The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1884-01-19

public benefit" OF course. every
public spirited citizen reioiccth
greatly over a ''great public bcne-
fit" Speed, comfort and consist
ent rates in transportation, when
acquired, are highly beneficial, and
rejoicing may, in its presence, come
from the heart and with under
standing. The power resting in
the legislature, to grant franchises
and to condemn, would not have
been thus placed by the people, on
ly for their abiding faith in benefits
to come. In the exercise of these
powers, great benefits to the PEG
pie are the first and only true basis
as consideration. II the principle
is Just and proper as a means of Sc
curing great public benefits in
transportation. is not the principle
equally just and proper in applica-
ton to the encouraging and secur-
ing great public benefits through
the discovery and development of
latent resources wherever the lat
ter may be found outside OF the
home and of valuable business i'm
provements!
To illustrate Mineral prospect
ing, through ignorance, indilier-
ence or uncertainty, is sometimes
carried on upon private lands
claimed as private. Upon unim-
proved and %unoccupied properties,
in many Instances held in large
tracts solely for speculative pur
poses, there are sometimes found
valuable VEINS and deposits Of the
precious and other metals. The
few discoveries thus made under
the ccrtaintics of the situation, as
now claimed and held under law,
result generally in litigation or
Withholding the discovery. In ei-
Their case little or no benefits ac-
crue to the discoyerer, often posi-
tive injury from financial embar-
rassment. Indeed, under the pres
ent laws, simply to pass over these
lands would be technical ~trespass.
and especially would it be so re-
garded if the passer by had a bust
ness eye abroad.
Skill in mineral discovery is val
liable to the ~possessor. To obtain
this skill costs much time, study
and practice. Why not broaden
the fed forthe mining prospector
and engineer.
1t cannot be gainsaid that when
material hidden resources have
been brought to the knowledge of
the world, and these resources
have been combined with labor and
machinery, great value may be
added to the locality, profit fall to
3. the operators, and a valuable &c
+ QUESTION of taxable property to the
assessment roll OF the state,
Again | ask, and now IN the
name Of the state or territory, of
the people of general development
and prosperity, il it is not quite as
important as railroad development,
that valuable discoveries Of INNER
al and other elements Of the vast
latent resources ofthe Rockymomt-
aims, and Of the high line country,
to be placed in a condition of
speedy development, Of labor en-
ployment, Of wealth producing. of
contributing to the expenses Of
government and development of
empire; in fine, of discovered la
tent resources being afforded an
opportunity Of adding general
prosperity through laws enacted by
the Legislature the same, practic-
tically, as stated with respect to
mountaineering a condem-
: nation Of the property surrounding
the mine or discovery, or the use
/, thereof, 50 tar as necessary to the
development and working and mar
keting of the output!
| have sought to confine this pa