The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-20

ore body, as these claims lie directly over |
it. For the same reason the Sullivan
claim if expanded to the regulation
width of l,5OO feet) would gobble up the
new Belcher development; and the Alta,
Justice, Silver Hill and st. Louis COM
panies would now have to relinquish their
lodges to the Capital and Vivian, as they
are now underneath those claims.
1t may be said that these evils would
be avoided by granting patent only in
case where body of milling ore is dis.
covered. This would leave such claims
as the Bullion and Utah without any
secure title, and still would not cover the
case of the st. Louis and Vivian. Both
of these claims have found large deposits
Poi n.ii.i.ng ore near the surface; both are
entitled to United States patents under
any law that can possibly be framed.
Under the present law the claims do not
conflict, being upon different locations;
but as the Vivian surface location would,
under the square-location rule, extend
over the part of the vein at present
worked by the st. Louis Company, the
| Vivian would now be entitled to the st.
Louis ledge as well as to the Vivian ledge.
The above objections would apply with
even greater force in districts where sew
eral lodges lie near together, although
distinct and separate, like Austin or
Bodie.
What constitutes ledge, for the pur-
pose of getting United States patent, is
now a mooted question, though of not
much practical Importance under the
present law; but under square-location
system it would become point of vital
Importance and open wide the door to
endless litigation. This is no mere theo-
retical objection; it is confirmed by prac-
tical experience under the Spanish law,
which allows square locations.
After one mining company had cour,
ageously ventured their means, and
demonstrated the value of the lode, il
would be manifest injustice to allow an
other Company to sink shaft just il
front of them and rob them of the further
fruits of their enterprise. 1t would be ;
terrible damper on mining development
, vet square location law would surel,
3 encourage just this thing.
, 1t would be about as reasonable to ap
ply the common law of Coke and Little
A ton to all the real estate transactions 0
e our day as to apply it to mining unde
a the changed conditions and circumstance
). of this coast 1t might do for the frs
s thousand feet in depth, but now that W
v are able by improved machinery to reac
). depth of 1000 or 5000 feet, nothin
# can reach the requirements of the case s
a we'll as the system of indigenous growt
,. embodied in our present law.
d Another remarkable recommendatio
l.. of the Public Land Commission is tha
e which proposes that the adjudication {
,s contested mining cases be taken from tn
4 learned and experinced Judges of ou
- local courts, and from Judges acquainte
re with the nature of the matter in contr'
n versy, and given to young clerks (at
salary of $l25 per monthly in the Ian
!, Office at Washington-as is now IL
III practice with regard to agricultural el
se teries. The unfortunate miner wou
n experience more than ever the blessing
III of delays, enormous travelling expense
> fraud and bribery, in order that Il
e principles of "strong central COVER
ly ment'' might be applied to this as well
n other departments of the administratio
at We shall await with great interest Il
-, action of our Congressmen-Senato
~ Jones and Sharon and Representa-
se Daggett-when the square-location bu
n ness comes up for debate. Meantime t
an people of Nevada should take steps
:, make their voices heard.