The Placer herald., 1866-11-17
The Mineral Land Bill of Congress

SEC. l. Be it enacted, That the mineral lands of
the public domain, boih surveyed aud unsurveved.
are hereby declared to be free and open to expora
ton and occupation by all citizens Of the United
States, and those who have declared their inten-
ton to become citizens. subject to such regula-
tlons as may be prescribed by law, and subject
also to the local customs rules of miners in the
several mining districts, SO far as the same NAV
not be in conflict with the laws Of the u States.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted That when.
ever any person or association OF persons claim
vein or lode OF quartz or other rock in place
bearing gold, silver, ciEnabar. or copper, having
previously occupied and improved the same ac-
cordlng to the local custom or rules of miners in
the district where the same is situated, and hav-
ing expended in actual labor ard improvements
thereon an amount Of not less than 81 900 and in
regard to whose possession there is no controver-
sy or opposing claim, it shall and may be lawful
| for said claimant or association oi claimants to
file in the local land office diagram Of the same
SO extended laterally or otherwise rs to conform
to thc local laws, customs, and rules of miners
and to enter such tract and receive patent there
for. granting such mine. together with the right
to follow said vein or lode with it's dips angles
| and variations to any depth although it may en-
ter the land adjoining. which land adjoining shall
be sold subject to this condition.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That upon
the Hing OF the diagram as ps divided in the sec
ond section OF this Act. and posting the same in
q
notice of intention to apply for patent. the reg
lster oil the Land Office shall publish notice of
the same in newspaper published nearest to the
location OF said claim and shall also post such
notice in his office Tor the period of 90 days; and
alter Inc expiration OF said period. if no adverse
claim shall have been filed, 1t shall be the duty
OF the Surveyor General upon application of the
party, to survey the premises and make Il pla
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 pay
mcnt to the proper officer OF S5 per acre, togeth.
er with the cost of such survey plat and notice
| and giving satisfactory evidence that said da.
gram and notice have been posted on the claim
during said period of 80 days, the register of the
Land Office shall transmit to the General Land
Once said plat, survey and description, and
patent shall issue for the same thereupon: but
sad plat, survey, or description shall in no case
cover more than one vein or lode and no patent
shall issue for more han one vein or lode, which
shall be expressed in the patent issued
SEC. h And be ii further enacted, That when
such location and entry of mine shall be upon
unsurveyed lands it shall and may be lawful
alter the extension thereto of the public surveys.
to ADJUST the surveys to the limits of the prem.
lses according to the location and possession and
plat aforesaid and the Surveyor General NAV. in
extending the surveys, vary the same from rec
tangnar form to suit the circumstances of the
country and the local rules, laws and customs Of
miners; provided, that no location hereafter
made shall exceed 200 feet in length along The
VEN Tor each locator. with an additional claim
for discovery to the discovcrer of the lode. with
the right to follow such vein to any depth, with
all its dips, variations and angles, together with
u reasonable quantity of surface Cor the conyen.
lent working OF the same as fixed by local rules;
ana provided further, that no person. may make
more than one location on the same lode and not
more than 5000 feet shall be taken in any ono
claim by any association Of persons.
SEC 5. And be it further enacted. That as
further condition of sale, in the absence of ne.
cessIry legislation by Congress, the local Lepis.
latnre of any State or Territory nav provide
rules for working mines, involving easements.
drainage and other necessary means to their
complete development, and those conditions shall
be fully expressed in the patent.
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted. That when.
ever any adverse claimants to any mine located and
claimed as aforesaid shall appear before the an
proval OF the survey, rs provided in the third
section OF this Act, all proceedings shall be stay-
ed until iual settlement and adjudication in
the courts of competent jurisdiction of the RIGHTS
of possession to such claim, when patent NAV
issue rs in other cases.
SEC. Z. And be it further enacted, That the
President OF the United States be, and is hereby
authorized to establish additional land districts
and to appoint the necessary officers under exist
ing laws, wherever he nay deem the same neces.