Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-12-10
snIe of the Mineral Lands.

Upon this subject, which will undoubtedly
be question agitated at the present session
Of Congress, the Sacramento Bee says:
When We advocate a sale of the mineral
lands, we advance no more theory, but speak
OF subject Of which we have practical &C
quaintance acquired in the school Of hard
experience.
All the plans we have yet heard mooted for
the sale Of the mineral lands especially have
in view the protection Of the rights OF those
who may be in possession of mining claims at
the time the regulation for sale may go into
effect. A sale, then, could not unfayorably
affect the interests Of those holding claims
under present regulations. 1t would simply
have the effect Of giving them an undisputed
title in fee simple to hold for themselves and
heirs forever property which they can only
hold, under present rules, while they are in
actual possession, and which they are now
liable at any moment to forfeit by unavoidable
absence, occasioned by sickness, accident, or
other causes. A sale of the mineral lands
would benefit the miner in possession by CIV
ing him additional security and the very best
title to his property. We opine that very few,
if any, energetic practical miners would OBJ
jectto plan that is to give them additional
security for claims they have obtained by
their industry and energy. So far as our ac-
quaintancc extends, and it is extensive, prac-
teal miners Of the class referred to, are gen.
orally in favor of the sale of the mineral lands
in limited quantities. Those miners belong
ing to the class known as Jumpers" who
are ever hanging around watching for chances
to avail themselves of the industry Of others,
are the persons from whom come the greatest
opposition to a sale of the mines.
II quartz mining companies could, on pay
ment Of a small sum, obtain from the Govern
ment fee simple title to their lands, the
quartz mining interest Of the State would be
enhanced four-fold. Capitalists would then
have security for investing their money in
developing lodges, and practical miners wish
ing to dispose Of their claims could sell for
much larger sum than they can now.
1t is well known that comparatively few
are possessed of the capital necessary to
thoroughly open quartz mines and to erect
machinery for extracting the gold. Under
present rules, when they discover such a
mine, in nineteen cases out OF twenty they
can do nothing with it. They cannot workit
to advantage, and if they leave it for the pur-
pose of proceeding to San Francisco to inter-
est capitalists in it, the chances are ten to one
that somebody will jump it during their alb
property, thousands Of the most promising
quartz lodges in the State are allowed to re-
main unproductive. Under law giving a
fee simple title to the discoveries of quartz
ledge for certain number Of feet, and Suf-
ficient ground adjacent to the ledge to enable
them to work it, capital would become inter-
ested in our mines, they would be more rap
idly developed, materially increase the pro-
ducts Of the States, and greatly enhance the
prosperity Of the miner by giving him title
to his property and an interest in the country,
as well as add to the prosperity and perma-
hence of all towns in the mining region by
surrounding them with steady and perma-
nent population.
OF course it would not be advisable to sell
the mineral lands in large sized tracts neither
would it be good policy to sell them all at
once in tracts Of any size. Rules regarding
the extent of claims, similar to those now in
vogue, should be established; land offices
should be opened in the mining districts, and
the lands thrown open to location-restricting
each locator to certain amount and provi-
ding for the protection Of those already hold
ing claims.
Such system would benefit the miner by
giving him greater security; would benefit the
State and mining counties by giving them
more permanent and industrious population,
and by adding to the value of taxable proper
ty. 1t is difficult to see how the system, if
rightfully managed, could injure any one.
The present system is injurious to nearly all
beneficial to none except Jumpers" I'm
der il a man having a valuable claim, OBJ
tanned at much expenditure Of money and
labor, which he cannot work owing to an
excess or want Of water, must lay BY and
watch it at great expense to prevent it being
jumped. 1t now costs a man more to hold a
claim than he would have to pay for clear
title and for taxes on his property-and after
all his expense and trouble he is left without
any real security for his property.
Most Of those who oppose sale Of the
mineral lands appear. to be actuated by
mistaken spirit Of demogogueism which in
duces them to pander to what they erron-
eously suppose to be the wishes Of large
portion of the miners who have votes. 1t is
high time this spirit was laid aside, and that
the subject should be handled with intelli-
gcuce and desire to advance the true inter-
ests of the State and the people at large.