The Placer herald., 1867-02-09
The Mineral Land Bill Of Congress

SEC. |. BE- it enacted, That the mineral lands Of
the public domain, bo h surveyed and unSnivryed,
are hereby declared 10 be Tree and open to eXplora-
ton and occupation by all citizens OF the United
States. aud those who have dcCl,u ed their inen-
ton to become citizens. subject 70 such rcgua
| tious as may be prescribed by law. and subject
also to the local customs or rules OF mnel in the
| several mining districts. 50 tar as The slmc may
| not lie in conflict with the laws Of the u. States.
SEC. 2 And be it further enacted. That when
ever any person or associati"n OF persons clnim
vein or lode Of quartz or other rock in place.
bearing gold, silver, cCnabar. or copper having
previously occupied and improved the same aC-
cording to the local custom or rules Of miners in
the district where the same Is situated. and haV-
ing expended in actual labor AID improvements
thereon .Ai amount OF not less than 5 900 and in
regard TO whose possession there Is no conirOver
~ or opposing claim, ii Shall and may be lawful
| Tor said claimant or association OF claimants to
file in the local land office diagram Of the same
so extended Atrrally or otherwise as to CONFORM
| to the local laws Gust oms. and rules oil miners.
and to euter uch tract and receive patent there
| for. granting such mine. together with the ght
| to follow said vein or Lode with its 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. s. And be it further enacted. That upon
| the Cling OF the diagram as p:ovidcd in the see.
! oud section OF this Act. and posting the same in
conspicuous place the claim together with Il
notice OF intention to apply for patent, the reg.
lister OF the Land Office shall publish notice of
| the same in Il newspaper published nearest 10 the
| location OF said claim. aud shall also post such
notice in hi office for the period of 90 days: and
! after The 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 ana make 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 oil IS per acre. togcth.
er with the cost OF such survey plat. and notice,
and giving satisfactory evidence that said dia-
gram and notice have been posted on the claim
during said period of 90 days, The register Ct the
Land Office Shall transmit to the General Land
Office said plat. survey. and description, and Il
patent shall issue for the same hercupon; but
>aid 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 ii further enacted, That when
| such location and entry OF Il nine Shall be upon
unsurvcyed lands, it shall and may be lawful.
after the extension thereto of the public surveys.
| to adjust the surveys to the limits OF the prem
| ises according to the location and possession and
| plat aforesaid and the Surveyor General may, in
| extending the surveys vary the same from Il rec
| tangulur form to SUIT the circumstances OF the
! country and the local rules, laws and customs oil
| miners; provided, that no location hereafter
made shall exceed 200 feet in length along the
vein for each locator. with an additional claim
for discovery to the discovcrcr OF the lode, with
| the right to follow such vein TO any depth. with
all its dips, variations and angles together with
| Il reasonable quantity OF surface Cor the conven-
lent working Of the same as fixed by local rules;
and provided further, that no person may make
more than one location on the same lode and not
more than 5000 feet Shall he taken in any ono
claim by any association OF persons.
SEC 5. And be it further enacted, That as n
further condition Of sale, in the absence of ne
ccssJry Legislation by Congress. the local Leeis-
| laturc OF any State or Territory may provide
rules for working mines, involving easements
drainage, ami other necessary means TO THEN
complete development. and those conditions shall
be fully expressed in the patent.
SEC g. And be it further enacted, That when
everany adversecamants any mine located and
claimed as Aforesaid, shall appear before the APP
, proval OF the survey. rs provided in the third
section OF this Act, all proceedings shall be stay
ed until final settlement and adjudication in
the courts OF competent jurisdiction OF the lights
of possession to such claim, when patent may
issue rs in other cases.
SIC l. 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
ne Laws, wherever hc may deem the same ueces-