The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-04-19
THE MINERAL LAW.

Early in the session of this legisla-
ture, it will be remembered, the
STATESMAN presented reasons why a /
mineral law should be put into effect |
in Texas. The lack of such a law has
really prevented the development of
the mineral wealth of the state, since
prospectors could acquire no right 10
discoveries on private lands, and since
purchases from the state for mineral
investigation has not been practicable,
a bill was presented, and we are
pleased to announce that it has at last
passed both houses, and is now in
the hands of the governor
for approval. This bill provides
that all minerals in the lands belong
ing to the public schools, to the uni
cersity to the asylums and to the state
are reserved from the operation of
laws for the sale of such lands, and
the minerals shall be disposed of for
the benefit of the respective funds for
WHICH, CuCoC lhuuo SlO oCG dPdA1
These minerals are to be at the dis
posal of the state land board, and
when a prospector shall discover
minerals, specified in the bill as "coal,
iron, tin, copper lead, silver
or gold,' he shall Immediately
stake the same in its apparent ex-
font not to aNyaooJ in sim 900 Foot ono
way by 1900 the other, the corners to
be marked by distinct stone land
marks, and shall within forty days
thereafter file a description of said
mine, the county in which it is
situated, the number of survey, the
company or individual TO whom the
scription as is practicable, in the
| clerks Office of the county where the
land lies, or if an unorganized county.
then in the county to which the same
is attached for surveying purposes,
which description shall be verified
| by IN affidavit of the fact that he
is the discoverer of said mine, and
that he intends to fully prospect the
same and comply with the law per-
tanning to the same in good faith
1t shall be registered in the record
of deeds. He shall then have the
privilege of selling the rights he may
have acquired in said mine; provided
that he or his assigns shall, within
ninety days after the filing Of such
description, have said mine surveyed,
and shall file copy of said survey,
together with specimens of the ore
taken therefrom, with the state board
at Austin. After the filing of such
survey and specimens, the discoverer
or his assigns shall work said mine
for his own benefit and for the bene-
fit of the fund, to which said
mine belongs, said fund to receive
five per cent of the gross receipts
provided, the mines shall be worked
subject to such rules and regulations
as the land board may prescribe; and,
provided further, that any one taking
up mining claim shall do at least
two hundred dollars worth of work
per annum on the same, furnishing
| annual proof of the same. Any one
failing to comply with this provision
shall forfeit his interest, and it shall
be subject to entry by any other per-
son, and no judicial forfeiture shall be
necessary. The filing and regis
tration of the description,
| shall be constructive notice of claim
but all persons who have heretofore
discovered and worked mines on said
lands shall have "a prior right for
ninety days after the passage of the
act. in which to comply with the law
as discoveries. The bill was passed
with the emergency clause, and goes
into effect as soon as signed. Under
this law wye eX poet to see the mineral
| regions OF western and northwestern
Texas developed with surprising ra-
| DiditV