The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-09-15
The Congressional Mining Law.


ed 6y Congress is not receiving that popu
Iarity which its merits deserve and that pol
iticians are using the law for political pur.
poses, either for or against it, as their inter.
ests are effected-Republican opposing II
where Democrats approve it, and VICE VERSA
There is some truth In the expression, un-
doubtedly, but we think. notwithstanding,
that the new law has received more applause
since its passage than it is likely to receive
when it is applied practically to mining in
terests.
The Avalanche" usually good authority
approves of the bill because it will afford a
title 10 those who avail themselves of its pro-
visions. That seems to be the only merit any
paper finds in the law. We think too much
prominence is given to this matter OF TITLE.
Papers and speakers speak of it as though
miners mad no title to their claims until this
Congressional law provided way for one.
Certain it IL that miners and prospectors,
during the past ten years, have been pretty
well satisfied with the title by which they
have held their claims. The Courts, and the
law-making power of the States and Terri
tories, without any exception, have recog-
nlzed and acknowledged the possessory titles
to these claims, and gwen the owners the full
discoveries to locate, and the right to hold
their claims in accordance with local regu-
latons, have been as fully recognized and
enforced by the Courts, as claims to any 9TH
er species of property. The torluous, pro-
tracted and expensive method of obtaining a
"title" provided for by this new law, furnish
es the claimant with no greater protection
than that provided now. It simply gives the
claimant bauble which technically he calls
atitle." 1t is a mere name, adding nothing
to the rights or powers of thee quartz owner
The fancy quartz speculator will ring this
"title" as boy delights in drumming on q
gong. It is all sound-no substance.
But aside from this negative quality the
new law is positive injury to large por
ton of that class of men whose existance is
devoted from year to year to mineral explo-
ratlons. How many of the great mass of
prospectors can expend $1,000 after finding
a claim2 There are more men worth LESS
than that amount, than there are worth MORE.
Before this law was passed, poor man could
obtain as perfect title as the wealthy one.
How is it now 2 His poverty is equivalent to
a crime. It practically debars him from all
rights or privileges on the public domain.
If he hasn't got the $1,000 what is the use OF
prospecting for a claim He can get no
- TITLE" to it; and TITLE is all that the bill
provides for. IfTITLE is any benefit, it is only
for the rich-or for the speculator.
The law is anything but Democratic in its
workings. 1t makes the rich, who can avail
themselves of it, still Eicher but the poor,
it forces to remain poor by closing the TITLE
books in their faces. The law is good thing
for quartz spectators, perhaps. 1t furnishes
a machine through which THEY can get
title to what other men discover and develope.
It may work better in Nevada (wbose Sena-
tor was the author Of the billy than in other
Territories.
As far as Revenue is concerned, the Gov
eminent gains nothing. Whatever impedes
the development of the mines, proportion
ately depreciates the revenue derived from
that source That amount has heretofore
been immense. Under the old system OF
letting the miners alone, the Pacific Coast has
undergone change from solitude to civili-
cation that is one of the marvels of the world
The revenue sustained the Government daring
the war, and, perhaps, more than anything
else, contributed to the suppression of the
re bellfon. Tt sustaiGs the credit of the
Treasury notes now. It pours metallic
stream by every steamer into the marts and
exchanges of every commercial people on
earth. Surely we ought to be satisfied with
a system that has worked so we'll. We ought
to be content to "fet wen enough alone" We
presume those Senators from this Coast, who
drafted and advocated this law, would have
desired no change; but unfortunately for the
people, many of the most active spirits in the
late Congress financial charletans men
who never saw a mine during the course of
RI o;v IN osn dc