Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-08-07
DAILY RECORD
MINERAL LANDS.

tense his views on the subject OF mineral
lands. Is the matter is one Of absorbing
interest in a mining community, we copy
dhe Commissioner letter in full, omit
ting only the introductory and closing
paragraphs:
The first section Of the Act OF Congress
approved May 10, 1872, reads as follows:
THAT all valuable mineral deposits in
lands belonging to the United States,
both surveyed and unsurveyed, are here
by declared to be free and open to expo
ration and purchase, and the lands in
which they are found, to occupation and
purchase.
The second section declares; That
mineral claims upon veins or lodes of
quartz or other rock in place bearing
gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, copper
or other valuable deposits heretofore To-
Gated etc.
Section SIX refers to "a patent for any
land claimed and located for valuable de-
posts.
1t will be observed that in the first see
ton Of the Act the expression valuable
mineral deposits, is employed, while in
sections two and SIX the Language IS wal
liable deposits.
Allowing, however, that it was the in
teutOn of the law makers by this Act 10
dispose OF valuable mineral deposits,
the question becomes this: What is 4
valuable mineral deposit?
The meaning OF the word valuable
need not be discussed. Anything per-
son is willing to give money for, CT that
is useful or precious, or that has mer-
charitable qualities, is valuable. The
word deposit has always been construed
10y this Office to be general term en-
bracins veins, lodes, lodges, placers and
all other forms in which valuable metals
have ever been discovered.
In the sense in which the term mineral
was used by Congress it seems difficult
to find Il definition that will embrace
what mineralogists agree should be in
cluded. The several authorities consult
Cd in this connection seem to find it an
easier task to determine what is not,
than what is, mineral. However in all
The works on mineralogy that have come
under my knowledge, boraX, nitrate and
carbonate of soda. alum and asphalt are
classified and discussed as minerals.
Ayers edition Of Philips Mineralogy
speaks oi 1.-THE crust OF the globe as
consisting chiefly OF earths and earthly
minerals" Between earths and miner
ais there is clear line of demarkaron,
anu tuouSH ullLeu'' 10 q press ia " IL "
words Ghe'illcal coinIlo9i'ioh ana cry s'UI-
ization are the principal means Of trac-
ing the distinction,
Webster seems TO be the most accurate
III hlS uehhluOh Of mineral LOT ne rec
oshl1es chemical e?mtoa'lloI as IN tll9 IN
p2f'aHt CONSIDERATIONS. ne ueAnes
mineral 70 De any inorganic Specie
having u7nnHe cAelnlcai conPo7lt!oIi'
FROM II careful examination Oh tAi'
matter the conclusion rtach as TO "i!a
constitutes " Il valuable mineral deposit
is TINS: nat "h1'eYet Is Feeo3hl1sa us d
mineral by the standard authorities OF
lie SUBJECT where me same IS louh4 IL
quantity ana quality To render inc lal'I
sought 10 De patented more V"lu'p'o o,
TINS account than tor Purposes o! aGrI
culture. should De treated ny thl7 ONO
HS coming "tntA tne p4ENi'" q l."
Mining ACT ol May ~ Iot-,
Inc language o' inc statute - SO com
ptehehS'Ne ana tApao'e o4 ShEn 4Aoe''
construction 'n Il, t'lli!o. "N9lI '!Le con
clusion that congress lhtended 1t as
general mining law 10 ptoulo'e u
ueNe'opHleI' 81 tne =, mining resources
the Ohltga 9Va'eS' ana 10 aIolu
lhelhou WHEREBY pIIIleS H3 3LIls ne Po'
Sessofy f'sII uH"ef Iocai 4a"9 anu IeS'
l"uon' coriu secure t''Ie 10 tracts Coz
t'.nlpS E"uio'e ''1e'e'4oi19 vi "ei'ositS
niuefdI aUD9I[nte'' except "lele SPe'
IA III" ht'sn' lu'tINGH ITS''. iH9 ltol
5M , fesa!au4B the ISi'oSai q PaF"c'
h'tiE Si(oc'Ie" Al'u''H o9"l'Li7 4"iu2'
l." me. SF'e["I injuries III me iel'
'etelLct 10 'ueIe4oIe IePII 'H"' l"H'
NaIu'p!e On account u "of-3' ct'rooI d"
o' "oul' ni.l"'c ol S''''' sUtHiIui' "'I
5uu "Spua''' ~ "e1' i" al S.''g"" !,
mineral ueIosI's' may % "pP"eI - 4
ana 'aVeuted unqoi 'uc o14S'olS VI II
mining Act u NAY ~ i''-
III case Tue apPHca'loi' SNo'1'u Nc Pi5
StH'ea 10 you lOt survey OF iahu' val
aole lor o1hef minerals 'uau 'uose SPe'
!eu hereih ana III t!ie ACT 'SeH' you y"
''f5I fe!ei 'Ae quea.loH 10 t''9 once
oIoef 'h'' "pp'lc"A'9 may no 9'' {"
expense OIL applying lor i"I,ds 'lt' II III
-
grgsS. -, ,, n., ..--
II VIII o9 oI9e1'e" tnH' 'H9 l.''nt
producing MINUS are ulN'"eu in'o I
cltS7sS' Tue oAe c,osSto i"tc9 Tue Ian
"neFe 'iie mineral matter e. Is "lInln ~
III pace, o. 8eo'oSlc3'ily sP5aA'n9'
S'9' =, " t 'ne S {i lhc ,.. pt1e'
"hu al ioEiiS VI ue!,oS''9 excepting '"'
III fo o,,;, IN PAGES 7.., g.. a,.4
III 'n'S co"I5c''oll Ies''I IL d ' ilI'.t
"a I'D l,"r'anGe u give '''o t'I'9'l ucti
tn'' once PI'GeS uPuI 'no IAP4e9sI'
Eo'H =, or 4ouo u quar- Ut o'ilei Io l..:
p'acv'. ~ prevent ini''aAeS ~ toca''
me '"9 c'"7SeS oi mines lelel!5u 70 ne
ny saving 70 tla'LIhnts GonSluer"olo
PeASe ana uel"y' III geol96y "llu " Yii
miners VEINS or loueS ihlp'y seiIcIallE
ag8re5nuoh o. ihInelt' matter IoHHu
tne llSSu'e7 VI 'iie locAS Witch 1ii S.o,S
tlUi IRE tI IiEhl NiIltLN, WINS hl4lCl