The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-03-12
OUR MINERAL LANDS.
Text of the Bill introduced IN the
House by Hon. W. W.
Dixon.
Mineral Lands to br Examined and
Classified Commissioners to
he Appointed.
The Bill Affects the Mineral Lands
in Montana and in
Idaho.

the full text of the mineral land bill in
troduced March by Representative
Dixon of Montana:
\ bill to provide for the examination
and classification of certain mineral
lands in the states Of Montana and
Idaho.
Be it enacted by the senate and house Of
representatives of the United States of
| America in congress assembled:
Section l. That the secretary of the
interior be, and is hereby, authorized
and directed as speedily as practicable to
cause all lands in the states OF Montana
and Idaho within the land grant and
indemnity land grant limits of the
Northern Pacific Railroad company. as
defined by an act of congress, entitled,
"An act granting lands to aid
in the construction of railroad
and telegraph line from Lake Superior
to Puget sound on the Pacific coast by
the northern route" approved July >,
1864, and acts supplemental to, and
| tllcltOl, w ilt tNdUllHtu anu
classified by commissioners. to be ap-
pointed as hereinafter provided, with
special reference to the mineral or non.
mineral character of such lands. and to
reject cancel and disallow any and all
claims or filings heretofore made. or
which may hereafter be made, by or on
behalf Of the said Northern Pacific Rail
road company, on any lands in said states
which, upon examination. shall be classi.
fed as provided in this act as mineral
lands.
Soc. >. For the,purposc of making the
examination herein provided for there
shall be appointed by the president Of
the United States three commissioners
at least one of whom shall he "A practical
miner and resident either Of the state
Of Montana or the state Of Idaho. and
said persons shall constitute "a board Of
commissioners, to perform the duties
herein prescribed. They shall receive
for their compensation such sum as shall
! be allowed by the secretary of the inte
rior. not exceeding their actual expenses,
and in addition thereto such further sun
> not exceeding $40 for each day they may
Ut dtluullN fnSdRtll Ill tIlt DtIlOI ululJCt
of their duties. The action or decision
, of majority of said commissioners
, shall control in all matters herein pro
vided for.
Sec. 3. All lands shall be classified and
taken to be mineral lands under this act
, which, prior to the passage of this act,
| have been located or patented as mineral
, lands, or which have, or probably will
|. have, a market value by reason Of the
, minerals which they contain, or which
show such indications of valuable min
n eral deposits as would induce miner to
a spend his time or money upon them with
tire reasonable expectation of finding
mineral in paying quantities, or which
from their geological formation or thriI
g situation or propnquity or relation tc
II known mineral lands, are. or prObabl,
= will be. valuable for the mineral therein
u and al, Of these matters shall be cunsld
q cred hy the commissioners in determining
:. the mineral or non-mineral chHrac
# ter of such lands. and in classifying tn,
q same. The classification herein pruyidcr
= for shall be by sections. where the lands
g have been surveyed, unless there tr,
; such differences IN the situation ul
? character OF different parts of the sam,
"A section as IN the opinion of the com
e msslOncrS to require It's classification d,
Pc quarter sections: and in no case shall an,
# subdivision of less than quarter scc
e ton be made for classification upo.
e surveyed lands. IT the lands TX
amined are not surveyed. classification
shall he made by tracts of such extent
and designated b> such natural q
It artificial boundaries to identify them a
l. the commissioners may determine. Wher
,,,inipfr L,IV, hnnn Inrtt la far,
',' made or patents issued for minn:
l. ground in any section Of land, this shaI
80 be taken as prlma facic evidence tina
u the whole Of such section is mincrH
u land: Provided that the word miner
y al where 1t occurs IN this act, shall no
be held to include iron or coal,
Sec. 1. Such of the lands herein
, mentioned as have been surveyed prio
~ to the passage Of this act shall bc iirs
T. examined and classified, as herein pro
le vidcd and afterwards, and as speedily il
% practicable the lands herein mentione'
!. which have not been surveyed. until al
20 the lands herein mentioned shall hav
I been examined and classified as herei
,r provided.
Il, Sec. D. The commissioners shall max
= a monthly report and file same with tn
'' register and recorder of the Unite,
States land Office of the land district il
which the land examined and classitic,
is situated. Upon receipt Of such repor
2 the register of the land Office shall at tn
IS expense of the United States cause to b
Ie published in newspaper in the count
20 in which the land is located at least ono
:, week for four consecutive weeks no
- % tice Of the classification as shown in sai'
n report.
h Sec. 6. That as to the lands agains
- the classification whereof no protes
shall have been filed as hereinbefor
It provided, the classification, whel
'e approved by the secretary of the interior
shall be considered final and all plat