Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1873-01-10
Are there Coal Formations in Ne
vsda?


Much prospecting has been done in
this State for the purpose of finding
coal Of good quality and in large
quantity, but up to this time without
cce Bituminous shale. CARTON
lied slate, and other coal indications
have been followed TO various depths.
without discovery Of the coveted de-
posits of genuine coal. The nearest
approach 10 the finding Of a good
quality of coal is said to have been
made on tie ranch of J. d. Sullivan,
or Pancake Mountain; hut the GER
tainty as to quantity has not yet been
reached. The question is still UNI
answered, except by certain biologists.
who give a negative reply, whether
coal formations will he found in this
State. But. even if it should he found
in i~nexhaustible quantities, it seems,
according to r. W. Raymond. Com
missioner OF Mining Statistics, that
under the existing United States law,
the discoverer could not reap the Ten
eft Of his discovery. The law reads
thus:
Re it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress
assembled. That in the Ease of any
tracts embracing cOal-beds or coal
fields constituting portions Ofthe pub
lie domain. and which as mines are
excluded from the Pre-em ption Act
Of 1S4l. and which under past legislA-
ton are no liable to ordinary private
entry. it shall and may lie lawful for
the President to eau, e such tracts in
suitable legal subdivisions to be
offered at public sale to the highest
bidder. after public Eetiee of MOI less
than three months, at u minimum
price of SO yer acre, and any lands
not then disposed Of shall thereafter
he liable to private entry at said mimi
mum.
Mr.. Raymond says this law in eff.
feet actually forbids the development
Of a coal discovery, "as any money
expended or labor performed inopen-
ing them will only serve to increase
the amount to lie raid finally when
they are put up at auction, regardless
Of any improvements they have
made or vested rights which they may
have acquired. In addition it must
be remembered that years must ex.
Pire before many OF the coal deposits
can be surveyed, and during all that
time their wealth must remain III.
touched. This state of affairs re-
quires the early attention of Con-
gress."
The Territorial Enterprise, III CON-
menting on these facts, says that Con.
gress should except Nevada from the
operation of the law, and give the dis
were of coal a full section OF the
land upon which the discovery is
made /; Or the finder of a coal deposit
should have the privilege of purchas-
ing the land at a reasonable rate. 1t
calls upon the Legislature to memo
rialize Congress upon the subject.
SCHOOL FooT-RAcE.-Last Sep
tember a lorg and a short foot-race
was run at Brighton, England. and
two boys of Sacramento, Cal, entered
the lists for the prize-a gold cup val
ued at $3.50. The long race was $50
yards. the short one 100 yards. The
American boystook the prize. forty
two English boys being left in the
e in the long lace. Willie Romans
led in the l0O-yard race, against tw en-
ty-seven English boys, and Harry
Romans won the long race of go
yards. The prize was offered by
Commodore Ashbury, of yachting
fame.