The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-08-18

The Mineral Land Bill of Congress-
| The following despatch to the Union from
Senator Comes. viii expIain Itself: 49,
WASHINGTON July %. 1866. !
lReceived at Sacramento July 2a-l0:l0 A. MOI
| The Mining bill has gone threngh both Houses
as it passed the Senate assJoHN CoNNEss.
The following is the bill as it passed the
House. We quote from~the Washington
G0bs:1 g .Ihl4 Il)
SECTION L. That the mineral lands OF the pub
lie domain. both surveyed and unsurveyed. are
ton and occupation nv all citizens of the United
States, and those who have dc clared their lnten-
ton to become citizens. snbectto such regulations
las may he prescribed by law and subject also 10
the local custon or rules of miners in the several
mining districts. so far as the same may not DE IN
conflict with the laws of the United States.
SFC 2. And be it further enacted, That when
ever any person or association of persons claim q
vein or lode of quartz or other rock in place,
bearing gold. silver, cinnabar, or copper, having
previously occupied and improved the same &C
cording to the local custom or rules of miners IN
the district where the same is situated and having
expended in actual labor and improvements there
on an amount of not less than ST 900, and inare
gard to whose possession there is no controversy
or opposing claim, it shall and may be lawful for
said claim ant or association of claimants to file in
the local land office diagram of the same so ex-
tended lateraily or otherwise to conform to the
local laws, customs. and rules of miners, and to
enter such tract and receive a patent therefor,
granting such mine, together with the right 10
follow said vein or lode with Its dips angles. nd
variations to any depth. although it may enter the
land adjoining, which land adjoining shall be sold
subject to this condition. faqrI4 M2R# 4
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted. That upon
the fling of The diagram as provided in the second
eeetonTof thisAct: and posting Che same in CON
spicu0us place on the claim. together with no.
tice OF intention to apply for patent the register
of the Land Office shall publish notice OF the
same in newspaper published nearest to the 10
cation of said claim and shall also most such no
tices in his Office for the period of 80 DAYS: and
after the expiration of said period if no adverse
claim shall have been filed, it shall be the DUTY of
the. Surveyor General. upon application of the
party, to survey the premises and make d plat
thereof endorsed with his approval. designating
the number and description of the location. the
value of the labor and improvements. and the
character of the vein exposed and upon the
payment to the proper officer of IS per acre. to-
gether with the cost of such survey plat and no.
tee. and giving satisfactory evidence that said
diagram and notice have been posted on the
claim during sald period OF 80 days, the Register
Of the Land Once shall transmit to the General
Land office said plat. survey and description, and
o patent shall issue for the same therenpon but
said plat, survey, or description shall In no case
cover more than one vein or lode, and no patent
shall issue for more than one vein or lode, which
shall be expressed in the patent issued.
SEC. 4, And be 1t further enacted, That when
such location and entry of mine shall be uponI
lands. it shall and may be lawfuI, af |
ter the extension thereto of the public surveys, to
adjust the surveys to the limits Of the premises
to the location and possession and plat
aforesaid: and the Surveyor General may, In ex-l
tending the surveys, vary the same from rectan.
gulaF form 70 SUIT the circumstances OF the eoun-l
try and the local rules, laws and customs Of |
miners provided. that no location hereafter made
shall exceed 200 feet in length along the vein for
each locator. with an additional claim for dIscoy>
cry to the dscoverer of the lode with the right
10 follow such vein to any depth. with all It's Dips
and angles. together with reasonable
quantity OF surface for the convenient working Of
the same a. fixed by local rules and provided
'urther, that no person may make more than one
location on the same lode, and not moro than
1000 feet shall be taken in any one claim by any
of persons. $50 as.E
SEQ. 5. And be it further enacted, That the
President of the United States be- and is hereby,
to establish additional land districts
md ITO appoint the necessary officers under exist
ng laws, wherever he may deem the same neces-l
;ary for the public convenience in executing the
provisions of this act
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That when
ever adverse claimants to 0ny mine located and
claimed as aforesaid, shall appear before the ap-
prevail of the survey, as provided in the third sec
Jon OF this Act, all proceedings shall be stayed
Until final settlement and adjudication in the
courts of competent jurisdiction of the rights of
possession to such claim, when patent may issue
Is in other cases.. ~
Sec Z. And be it further enacted, That wner
aver prior to the passage of this act upon the
lands heretofore designated as mineral lands
which have been excluded from survey and sale,
here have been homesteads made by citizens of
he United States, or persons who nave declared
heir intention to become citizens, which home
steads have been made, improved and used for
agricultural purposes, and upon which there have
1een no valuable mines of gold, silver, cinabar or
copper discovered, and which are properly agri-
cultural lands. the said settlers or owners of such
lomesteads shall have a right of pre-emption
hereto, and shall be entitled to purchase the same
1t the price OF 81 Is per acre and in quantity not
% exceed 100 acres, or said parties may avail
themselves of the provisions of the act Of Congress
approved May 20, 1862, entitled "An act tosecure
to actual settlers on the public do
main" and acts ameDdatory thereof. ss5a
SEC. s. And be it further enacted, That upon
he survey ofthe lands aforesaid, the Secretary of
he Interior may designate and set apart such por-
ions of the said lands as are clearly agricultural
ands, which lands shall thereafter be subject to
IRE emption and sale as other lands of the United
States and subject to all the laws and regulations
lpDlicable to Tie same.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted That when.
'ver by priority Of possession, rights to the use
# water for mining, agricultural, manufacturing,
n other purposes, have vested and accrued, and
he same are recognized and acknowledged by the
ocaI customs, laws and the decisions of courts the
,ossessors and owners of such vested rights shall
De maintained and protected in the same; and the