New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-03

An act to promote the development of the
mining resources Of the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That all
valuable mineral deposits in lands belong
ing to the United States, both surveyed and
unsurveyed, are hereby declared to be free
and open to exploration and purchase, and
the lands in which they are found to Occu-
patton and purchase, by citizens of the
United States and those who have declared
their intention to become such, under regu
latiOns prescribed by law, and according to
the local customs or rules of miners, in the
several mining districts, SO far as the same
are applicable and not inconsistent with
the laws of the United States.
SEC. 2 That mining claims upon veins or
lOdes of quartz or other rock in place bear
ing gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, copper
or other valuable deposits heretofore
located, shall be governed as to length
along the vein or lode by the customs, reg
ulatiOns and laws in force at the date of
their location. A mining claim located
after the passage of this act, whether
located by one or more persons, may equal,
but shall not exceed, one thousand five
hundred feet in length along the vein OF
lode; but no location of mining claim shall
be made until the discovery of the vein or
lode within the limits of the claim located.
No claim shall extend more than three hun
bred feet on each side of the middle of the
vein at the surface, nor shall any claim be
limited by any mining regulation to less
than twenty-five feet on each side Of the
middle of the vein at the surface except
where adverse rights existing at the pass
age of this act shall render such limitation
necessary. The end lines of each claim
shall be parallel to each other
SEC. 3, That the locators Of all mining
locations heretofore made, or which shall
hereafter be made, on any mineral VEIN
lode, or ledge, situated on the public DO
main, their heirs and assigns wherenO ad-
verse claim exists at the passage of this act,
40 long "a they comply with the laws of the
United States, and with State, Territorial,
and local regulations not in conflict with
said laws of the United States governing
their pOssessOTy title, shall have the exclu-
sive right of possession and enjoyment of
all the surface included within the lines Of
their locations, and Of all veins, lOdrs, and
lodges throughout their entire depth, the
top or apex Of which lies inside of such
surface lines extended downward verti-
cally, although such VEINS, lOdes, or lodges
may SO far depart from perpendicular in
their course downward as to extend outside
the vertical side-lines of said surface lOca-
tiOns: Provided, that their right OF posses
sion to such outside parts of said veins or
ltORtS bBdIl Ne GOuuutu " SUCH ptfIlOHS
hereof as lie betweI vertical planes drawn
downward as aforesaid, through the end
lines Of their locations. so continued in their
own direction that such planes will inter
sect such exterior parts of said veins or
lodges; And provided further that nothing
in this section shall authorize the locator or
pOssessOT of a vein or lode which extends
in its downward course beyond the vertical
lines of his claim to enter upon the surface
Of a claim, NyUvaI on, ID Nv
SEC 4. That where tunnel is run for the
development Of vein or lode, or for the
discovery Of mines, the owners Of such tun-
mel shall have the right of possession IF all
veins or lndcs within three thousand
feet from the face of such tunnel on the
line thereof, not previously known to ex-
list, discovered in such tunnel. to the same
extent as If discovered from the surface:
and locations on the line Of such tunnel or
veins or ludes not appearing on the surface,
made by other parties after the commence
mpnt Of the tunnel, and while the same is
being prosecuted with reasonable diligence.
shall be invalid; but failure to prosecute
the work on the tunnel for six months shall
be considered as an abandonment of the
right 70 all undiscovered veins on the line
of said tunnel.
SEC S. That the miners of each mining
district may make rules and regulations
not in conflict with the laws Of the United
States, or with the laws of the State OF
Territory in which the district is situated,
governing the location, manner Of record.
ing, amount of work necessary to hold pos
session of mining-claim, subject TO the fol-
lowing requir-m eDts: The location must
be distinctly marked on the ground, so that
its boundaries can be readily traced.
All records of mining-claims hereafter
made shall contain the name or names
Of the lOcatUrs, the date of the
location, aud such a description of the
claim or claims located by reference to
some natural object OF permanent monu-
ment a. will identify the claim. On each
claim located after the psssageO of this act,
and until patent shall have been issued