The Elk Mountain pilot., 1880-07-01
DISTRICT RULES.
How Mining District Law, W,r, Enacted and
Enforced Before Colorado was Organized (
asa Territory in 1864.

Before the organization of Colorado
as territory, February 20, 1861, the
principal mineral sections had been
settled, and a system of miners laws
established, the outlines of which have
been the basis of all subsequent legis-
lation. The country was divided into
mining Districts" some less than a
mile square, and some quite extensive,
which have become permanent geo.
graphical divisions, and take the place
of towns, townships and sections in
describing the situation Of real estate
Of all kinds in the mining counties.
There are at least two hundred in
Clear Creek, Gilpin, Boulder, Summit,
Park and Lake, but the names of some
of the less important have been drop
ped, and are familiar only to the early
settlers.
Each district adopted a separate
code of regulations, and elected a re-
corder, who kept a record of claims
and transfers; and usually judge and
other officers, who carried out the
mining rules, and also enforced the
decisions Of the jury of miners or the
miners meeting. The written regn-
lations usually first defined the name
and boundaries of the district second,
the number and kind of officers to be
elected from time to time, and then
proceed to designate what number OF
feet should constitute claim in that
district, the amount of surface allowed,
the amount Of work required to held
claim, ETC., and sometimes extended
further, to the mode in which mining
controversies and other difficulties
slf.oGttui !bc se,t.st1c. ~
These district regulations were re-
cognized at the first session of the
Territorial Legislature and by all the
subsequent Acts Of Congress; and
when not in conflict with statutory law
and upon many points not covered by
Acts of Congress, Or of the Legislature,
and especially in cases arising out OF
the early discoveries, may still be re-
garded as in force and frequently i'm
portant. They are supposed to be
filed at present in the Office OF the
county recorder, and a search among
them is sometimes necessary to the
lawyer, and always refreshing to those
who are curious in regard to pioneer
customs.
The mode by which dueling should
be conducted;' bounties on married
women; penalties for rolling rocks
down the mountain, etc., are among
the matters often provided for.
This system of the miners was Of
course nodded upon customs already
established in California and many OF
the California mining rules were iden-
tical with provisions of the Mexican
law.
The subdivision of deposit inso
claims; the allowance of an "addi-
tional claim" to the discoverer the
stalking of claims the requirement of
a discovery shaft; forfeiture for neglect
to work, and various other prominent
features are found to be set forth at
large in the Spanish, Peruvian and
Mexican codes. But their day, prac-
tically, has ended, and given place to
uniform legislation; and, notwith-
standing their recognition in Acts of
Congress, they seem to be always made
subject to State or Territorial laws,
and void when in opposition thereto.
From the defects of these original
regulations and the want of an exact
and Uniform mining code, have sprung
most of the points of litigation now
commonly spoken of and for which
the miners have only themselves to
blame. In some districts lawyers were,
by their own laws, forbidden to reside
or practice.-N0,y7Sou's NJ l..
On tie Cor,stock flow of an inch
Of water is estimated at being equal to
from about twelve and one half to
fourteen feet per minute. Superin-
4 A0v@