The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1892-05-05
MINING IN NEVADA.
Why IL Does not Prospsr--Defecfsi in
the Laws,

Why IL Does not Prospsr--Def-cisin
the Laws,
The mining industry could be benefited
by limiting the quantity of mineral land
locatable, simplifying the method Of sc.
quiring title, and requiring actual occu-
patton and use as condition to owner
ship. Prior to 1866 it was the settled
policy of the United States to reserve
the land bearing precious metals from
sale. No other individual could acquire
the fee title to the minerals. They re-
NAMED public property, subject to the
public control. The right to mine was
mere license suffered by the government
privilege which ceased when the indi
vidual enjoying it abandoned his work.
The holding and working Of mines was
governed by the local rules and customs
Of miners adopted in district meetings
and applicable to each locality. 1t was
the object of these ''locsl law and Gus
toms" and the policy Of the government
to encourage mining and enforce equality
of rights; to secure 10 each miner actu.
ally residing in the district the possession
of as much placer ground as he could
reasonably work, and as much ledge or
mineral bearing rock as he could pro-
perly develop.
nut ONE LOCATION
could be made by the same individual on
the same 'lode, Each locator was re-
quired to personally represent his
claim, and no location was valid which
was not represented and worked in
good faith Placer claims rarely exceed.
ed fifty feet in length and were some
times restricted TO fifteen Ledge loca-
tons were confined to the lode and va.
ried from twenty to two hundred feet
along the course of the vein. Under
this system thousands of men were some.
times seen in single gulch, each work
ing his separate claim for his own &C
count, and thousands of looators we're
often engaged in prospecting and develop.
ing single lode. Thus
SPECULATION IN MINES
was restricted, legitimate mining encour.
aged, and employment given and wealth
distributed among many people. In
1866 Congress changed the policy before
existing-so far at least as related to the
title to ''lodes.' 1t was then enacted
that "The mineral lands of the public
domain are declared free and open to ex-
ploration and occupation by all citizens
of the United States and those who have
declared their intention to become citi.
zens."
it was also enacted THAT whenever
any person or association of persons claim
q vein or lode, having previously occu.
pied and improved the same according
to the local customs or rules of miners in
the district where the same is situated,
and having expended, in actual labor
and improvement thereon, an amount Of
not less than one thousand dollars it
shall be lawful for such claimant to
enter said tract and receive patent
therefor"
This act conferred the license O the
government upon the public land, search
for minerals and appropriate them when
found. 1t also conferred the right to
ACQUIRE THE TITLE BY PATENT
To lode upon compliance with the local
customs of miners and expanding one
thousand dollars in labor or improve.
ments. The act of 1866 provided that
enc. location shall exceed 200
feet in length foreach locator,
with an additional claim for discovery to
the dscoverer of the lode;" and THAT no
person make more than one location on
the same lode, and not more than three
thousand feet shall be taken in any one
claim by any association of persons. 4"
But in 1872 the policy which had thereto
fore prevailed Of selling the mineral
lands to actual miners in small claims
was completely reversed. 1t was then
enacted that mining claim
whether located by one or more persons
may equal but shall not exceed fifteen
hundred feet along the vim or lode" and
"three hundred feet on each side of the
middle of the vein at the surface"
NO LlMITATIo
Was put upon the number OF locations
of fifteen hundred feet each. An indi
vidual or association could make and one
individual could acquire the patent title
to as many claims as he desired the
patent, carrying not only the ledge To-
Gated but "all lodges, the top or apex Of
which lies inside of such surface lines. y
Placer claims are subject to entry and
patent under like circumstances and con
ditions as are provided for vein or lode
claims. Thus every limit which the
policy Of the government from its foun
dation had put upon the acquisition Of
the public mineral lands was swept
away and the mines placer and quartz
turned over to spectators and
monopolies. A single person or corpora