Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1878-03-30
A NEW SENSATION.
The SutrO Tunnel Company in q
New Role.

startling movement affecting the
questions of dispute between the
Tunnel Com pany aud the mine own
ers. The bonanza companies recently
made application for United States
patents to their mining claims. The
Carson Tribune of Wednesday says:
snow comes Sutro, with an objection
duly filed, forbidding the granting of
SAID patents, claiming that the ground
| now being worked by the bonanza
companies belongs to the Sutro Tun-
mel, by reason Of said tunnels grant
by Congress, allowing the Sutro Tun-
mel Company 1000 feet of ground
on each side of the tunnel, not pre-
viously located under the mining
laws. Sutro claims that the ground
at present worked by the bonanza
companies was not included in their
original location, aud per consequence
is tn" property of the Tunnel Com
pat. AS we understand the matter,
this action is but the forerunnr of a
mining suit of exceedingly large
proportions, wherein Sutro will sue
FOR all the ore extracted from the
body in dispute. In comparison to
such suit the legal controversy 60
ing on between the Eureka Consoli-
dated and Richmond companies
would pale into insignificance. We
understand that the case will be
brought before the United States
Court Immediately"
OF course the Sutro Tunnel Com
pany have no equitable right to the
California and Con. Virginia mining
claims proper, and can never recover
| judgment for the value of the ore
extracted within legal limits, but
there may be question of boundary
to the eastward which will have to
be settled by surveys made in accord
ance with a judicial decision. The
proceedings begun by Sutro probably
have a twofold object first, for tine
purpose of determining the eastern
boundary of the Comstock ledge,
| how far 10 that direction the mines
within the 1000 feet limit shall go;
aud, secoud, to produce compiica-
lions and difficulties that will have a
probable tendency to bring about II
| settlement of the matters of differ
enee between the tunnel and the min
ing companies.
There is clause in the tunnel
charter allowing the company to
claim for their own use and profit a
| certain extent of all mineral vel S
cut by them, not previously vested in
other parties, and they doubtless
wish to establish the legal eastern
boundary of the mines on the main
lode and thus settle all dispute as to
the ownership of certain mineral de-
posts. Reports have been current of
late that the tunnel header has been
in good ore for some distance. These
rumors have been denied, but the
| commencement of this suit gives
weight to the presumption that they
are true.
What effect this new movement
will have in bringing about COM
promise between the tunnel and the
mining companies We have no definite
conjecture. We have advocated u
compromise for year past, aud still
believe an amicable settlement of
this vexed question would be bene-
fetal to our mining interests, but of
course we protest against any grab
bling game op the part of the tunnel
company. There is little danger,
however, of the tunnel company get
ting more than their just rights, for
the mining companies against whom
proceedings have been commenced
are amply able to defend their in
terests.