Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1893-06-02
NOTES ON THE LEASE OR
TRIBUTE SYSTEM OF
MINING

hesd bolsrs the American lnstltutc
Mining Engineers
The lsxss system is the gradua
result OF the dsvslopmsns OF ou
larger mines throughout the stat
Of Colorado.
The operation of a mine or grouI
of mines, by corporations has bee,
attended in many cases, by disaster
owing to the difficulty Of securing ,
fair days work from the nsn sn
Ploysd In tina mine, and the lest
sntsllsd by careless mining aad
sorting OF high grade ores, or by
lax or inefficient Management on
the parts of the superintendent ts
and forsmen.
Gives, therefore, a mine that
has been practically abandoned by
its swner, for the reason. given
but still possessing merit, the les
SCI appears on the grouRd and Sc
cures lease for year, or term Of
years, from tho owner, upon the
payment of a royalty upon the
gress smeItsr or ill returns Of the
ore whlsh he minss.
In this way many OF eur ahan-
doned mines have been rsepened
by tho miner, rko, with two or
mere associates. has beea enabled
by careful attention, to obtain
profitable results
This procedure led to shs leasing
of psftloas OF mise to different
lessses, the mine still remaining
under Tie soRtrol Of ths owner.
The lease system is now largely
in force in Clear Creek and Lake
counties; in erdsr that its workings
may be clearly shdsrstood, We
will cite ths instance Of a well
known mine in Georgetown, Clear
Greek couaty. The property is
owned and operated by Ar. G.. ua-
der the lease System; and his
ns.hsas prsvsd ss auccsssful that
hn axsmpls may bs followed with |
profit BY msny other mines Of this
description.
1'he lessee applies for lease, we
will say. upon b!cck Of ground in
level &C." This block OF ground
is an extension ef drift &C" for 100
feet which be- drives at his owe
e1 pense, the owner furnsslng the
secessary supplies, powder, fuse
asd candles, ths lessee paying for
hsae and for hoistlsg the ere and
lirt, and all other necessary ak
osnsvs incident to the handling OF
he ore.
The terms Of the lease are, that
ne should drive lsvel 100 fest aRd
aavs the privilege of back -stoplng
he ground TO the lsvsl above. The
royalty which he pays to the own
'r OF the property, dspsnds upon
What the ground i'm nssdiately be-
hind, above and below hlls, has
sisldsd, If it has been opened, and
rariss from 25 per cant. to 335 per
.eRt.
Should the level have bssH
irivsn already at tks cost OF the
owner, and She 100 fost Of back
Lew ore in paying quantities, the
ssses pays a royalty of 335 per Z
ent. to IS per cent. of the gross
nSltsr returns.
The owner thus develops the !
nine at little or na cost to hiasslf,
hs Lessee driving levels sinkiEg =
rinses, etc. in srdsr that he may O
pen stoping grouaS 1t is evident 9
bat, undsr this 2stbod, the owner
axes little or ne risk. And Is as
q rsd Of profit, If ere is fousd. :
The lssssss are usdsr full con- I
.ol OF ths forsmsn Of the mine ard !
70 subject to the sans rules ss
ould govern them il ssder days {
sy.
By dividing q mine isto plsts Of v
rousd, varying from so to 100 a
ct in length, and detsrminsd in 6
sight by the distance between the a
..sl., .ash lsssss is left to work il
is own particular biosk of grOsns, Il
10 ore beng kept separate, and T
hsn delivered On ths dusp, be- /
s..<--s..