The Placer herald., 1869-11-13
LAND TITLES IN MINING COUNTIES


The Auburn HERALD had, at one time, an in
tentiou Of taking part in the discussion of the
subject of the mineral lands, but upon second
thought concluded that il was too deep for its Ca
libre, and wisely refraincd from doing so.-
Daily Sacramento Record.
Excuse ", bat ws did not say Or Indicate
anything Of The kind. We procure titles 10
lands, either mineral or agricultural, for
those Who dssirs to purchase from the gov
srnment, for = reasonable consideration for
our services, and will do so for the Record
edtor, if he will assume . position 10 avail
Limsef Of The benefits Of The prs'emptios,
homestead or mineral land laws Of the
general government. We think We sndsr-
stand the Record II wants more informs-
ton upon this question OF procuring iitles
TO lands in the mineral districts, aud is en-
deavoriug 10 ban ter it out Of us. II 10 net
deep subject, but on The contrary, very aim
pie and easily understood. A man over the
age Of twen,y-ons years settles upon piece
Of government land and commences ipprov
ing the same with the coma fde inteo-
ton Of making it bis home; be makes out a
declaratory statement, describing the land
according to the United S,atss Surveys, and
files it with the Register of the local land
Office. II mineral affidavits have bsen filed
upon it, or it has been returned by the Sur.
veyor as mineral land, be applies to !bs
Register and Receiver 10 take testimony as
to the character Of the land, whether more
valuable for agricultural or mineral purpo-
ses; these officers give notice by publica-
on for six weeks 10 some newspaper pubshed
in the county where the land lies, and on
the day named in the notice the tsstmony
offered is taken upon each legal subdivision.
40 acres,) claimed. The Register and Re-
ceiver then decide as to the character Of the
land, (uineteen times out Of twenty that il
is sgricultural,) and their decision 10 sen.
TO the commissioner Of the General Land
Office and if approved by him the settler is
notified to prove his settlement, continued
residence and improvements and pay for the
land and in due time the patent comes.
For homesteads the same forms are conplied
with, except the party must resids on the
land for FIVE years, aud then he gets bic land
and patent without paving for it. All. ths,
the settler wants 10 know and prove is that
there are 20 knoaon paying mines os either
Of the legal subdivisions at the time, 40 mat
ter what may be discovered subsequently,
Within the limits Of Railroad grant the
settler must pay 50 so per acre in green
backs unless he settled upon tho land prior
to the taking effect of the grant and then
the price is only 81 25 10 legal tenders
To purchase mining claim the claimants
must have done 81, 900 worth Of work 10 its
development; must have it segregated from
the public domain by United States Sur
veyor and make proof of its location, work.
ing and character, in accordance with the
mining rules OF the district and pay SIS 90
per acre for it, also in legal tenders. The laws
and decisions Of the Commissioner and Sec
retary of the Interior are liberal aud simple.
The laws are all right. If President Grant
would quit "juuke,ing" around horse races,
weddings and watering places and proclaim
oil the surveyed lands in California for sale,
~ is his duty under the laws OF Congress,
giving the prsemptor the right to prove the
agricultural character of the land and pay for
it prior to the day of sale, and the miner the
right to contest by evidence, tho whole
question wcud be settled 10 less than elk
months, and The uusold or pre- .npted
land would then be open to pri-
vate entry. Some Of the local land officers
engage in swindug the settler and should
be removed at once. We cay again, the
laws are complete and equitable, and wha,
fault there is to be found is in weak, wicked
aud incompetent administration and its ap-
pointees.