New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-07

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
ufsurveyed, are hereby declared to be free
and open to exploration and purchase, and
the lands in which they are tOund to OCCu-
patton and purchase, by citizens of the
United States and those who have declared
their intention to become such, under Tegu-
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. 3 That mining claims upon veins or
lOdes Of quartz or other rock in place bear
iug 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 or
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 CT each claim
shall be parallel to each other.
SEC. 3. That the lOCatOrs Of all mining
locations heretofore made, or which shall
hereafter he made, on any mineral vein,
lode, or ledge, situated on the public do
main. their heirs and assigns, where no adj
verse claim exists at the passage of this act.
SO long as 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 poszrssOrv title. shall have the excll-
siya Tipht Of nOsEession and endowment Of
an the surface included within tile lines Of
their locations, and of all veins, Todcs, and
lodges throughout their entire depth, the
ton or aDex OF which lies inside of such
surface lines extended downward verti-
cslIy. although such veins, lodes. or led ges
NAV so far depart from a perppndiculaT in
their course downward as to extend outside
the vertical side-line7 of said surface loca-
ti0ns: Provided. that their right of posses
sion to such outside parts of said veins or
lodges shall be confined to such portions
thereof as lie between 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
possessor of a vein or lode which extends
in it's downward course beyond the vertical
lines of his claim to enter upon the surface
OF claim owned or possessed by another.
SEC. 4. That where a 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 of ali
veins or l0des within three thousand
fee- from the face of such funnel on the