The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-14
ANNUAL ASSESSMENT WORK.

What the General Land Office Has to Say
ON II Nexed Question.
Not long ago and uron the authority Of
the United States land Office here. The IN
DEPENDENT stated that parties applying for
patents upon mineral claims were not
obliged to file. with the other papers con-
vt ,tuting such application. proof that the
annual assessment work had been done for
the year in which the application was made.
In q communication to this paper, pub
lished shortly aftetward, Nelson X Settles,
the land attorneys, challenged the corrsct-
ness of this ruling and cited the regulations
of the general land office. which they con
sidered AZ controlling in such cases. Both
of the statements so published have been
referred to the com missioner OF she general
land Office and his opinion has been asked.
Iu reply the commissioner Whites as follows:
In the Judgment of this office 1t is tho
duty of regulators mi receivers to see that
the provisions of paragraphs "a and 70 of
with. and any neglect to do SO brought to
the attention of this Office by proper pro-
test will receive due consideration"
Paragraphs "a and IS of the circular of
Dec. 10. 1891, are az follows:
"A. 'As u condition for the making of APP
1926 Or. 3. u. S.), there must be a prelim-
mary showing of woi TX or expenditure upon
each location, either by showing the full
amount sufficient to the maintenance of
possession under section 1926, {R. S. U. s.
for the pending year; or, If there has been
n failure, it should be shown that work has
been resumed SO as to r! event relocation
bv adverse parties after Abandonment"
Is. 1.-The pending year means the calen-
dar year in which application is made. and
has no reference to a showing of work ut
date of the final entry"
~.o klpA T. Ir,,-
been allowed by the Helena Land ofics to
make application tor mine al patents with
out roof that the annual assessment work
required by section 1924 Or. $. u. s. was
either completed, or, in case of failure in
former years. had been resumed in the cal
endar year in which application was made,
cannot be certain that patents Will be
granted them upon the entries that were
allowed upon such applications.
1t is true that If an application for a
patent upon a minsra claim be made with
in the time allowed for doing the first
years assessment after location, then the
snrveyor generals certificate that $500
worth Of work has been lone upon the
claim will cover also the requirement. that
300 worth of work shall be done upon each
mineral location Cor for the benefit of each
mine al location) embraced in an npulica-
ton for patent. If, however, the applica-
tion is made in any year after the explra-
ton of such first year after location. then
the application for patent must under the
| PROVISIONS of the land Office circular re-
ferred to by the commissioner, always in
| clude proof that the annual labor has either
been completed or resumed for the year in
which application is filed. After an entry
(Which is a very different proceeding from
IN application) has been regularly allowed.
no further work On a mineral claim is re-
quired.
DIV. h'onlr T0ror ,-F - Tho Dan IL s-o fhio
week for 5Uc. This is no doubt the lowest price
ever charged for a fur muff Of any kind.