, as indicated by such portions as are IN
our Geographic dispatches to-day, we see that
Il is the design Of the Government to raise
revenue from the mineral lands. The Secre-
tary asks that some means may be adopted
TO make them useful to Government. This
is very delicate subject, and one OF which
we Of the mining countries are exceedingly
Jealous. We fear 10 trust 1t to the legislators
Of the East, and, with the exception OF Con-
ness of California, doubt the ability OF the
Congressman Of the Pacific Coast to master
the subject. Eastern people have erroneous
and vague ideas Of mineral land and the dis
tribution of mineral wealth and the means
and profits of mining. The Oregon members
are in the same category as those OF the East,
with the addition of coming from the Valley
of the Willamette where a prejudice prevails
against mining. The California members,
although from State that is prominent and
wealthy BY means of its mines, are not
miners, and some at least belong to sections
who consider the mining interest Of that State
as overbearing and as having imposed undue
burthens upon other interests. The member
so far, from Nevada is Harry Worthington,
brilliant, but cratic. Had he ever studied
the subject, he has the ability to comprehend,
and the faculty Of expression, but we doubt
his ever having paid the question the atten-
ton il deserves. r.-...
Should the Congressman Of the East have
an, doubt of their ability, or q knowledge OF
the difficulties of legislating on the subject,
we think they would let it rest. But our
country is in need OF all the revenue it is
possible to raise, and it is necessary to do
something with the rich public mineral lands.
To this we assent willingly, but the manner
in which it shall be done we are very partlcu-
lar. Senator CONFESS, Of California, who ap-
pears to be the only one who understands the
question, last session introduced bill pro-
viding for the sale of the mineral lands,
which will be acted upon early the present
session. The bill is not perfect nor positive,
but leaves much to the Legislatures Of the
different States. We believe it would be for
the best interest Of the miner, the State and
the General Government to sell the mineral
lands, but before law authorizing it should
be passed Committee Of members Of Con-
press, themselves scientific men, or accom-
panied BY such, should make thorough ex-
animation of such lands in order that they
NAV act intelligently.
The bill Of Senator CONFESS provides that
when the Legislature of State asks for the
survey and sale of mineral lands, the Secre-
tary Of the Interior shall order the Surveyor
to subdivide such lands into sections, quar-
tiers, sixteenths, ETC., and into lots of ten and
five acres each, and such lesser fractions Of
section as the Secretary may direct. Accor-
ding to all land tenure heretofore adopted, the
owner Of the Superficial area has held, as
California Judge forcibly expressed, from
hell below to heaven above, in perpendicular
lines. This condition would not answer where
mineral veins lie at an angle from the per,
pendicular. It would answer in placers, and
perpendicular veins, or in beds OF coal and
salt. It may be said that it answers well on
the Mariposa estate, but that is nc, five or ten
acre plat In this district, although a claim
may not cover at the surface one acre, it
would require the purchase Of several hun
dred acres to include it all to practicable
depth, and those several hundred acres would
include the upper portions Of many mining
claims. Therefore, a sale Of mineral lands
must be different from the sale Of other lands,
| at least upon those already occupied. Upon
lands yet unoccupied, it might be different,
and no injury result. As to raising reve-
nue. from the mines by royalty, we should
raise our earnest protest Such course
would be impolitic and ruInous. We say; sell
the mines, but be careful Of the manner.--R
r. RereiIls. .Etssas