Arizona miner., 1866-09-26
rnr MINING LAW OF coNGREss.

have also issued it on sliPS for distribution among our mining population. Persons wish | ing copies can obtain them at this office free of charge.
 No Act of Congress ever passed has SO d. rectly and q c l. interested the people oi the mineral bearing State, and Territories, and in view of the conflicting ideas and pre- iudiccs and the ignorance of many members of Congress on all that pertains to the Pacli- ! i, Coast 1t is remarkably sensible and ia vorable measure. q lt of course has it's defects, but as basis of legislation it is highly promising, and wip doubtless lead to an unex eptionable las 1" Sufficient time has elapsed, says the san Francisco Ballsiip. since the passage of tbe bill by Congress. to enable the journals pub lished in the mining regions of California and Nevada Co scan its provisions and to speculate upon its probable workings. We have not yet seen a paper which expresses views nm friendly to the measure. Such . fact would seem to indicate a marked revolution of opin ion, when we remember bow vehemently the mining communities have always opposed any departure from negative policy but the truth is that the op osition Co change was inspired mainly by an apprehension that no system could be devised for the division and sale of mineral lands which would not check the free exploration and give sPecula- ! tive capitalists the advantage of industrious | poor men. So strong was the prejudice cX- ! cited by this apprehension that the poiii- clans and journals of the mining regions, with ] few exceptions, found it easier to denounce than to discuss the proposed reform in the tenure of mining property, and timidiy sc- corded with popular opinion which 1t was thought useless if not dangerous to resist. If there is now no unfriendly criticism of the mineral land bill, it is due to the fact that 1t conserves all that is best in the system created by miners themselves, and saves all vested rights under that system, while offer ing a secure title to all who desire 1t at a merely nominal Cost Further than this. it ! Is true of this measure, as of all other radical reforms, that opposition ceases co-snstSutan- eously with its enactment into law. Men rbsss hostility when the voice of the maiori- ! ty has transferred an idea from the arena ot dispute Co the statute books, II only 10 await an illustration of it's practical workings But we are glad to observe that the new mining law of Congress meets with more positive reception and is, in majority of cases, very cordially, if sometimes only briefly, com
 inended.n
 As specimen of the favorable comment, of interior (Cal) journals we append thes' remarks fro.a the Placer Henald, one of th, oldest mining papers in the State:
 We hail the passage Of this bill as the dawr oi new era in quartz mining IL will inspir confidence and zeal. where before it has beet
 wanting The prospec;or will kusw now that i his researches result in the discovery of a goo'
 fn ne, there is a way provided by which it can II
 tact become his own and that with a title no lOn
 ger dependent upon arbitrary local customs, h Will have len chances where he has one now (,
 obtain the encouragement and assistance oi ctpi
 taL With an experience Of residence in th' mining districts, dating hack "tO the early day
 ot California; we have seen the flush times Of pia
 cer mining, when our towns sprung up like mag ic when every rayine and gnlch the scene O active industry and when apparent pr0spcritj
 was In every ayennc Of bnsiness. We have alsC seen the reaction in deserted mining camps. ian
 puishing towns, depreciated prOperiy, and lOss O
 population. This is ncf the exPeTIence of on'
 section. but Is applicable to the whole mining re
 zion of California Surface mining never has an,
 nCvcr will give pcrtaaaenfe and prosperity to anl
 mining country. In yehI mining can hay
 something enduring Hat iacites capital, popula
 lion and enterprise This bill of Congress is
 Insans 70 m end % desirable and in the belle
 that from it sii come stability and method in ih
 real business Of mining, we regard t az mcasur
 fraught with the most bencheent effects to ou State"
 As our readers will all peruse the bill wit care we will not call attention to it's differer sections more than to the first and las which confirm past local legislation, and al thorize the same hereafter. This will pr vent confusion, and be highly acc ptable U our miners. It will probably lead to ti
 modification of the present Territorial law, not to its repeal as a whole. Great credit due 10 the congressional delegation from q
 Pacific Coast for the unity and pertinaci " with which they fought for generous al ie practicable bill. When we remember tn y they are a minority too much praise cam 7, he given them for their efforts. Goy-rn
 Goodwin writes in glowing terms of |
 measure as passed and the following xtrac
 from his latest letter show how faithful m has been 10 the interests of bis constituent le |" l think il is ilc greatest tFiumpk we cou n possibly have. It Is not by any means peri,
 law, hut it is better tiaa had any Teoson Jn expect. lt has been carried through only by ny most persistent personal effort. We have , worked al hte lime to accomplish this result. have no dOubt if mad returned to Arizona COT ed have secured a second election, but would t rather have the satisfaction O. having assisted " passing this bill. ] could not do my constitucI l,) so much service if 1 were tO Ice twenty years n. Congress. You cannot say too much in favor
 this bill and this Legislation. lt Is the best Uni or taat could be passed. lt establishes the policy nd the government, it defeats Julians bill it legal es all our titles, and provides ways and means i~ acquiring absolute titles. You will see that
 owner, or, ii they unite, the owners must spe one thousand dollars on a vein before they he acquire an absolute title. Now when they W. . a title from the United States they can afford 'P' do that. But they need not do this unless n sI. I.g.lI