Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-05-04
THE MINING LAWS. .
Scientific Press,

oCjCuSiHc icSS.
We have several times referred to
the amendments to the mining laws
proposed by Senator Stewart Of Ne
vada. The bill which he introduced
was passed by the U. s. Senate on
Tuesday. 1t was reported favorably
by the Committee on Mines and Min
ing. and passed without debate.
The bill makes some material
changes in the mining laws, some OF
which will please the miners, and
others may not.
Among the changes are the follow
ing: The amount of work necessary
to hold placer claim is reduced from
800 per annum TO $50, and limits
the amount OF placer ground that may
be included in a patent to $50 acres.
1t fixes IL o'clock noon, on the first
day of August, as the commencement
aud end OF the year for annual work,
instead Of midnight Of the 3lst OF De-
eember, as now fixed by law. This
change was made to allow relocations
to be made in daylight and in summer
time, when the mountains are free
from snow. This will please miners
everywhere.
1t requires, when the annual work
is performed, the fling of an affidavit,
showing the work performed, in the
County Recorders Office Of the coun-
~ in which the mine is situated. 1t
allows the afiidavits, which are re-
quired to be made under the mining
law, to be sworn to before any officer
authorized to administer oaths in any
State or Territory in the United
States. 1t reserves the right of way
through or over any mining claim for
roads, bitches, canals, cuts and tun-
nels for the purpose Of working other
mines as now provided by law, and
provides that any damages occasioned
ikereby to the mine-owner shall be
assessed and paid in the manner pro-
sided by law for the condemnation Of
private property for public use in the
States aud Territories in which the
mines arc situated.
The most important provision ],
that which says that no person shall
acquire by location or possession
more than one mining claim on tn,
same vein, nor shall any person relo
cate a claim which no has previousl,
located. This is to prevent repeated
locations OF the same claim by tn,
same person to eyade the provision
requiring annual work. The restric
ton to one claim on the same lode il
really what the original law meant
but Il has been constructed otherwise
and this declaration makes its mean
ing certain.
Since this bill was introduced, tn,
provisions concerning prevention o
relocation and taking up more thar
one claim on a lode have been dis
eussed by several OF our correspon
dents. There is difference of opin
ion as to benefits to be derived from
such law. Some miners do no
want TO be compelled to do annua
work 10 hold their claims, and prefe
10 relocate. In fact good man,
have this preference, and, no doubt
will 'sget over" the present laws b,
getting some one else to relocate 70
them, and thon nominally buying
them out Ii must be said, however
that our mining laws are very liberal
and man ought to find out in yea
whether his claim is worth keeping o
not. ii 1t Is worth keeping, 1t i
worth, at least, working upon enough
TO cover the annual expenditure CLAUSE
Of the law. While the new provis
Jon may work hardship in individual
cases, and probably will, it will, new
ertheless, release for location man
claims which have been held from
year to year without any work bein,
done upon them. II people who viii
work them will take such claims, i
will he better for the general minin,
industry than it is to have them Ii,
idle.
The State of Wisconsin prints tn,
iiekatz and thare 10 ona raan xvbar.