Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1894-05-26
A MINING BILL
INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES BY CON-
GRESHAM HEWliNDS.

Hon. Francis @. Newlands, at the re
quest Of the California Miners Associa
tion, introduced the following bill:
bill TO amend chapter six, OF title thir
tytwo Of the Revised Statutes, relatipe
~ mineral lands and mining resources
Be il enacted BY the Senate and House
OF Representatives Of the United ststes
Of America in Congress assem- bled, that
section 1924 OF the Revised Statutes be
amended so as TO read:
Section 1924. The miners Of each
mining distries may make regulations, not
in conflict with the laws OF the United
States or with the laws OF the State or
Territory In which the district is situated.
governing the location, manner OF -e-
cording, amount of work necessary TO
hold possession Of mining claim. sub
ject 10 the following requirements: The
location must be distinctly marked on the
ground by posts or monuments so that its
boundaries can be readily traced. All
records OF mining claims hereafter made
shall contain the name or names Of the
locstors, the date Of location, and such Q
description OF the claim or claims located
by reference to some natural object or
permanent monument as will identify the
claim. On each claim located after the
tenth day OF May, eighteen hundred and
seventy-two, and until payment OF the
purchase money and certificate OF entry
has been issued therefor, not less than one
hundred dollars' worth OF labor shall be
performed. or improvements made during
each year. On all claims located prior to
the tenth day Of May. eighteen hundred
and seventy-two, ten dollars worth Of
labor shall be perfoT med, or improvements
made, during each year for each one hun
dred feet 10 length along the vein. until
payment OF the purchase money and q
certificate OF entry has been Issued there
for; but where such claims are held in
common such expenditure may be made
upon any one claim. That the period
within which the work required TO be done
annually on mineral claims shall COM
mepoe at twelve o'clock meridian on the
first day OF January succeeding the date
of location OF such claim. When the
labor required by this Act shall have been
performed, or improvements made, an
affidavit may be filed within thirty days
after the time limited for performing such
labor. or making such Improvements.
with the recorder Of deeds OF the county
in which the claim or mine is situated,
particularly describing the labor per-
formed and the improvements made, and
value thereof, which affidavit shall be
prima facie evidence OF the fact therein
stated, and upon failure TO comply With
the conditions Of this Act in the perform
ance OF labor or making OF improvements,
the claim or mine upon which such failure
occurred shall be open to relocation in the
same manner as il no location Of the same
had ever been made; provided, that the
original locators, their heirs, assigns, or
legal representa- do not resume work
upon the claim after such failure and be-
fere such relocation, and continue this
same with reasonable diligence until the
required amount OF labor shall have been
performed or Improvements made. Upon
the failure OF any one Of the several Co
owners to contribute his proportion Of the
expenditures required hereby. the 90. own
ers who have performed the labor or made
the Improvements may, at the expiration
Of the year. give such delinquent CO.
owner personal notice in writing, or notice
BY publication in the newspaper published
nearest the claim for at least once q week
for ninety days; and II at the expiration
Of ninety days after such notice In writing,
or by publication, such delinquent shall
All VI EtiusC W pIOROE
OF the expenditure required by this sec
ton, his interest 10 the claim shall become
the property OF his co. owners who have
made the required expenditures. A copy
Of such notice, together with an affidavit
showing personal service or publication.
as the case may be, of such notice. when
filed and recorded with the recorder OF
deeds OF the county in which such mining
claim is situated shall be evidence OF the
acquisition OF title OF such co-owners.
When Q person or company has or may run
q tunnel for the purpose OF developing
claim or claims owned by said person or
company, the money 90 expended In run
ming said tunnel shall be taken and con-
sidered as expended on said claim or
olaims; provided further. that said claim
or claims shall be distinctly marked on
the surface as provided in this Act"
Sec. Q. That section twenty. three hun
dred and thirtyfou OF the Revised Stat
utes be amended by adding thereto the fol-
lowing: "Ani the surveyors appointed
under the provisions OF this section shall
have power to administer oalbs TO their
assistants"
SEQ. 8. That section twenty three hun
aud thirty five OF the Revised Statutes be
amended so as 10 read:
"Seo. 1885. All sffidavits required to
be made under this chapter may be veri'
fed before any officer authorized TO sd-
minister osths' in the State or Territory
where the claims may be situated having
an official seal. and all testimony and proofs
may be taken before any such officer, and
when duly certified by the officer taking
the same, attested by his seal OF office,
shall have the same force and effect as il
taken before the Register and Receiver OF
the Land Office. In cases OF contest ~ 10
the mineral or agricultural character OF
the land, the testimony and proofs may be
taken. a. herein provided. on personal no
tice of at least ten days 10 the opposing
party. or II such party cannot be found
then by publication OF at least once weeh
for thirty days in = newspaper to bs
designated by the Register OF the Land
Office as published nearest to the location
Of such land. and the Register shall re
quire proof that such notice has beer
given; provided, that the presence Of rocl
in place bearing gold, silver, cinnabar
petroleum, or other valuable mineral
shall be regarded as presumptive evidenc'
that the land containing the same 10. ant
| always has been, mineral in character
and provided further. that in investigat
| ing the character o! land with view 4
ascertain whether il Is mere valuable TO
mineral than agriculture. evidence may b
taken Of the mineral discovered or devel
| oped adjacent to suoh land. proof OF whicl
| shall be presumptive evidence that th
land in question is, and always has been
| mineral in character; and provided fur
| ther, that wherever land is proven TO be
well-defned mineral belt such land shsl
be deemed. presumed and taken to be, al,
always 10 bave been, mineral land, unles
the contrary is proven; aud provide
further, that the provisions OF thi
chapter shall be literally construe
with the view to aid the applicant In pre-
curing title 10 the mineral lands Of th
United States, and that the rules and res
ulations prescribed by the Land Depar
ment OF the Government and that OF il
officers. In disposing Of said land. shall B