Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-10-19
THE STEWART MINING BILL.

mining bill which relates to repre-
sentative work on mining claims and
relocating Of said claims. This cor
respondent makes some very good
points, which are worthy Of Attcn
ton:
There il no law in existence that 20
rctards the development Of the mining
resources of the country us that which
compels the honest prospectur to do
the representing 81 worthless cor
owners in order to prevent the forfeit.
ure OF his own rights. II IL a ToUr
law that compels man 10 labor in
the interest Of one who will not labor
for himself.
For instance, when James Faithful.
Pete Doolittle, aud Iiill Blk became
ct,-owners in mining claim, Bill
Blk congratulated himself that james
Faithful II not only hopeful Of success,
but hard worker besides.
So he says 10 himself "I'll just lei
my coowncrs perform the assessment
work, and ii the vein proves Ia be
worthless they may advertise me out
and take j. for their pains; but il they
make lucky strike Ill then have no
difficulty in rustling up the "stufi7' to
pay my portion, and claim my share
Of the ore as wen as 10 retain my in
terest in the bonanza"
Az to Pete Dolnt!e he intends IL
help develop the claim, but would ii
good deal rather hang around the "a.
looms 10 play cards and drink rotgut
hence, after few vain efforts AT some
thing that worries him little he
starts Off III i'll humor, curses his luck
and gets en- another spree.
Now james Faithful, who, II sol,
owner, OF II agreeable to co.owners
would have worked zealnusly To de
|, veiop the claim, under present eircum
stances, rather than he the slave q
: worthless co.owncrs, reluctantly aban
dons the claim, winch IL subsequent,
jumped by Jack Sharp. who is
gambler by profession, and never pros
ecied an hour in his life, but il al
ways on the lookout 10 speculate OF
the labors Of others.
! The important question now
"Why did Jack Sharp have a bette
right to relocate that claim thai
Ja.1es Faithful" l say most en-
; phatically--when co-owner does th
full representing Of mining claim. h
is more Justly entitled TO all OF it thar
a stranger would be were Ill the CT
! owners 10 abandon il. The strange
, does not have to advertise. And
man should not be put TO unreason
able expense to advertise his &C
owners tor any length OF time.
Let hIm post a notice Of relocation
on the claim in conspicuous plac
aud have sAid notice recorded within
a reasonable time, aud ii any co-owne
acts unjustly in this, let him be prose
} outed for attempting to receive valu
, under false pretense, or ON some uthe
charges as the law may prescribe.
The above illustration does no
, show all the evil effects. Presumin
that James Faithful concludes 10 pei
form all the assessment and acquir
title to all the claim by advertisin
out his co-owners. he will cease Il,
veiopment just as soon as the linn
prescribed by law is performe,
Moreover, ne may do dead work
rather than to expose any body Of or
that he il led to believe exists ON tn
claim.
Thus year after year rolls by, lea'
, ing the country undeyeloped, and N
one but "A prospeetor can know wha
curse such "a law is. Regarding tn
relocating Of claim we do not COS
slider IL just To prevent any prospeeto
from relocating "A claim which d
formerly occupied.
lie may have spent years OF prlvs
!. ton aud hardship, and finally throug
! force of circumstances aided by di
> enlargement, he abandons the clair
a and returns in subsequent years I
!, find it had been located and ahandone
. in the intervening time by othe
parties; and now, when greater e,
perience and mere means would et
able HIM 10 develop il, the law pr,
vents his action, thus forcing IN
E ground to lie idle indefinitely aud pr,
! venting an honest prospector fror
: reapihg the rewards Of his early labo
4 Or, in another case. the former OF
/ cupunt returns to find portion {
the claim occupied He does nj
dare TO relocate io adjust his lines {
he present situation. so il is left III
occupied Or falls into the hands {
others.
A law that we should have is, one
require 800 worth of Improvement
1 Ia be made for the first yeai where iii
: location Is made on an old discover
I, Of which the locators we're not TIA
original discoveries, excepting sue
locations as shall be made within .
DAYS Of the expiration Of the repre-
! senting year
This would prevent DOlitt.es an
Sharps from locating and holding oil
discoveries for speculation, trusting 1
the labor Of others tn open up I'll
district aud enhance the value OF ul
developed claims.
A Montana law, which SAYS tina
"the relocating uf mining claim b
it's occupants does not eAcemp, tn
same from the annual expenditure
but such must be performed just Tia
same as II IT had NO, been relocated,
! fills all requirements to prevent frau
in eases where pra~pectors jump thei
own claims To avoid doing the assess
|, nleni work