Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-02-01

We are informed by a gentleman of I'M
questioned veracity that within few weeks
a reprehensible practice has been set in mo-
ton in the vicinity of American Flat, which
demands the immediate and determined ac-
ton of the owners Of 6ona fde mining claims
in that section to put stop to. We refer 70
the locating Of bogus or wildcat ciaimS' oy
persons from Virginia and other places
The nsodus operaadi, as it is described 70 US
is for persons to go into that neighoorhood'
and 10 locate a claim any'chere, no matter
whether the same ground is already staked
of recorded and claimed by other parties or
mn, One instance, especially, We arc in
formed Of, where four different claims are
placed over one and the same ledge-not-
wi,hstanding fifth company have the oldest
location. Another rIGse is practiced, which
is to hunt up old prospect holes, locate
claim, and stoutly declare that the " loca-
tors" were the parties who made the hole in
the ground, dating hack into the past, one,
two, three, and even four years, and even be-
fore the parties have been known to tread
the soil Of Washoei Until quite recently,
American Flat-which is the southern part
of Gold Hill District-had not attracted
great deal of attention but recent develop
meuts have demonstrated that the lodges in
that vicinity are continuation of the silver
belt that runs through Virginia and Gold
Hill, and which are likely to prove just as
rich any mines yet discovered. Hence, there
seems to exist sort of crazy desire to get
feet" in that neighborhood by either fair
or foul mcans-and the plan adopted above
is evidently one of the tricks resorted to.
We make no charges direct against any
"locators," but unless the real owners Of min
ing claims in that vicinity adopt some strin-
gent laws, they having the power to do so,
they will nearly all find themselves engulphed
in the meshes of the law as practiced in the
civil courts. Now IS THE TINE TO NIP THIS
THING IN THE BUD. The way to do it is for
the miners Of that vicinity, or the whole dis
trics If they deem it best, to call public
meeting of practical miners and owners Of
mines, to adopt stringent regulations regard
ing the location Of all claims; to require all
mines to be well staked of and better defined
than they are now; to elect practical sur
yeyor, man of unimpcachable integrity, who
shall do the work at each Company's expense,
whose survey thus made shall be the only do
cation" which shall be entitled to go upon the
district records, aud who will take care not to
locate ''feet" twice upon the same premises.
The difficulties which already exist can, per-
haps, be settled without much trouble; but
now is the time to put stopto the mountain
of ''law and lawing" which must be the inev-
table result to all persons having an interest
in mining property on American Flat, which
promises, if these troubles are forestalled, to
be one Of the richest portions Of Storey coun-
ty. We repeat, now is the time-thc miners
arc the men to take the matter in hand. We
make these suggestions in kindly spirit, and
whether the persons most interested will act
promptly to avoid the ''breakers" ahead Of
them, remains to be seen. We arc honest,
and we think we are right, in calling their at
tention to a matter of such vital importance
to them, and the fair fame Of Gold Hill Dis
trict