The Placer herald., 1865-01-28
THE MINERAL LANDS.

at length upon the suDJecC OF mlHeral lanuS, ana
while protesting strongly against the sale of
these lands adopts The ideas Of the Secretary of
the Interior. and argues strongly that they should
be taxed for the purposes of National revenue.
The attention of our mining readers is called to
the following extracts from the report. He says:
But the material and moral prosperity and adj
vancement of this Government and people will
be best promoted by the adoption OF such
course with regard to the mineral wealth OF the
public domain as shall secure the largest product
with the most equitable distribution among our
own people land at the same time subject this in
tercst to an equitable proportion OF the public
burdens with which the people and treasury are
charged
1t is believed that these desirable, nay, indis-
pensable objects. will be best secured by retain
| ing the propretorship of the mines in the whole
people, charging them with reasonable percent
age upon product, and making the right OF oc-
cupancy dependent upon the steady exercise OF
diligence and good faith in working them. When
these conditions fail beyond reasonable time and
without adequate cause the right TO occupy
should cease, and the ground be open TO other
citizens who will give assurance to boua hde oc-
cupation. thus securing to the nation the accumu-
laion Of wealth, to themselves adequate reward,
and to the national treasury Its just proportion
OF the product.
BY such policy The expenses of survey will
be substantially obviatcd; no portion OF the pub
lie domain will pass from the possession of the
nation with insufficient compensaion-nor for
more than its actual value; all will share justly
the national liabilities, and the whole will be open
to all our people; ailording these distant re-
gons shall be reached by ready means OF inter
communication now in progress of construction,
Il vast and solid capital, sufficient for the necessi-
ties of the people. and for the control and man
agement OF the world commerce which must ere
long center upon our shores.
When the nation is weighed down with tnan-
cial obligations, with pressing necessity for con
stant supplies of the precious metals, the real
representatives of value and currency of the
world, there is no subject OF civil affairs which
addresses itself with more force at this time to
the attention OF statesmen than the establishment
by law of system which, whilst it shall do just.
ice 10 the interests and equities OF individuals
under existing mining usages and customs, shall
ut the same time come, TO some extent ut least,
in aid OF the public treasury. The undoubtcd
proprietary title to these mines is in the United
States. For fourteen years they have been left
open without tallaee, and during that period
hundreds OF millions have been extracted and
carried away by individuals and capitalists.
To sell such interests and divert the Govern
mcnt ot the ultimate title would be to realize the
force and folly in the moral of the great iabulist
wherein the regular daily golden supply was Civ
| en- up in the vain hope OF graspng at once large
/ yet unknown wealth. resulting in the penalty of
/ total loss and disappointment. The sale OF these
I luttIPSl5 WOuiu Dc W tNCudiSc INC ItuuDIIC, u
liberal generous, benlcent proprietor, for the
! sharp, remolseless capitalist, to wiring from the
/ l1boring classes enormous profits. Il would, III
| fact, be policy contradcted by the cnli ghtened
| systems OF Europe, and that which has existed
! under other sovereg gntics on this continent aud
/ in the Island oil Cuba for more than three hun
! drcd years.
/ Discarding, then, all theories which would
wrest from our Government the lee in the mines
and minerals what is the course which sound pol
icy dictates for the benefit Of our people unuivi
/ dedly and the country at largc? Is it to allow
these vast in tcrests to pass exempt from any
/ trbutiOn in aid OF the public finances when all
the other interests Of our people are reached by
| the taxing power to uphold the republic? The
Judgment OF the General Land Office is against
such proposition.
| On the other hand the obvious course to be
pursued is TO make these pubic interests reason
ably contribute, like all other interests to sustain
| Government This may be done by system so
! liberal to the mining interest as scarcely to be
| telt by tin TACT, giving the indemnity which
will he found in The security and certainty to
! them in obtaining the usuiluct
/ To thi, cnd legislation is recommended open
! ing the miuc~ and minerals Of the public domain
/ the property of the nation, to the occupancy Of
all loyal citizens subject, as far as compatible
/ with moderate seignongc, to existing customs
aud uSages, cOnceaing to the diScoycrer, for q
small sum. right to one mine, placer or lead
with pre- cinptve right, in the same district
to an additional claim, both to be held for the
! term OF one year, Tor testing the value Where
found nOn-yeldiug, nothing is paid by claimant
| but the inCOnoidcrabG fee in the first instance
which gave him security Tor making the desired
| test; but whore found profitable, TO be perma-
ncntly secured, or secured Just as long as the
claimant may choose to work the premises, by
the payment. at reasonable rates, OF specific
sum pei foot, with the percentage upon product
| which may be prescribed by law, and forfeiture
within period oil grace after the lapse OF each
successive year, and thereafter, in default OF pay
ment the mine to be open to any other appli-
! cant. 1t is recommended, in this connection, that
! it shall be the duty Of the collector or deputy
collector of internal revenue nearest the proper
mining district to receive and account for all
moneys paid for the use Of the United States
under the suggested system of tallage, the iAond
OF such officer TO cover the responsibility, whilst
the internal revenue assessor or assistant assessor
| for such mining district shall make returns to the
| collector and General Land Office OF the names
| of all persons working mines within his jurisdic
| ton, with specific designations as to localities.
| The machinery in detail would require the set
| ting apart and mapping Of the several mining
districts, and it is believed, would. with care in
the details cf legislation, be made completely
effective with the aid OF existing civil officers of
| the United States and without additional eX-
! pense TO the treasury.
GEL he attention of readers is called to
an extract from the report Of the Commits
sioner Of the General Land Office, in another
column. 1t is evident from this that it is the
design Of the Administration, if The consent
of Congress can be obtained, to lax miners
for the privilege Of occupying mining ground,
as well as per centage Of the proceeds.
To do this corps Of additional collectors
will be required who would be as regular in
attendance upon white miners, as Our county
collectors now are upon Cinnamon.
There is fixed determination to raise a
large revenues sfrom the mines of the Pacific
coast, and people may as well familiarize
themselves to the burden.
IL Z. l.. =. l. /