Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-01-20
SALE OF THE MINES.

GreenOacAS, foBEyfo5'
SALE OF THE MINES.
Upon this subject, which is at present
a very general theme of discussion in
California, the Nevada Gazette says:
We observe that those loyal papers
which oppose the transfer of the title to
the mineral lands from the Government
to the miners, take it for granted that the
mines, if sold at all. will be subjected to
appraisement, and sold at their appraised
value, whatever that may be; or perhaps,
put up at public auction to the competl-
lion of bidders. We have no reason to
believe that any law passed by Congress
providing for the sale of the mineral lands
will be made to operate in such manner.
The injustice of such mode of sale would
be manifest to any understanding. 1t is
true that the public agricultural lands
have in frequent instances been exposed
for sale to the highest bidder, and in some
cases this mode of sale has worked ap-
parent wrong to squatters upon such
lands who were unable to enter into COM
petition with weather. bidders. But in
those cases the squatters knew at first that
they were trespassers, and that the sale
of the lands which they occupied illegally
was inevitable. They took their chances
of being able to purchase the lands when
they should come into market; and though
when compelled to surrender their homes
and improvements to Others they keenly
felt the hardship. they could not complain
that they had been actually wronged-
especially as the value of their improve
ments were added to the price OF the
lands, and they eventually received it.
But the circumstances surrounding the
location Of the mineral lands by individ-
uals are entirely different from those con-
nected with squatting on the agricultural
lands. In the case of the miners the Gov
eminent has for many years recognized
some degree of right in the miners to their
claims right based probably upon the
facts of discovery and development. Any
law providing for the sale of the mines
which would ignore this right, so long
conceded, would unQuestionably be un-
just and that to an into'erable degree.
TIE injustice would be so manifest and
fragrant, that,we wrong our Government
BY the mere suspicion that it contemplates
such measure. We are all aware-some
of us painfully so-that mining is at best
hazardous enterprise, and that the
golden harvests of fortune that reward
few lucky delivers in the bowels OF the
earth are rare and far between. Occa-
sionally they are obtained with but little
expenditure and less exertion; but in the
majority of cases successful miners are
those who have spent years Of hardship,
peril, toll and penury, and encountered
dangers, privations, and losses innumer-
able in exploring and prospecting; or,
perhaps, those who have risked their all
in mining operations, knowing that the
chances were ten to one against their ever
receiving any return. Any ordinary busi-
ness, carefully conducted, is more certain
to pay than mining, and generally quite
as remunerative as successful mining.
We believe. however, for reasons here
tofore given, that it would be better for
the miners to receive title to the mines
for nominal consideration. We sketch
here some rude outlines of system OF
sale of the mineral lands which we think
would be suitable to the case and agree
able to all parties concerned:
l. Let Mineral Land Offices be estab-
lished at convenient points in the mining
districts, and system of survey Of the
mineral lands be adopted suited to the re-
quirements Of the country, and which will
respect the present lines Of claimants I'M
der district mining laws. '+..
2. All claimants Of mineral lands, pre-
sent or prospective, to be required to give
notice within suitable time Of their in
tention TO hold such lands, and thereupon
be allowed convenient period. not ex.
ceeding six months in the case of mineral
lodges, and three months in the case of
placer or hydraulic d:ggings, in which to
pay nominal price per foot, yard or rod,
and receive a clear title of their claims.
8. In case of the failure of the claimant
to complete the purchase Of his claim, then
1t. shall revert to the Government, and
shall be put up at public auction and sold
to the highest bidder, but not otherwise
except, .E9r ',tA
4. In the cases of unnaturalized aliens
and persons of known dibloyalty to the
Government, who shall not be permitted
to retain possession of any mines which
they may now hold. or to take possession
Of any portion of the mineral lands here
after, upon any consideration whatever,
so long as the title to such lands remains
in the Government.
s. Special privileges and advantages to
be granted to prospectors.
We believe that these rude outlines
might be developed into . law which
would operate equally and justly. Let
US hear from our loyal contemporaries upon
the subject. 49,