New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-17
CONGRESS- AVID THE MINING LAWS.

PROVISIONS OF THE CONVERSE BILL
no LEGISLATION PROBABLE his sEssToN-wHY
TIlT MINERS ARE OPPOSED TO 4 CHANGE ~ rHE
LAWS.
lFnoM AZ OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or uIE TRIsUSE
WA,miNGroN Dee. 1O-Menb n. from the mining
States are of opinion that nothing will be done dur
ing this session ot Congress to change The existing
mining laws. All admit that there is need Of lm-
proycment but the fact cannot be overlooked that
the miners understand the present system and are
strouglg opposed TO any changes. Those who favor
chang. refer to the vast number al suits gipwiug
out of conflicting mining claims, and urge the I'M
portaucc of adopting some uniform code
HAT VIII tend to do away with
them. They claim tnat a mine should be REGARDED
the same a. 20 property rights a farm; that the
miner should not De allowed to follow his mineral
beyond the exterior boundary OF bis c-,l. and that
there 81 oud not cXls; OF ai-e any more occasions
for litigation over mine t,iau over farm. To
secure this s-1te OF things taey wor!ld have tie
rules governing the usc and ownership 81 agr-
cultural lands made applicable 10 mineral lands.
/ Is asserted that ~ all other countries this rule
applies and is consequence capital can bo IN
vested safely, while II tII~ country man may pur-
chase a mine to-day and liua himsel. involved ~ -
lawsuit to-nlorTow.
The Az, lican system had IFS brit in California,
where rnr miner wa, li!uwfd To follow MS vein
wherever ia went IN It's downward couiSe. CcnereS'
recognized ti.is night IL tn Act of 1866 and a-liu
in tie A.; of 1872 These two acts haye received
judicial construction. and ar now pretty well under
stood. h. the XLEth Couer.ss al act vas
passed creating a Pablo Lands Commission
to r.yi,s ard cody tne Land Laws
Of the United States, Including the laws
affecting mineral lands. This Commission visited
The mining States aud Territories, joo@ much t'5t-
u.oly, ana prepared a ropor winch WIS accompa-
mel bv b.ll applicable to 90 aTiru-;aral pa-tlr-
age and mineral lands. GA Mar / tIs biI was
Offered iu the tlauS. ivy Nr. Converse, OF Ohio and
50 much o. IL as related 40 pa. urlg ahd aCucH.tu
raj lands was ~ FRED 10 the Committee on Pubic
Lands. ana that portion pertaining 10 mineral
lands was referred 10 Or" c mmiti'e ou
Mines and Mining The b..l pr VI ed th1l hereafter
all mineral lGrlr1ns should Dee l5tIdcd hy straight
lines. and tha. tue miner sanu' MOI be- allowed 10
follow ms mineral beyond tie lines of A, o.ln. II
further PROVIDED thar al future orcnp1tion ioca-
ton ans purchase Of pubic mineral Land. should pe
roverIcd by layy- Of .ngfe.s to tbe exclusion of
local customs AMI regulations aud State ana Terri
toual laws The object o. tim, itsf provision was
10 place the disposition OF tie mineral land COM
pletciy under tle control of tie Government. and
10 & Ike away isom local communities all rdt 60
l.cs.4te uuon tha -uhja.t
TIN, Dbl. a. .I.anded 10y the Committee ON Ninc-
aud Al.uiu-. by which lt was carefully considered
for .yerl lnout.ss allowed 4. year Iu which go ad
the mineral. but provided that uo second clam
should be AIKEN up until mineral was ais 'ovcrrl IN
the first l. required the locator. within one year
from the taking up OF hIs claim. TO i!le with he
Survey General proof IF tie discovery OF mineral
and an Application for the survey OF his claim 1t
further req lired the within three years ID IN
sttufe proceedings to obtain his patent. Tia. bli as
amended was adopted by tHc committee By ma
io.Ity Of oae vote. bu' beef r. it was reported
TO the Hlls. Mr.. B-,f,rl. IF colo.ato Ia member
of the committed brought forward a substitute,
which bad been agr-rl upou by the members and
delegate from the Mining Safes and Territories.
and whIcu provide, thar " 800 all cases, Wiert jhe
mean dip cf tc lode does exceed twenty-five de-
grc e., from the horizon the right 20 follow tie min
cral shalt not extend beyond the side limo. of ne To-
eaton drawn downward vertically; AID IN
an mIucjdi land wnera there Is me- outcrop OF
VEN or lode the surface OF tie ground. the party
seeking 40 make discovery Is authorized 20 locate
prosp ciiag clam q. The same 'iz' oi claims no"
allowed hy law
The object O the substitute was T. prevent the
owners o. Il n or h0r Z)utti iOic, from iodowiug
them evoud the sid" lines ol tn Claims. Iuls
would apply 10 the mineral claim near Lr7dylr.
Another ohjec: to give I" the miner hc riga' 10
take up one claim where the mineral did Dot out
crop the -uriac, and o. allow h'm ample fimr TO
, tiud the mineral provided he would ex-
year unul be- discovered tire mineral.
Tns SUITS lutte was WIS agreed - by ID" Commit
. tee % Mines ana Mining. and was reported to ne
Hon al lte Las, session and l. now on the pablo
calendar Judge Bsiiori saws that lie Will moi press
~ passage unless effort j. uad' - force through
fine Pnhc Lands Commission bill" The Senators
aud members from the mining States arr 81 isheu
that "A large minority of the miners IS, opposed ~
anv change, and with tie view OF carving uui thelr
wishes. they Will undoubtedly cooperate to MAIN
tain the law a. 1t D. II Is conceded that 40
bill will pass Congress thar does not receive
the support Of tine members from the Western ana
Plcifc states aud A. they opp0S' tHe OIL aow pend
ng aud support the B,iord substitute simply rs
measure 10 XIII the bull, il safe 90 assume that
there will be no legislation upon the subject, al
least during the present session.