New Orleans Republican., 1872-08-14
GENERAL EATURE-No. 62.l


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
Vnsurveyed, 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.
IatiOns 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 OF
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 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
! dred 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 DE parallel to each other.
SEC. 3. That the lOCatOrs Of all mining
locations heretofore made, or which shaI!
|. hereafter be made, on any mineral vein,
lode, or ledge, situated on the public do
| main, their heirs and assigns, where no ad-
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 pOssessOry 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, lodes, and
ledges throughout their entire depth, the
TOP or apex of which lies inside of such
surface lines extended downward vertl-
cally although such veins, lOdes or ledge5
NAV so far depart from perpendicular in
their course downward as to extend Outslde
the vertical side-lines of said surface loca-
tions: Provided. that their right OF posse
sion to such outside parts of said veins or
ledges shall be confined to such portion
| thereof as lie between vertical planes drawn
downward as aforesaid, through the enc
| lines of their locations, so continued in theit
own direction that such planes Will inter
| sect such exterior parts OF said veins o.
lodges: And provided further, that nothing
!, in this section shall authorize the locator OF
possessOr of a vein or lode which extends
in its downward course beyond the yertca.
lines Of his claim to enter upon the surface
of a claim owned or possessed by another.
SEC. 4. That where a tunnel is run for the
a1rv. ont pf yrGTT ar ID 81
discovery Of mines, the owners of such tun-
mel shall have the right Of possession OF a.,
veins or lodes within three thousand
, feet from the face Of such tunnel on the
: line thereof, not previously known to e.
ist, discovered in such tunnel, to the same
extent as if discovered from the surface
: | and locations on the line Of such tunnel o.
: veins or lodes not appearing on the surface
Z made by other parties alter the COmmenCa
: ! ment of the tunnel, and while the same j.
| being prosecuted with reasonable diligence
shall be invalid but failure to prOsecut.
the work on the tunnel for six months shai
be considered as an abandonment OF IN
right to all undiscovered veins on the IN
Of said tunnel.
SEC J. That the miners of each miRin
district may make rules and regulation
i not IN conflict with the laws OF the / mite
4 States, or with the laws of the State O
0 Territory in which the district is situated
d governing the location, manner OF recOFs
! ing amount Of work necessary to hold Po.
t session of miniBgclaim, subject to the 10
n lowing requirem ents; The location nlui
" be distinctly marked on the ground, 50 thu
d its boundaries can be readily trace
y All records of mining claims herealt'
e made shall contain the name or nam
It of the locatOrs, the date OF Il
E location, aud such description Of Il
# claim or claims located by reference &
d some natural object or permanent mon
e ment as will identify the claim. On eac
claim located after .the passage of this ae
/ and until patent shall have been issl'