Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1895-03-09
A MINING BILL
INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES BY con-
GRESHAM KEWLkNDS.

quest Of the California Miners Associa-
tion, introduced the following bill:
A bill to amend chapter six, of title thir-
ty-two Of the Revised Statutes. relating
to mineral lands and mining resources
Be il enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United States
OF America In Congress assembled, that
section 1924 of the Revised Statutes be
amended 30 as 10 read:
Section 1924. The miners OF each
mining district 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 re-
cording, amount Of work necessary to
hold possession of q mining claim, sub
ject to 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
locators, the date of location. and such
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 la-or 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 performed, or improvements
made, during each year for each one hun
dred feet in length along the vein, until
payment OF the purchase money and
certificate Of entry has been Issued there
for; bus 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
mence at twelve O'Clock meridian on the
frat 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, OF
legal representatives do not resume work
upon the claim after such failure and be-
same with si6Sa ressonssi6Sias diligence hra 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 co-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 week
for ninety days; and II at the expiration
OF ninety days after such notice In writing
or by publication, such delinquent shall
fail or refuse to contribute his proportion
of the expenditure required by this SEQ
ton, his interest in the claim shall become
the property OF his co-owners who have
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
a tunnel for the purpose Of developing a
claim or claims owned by said person or
company, the money so expended in run
ming said tunnel shall be taken and oon-
sidered as expended on said claim or
claims; 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 thirty-four 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 osshs to their
assistants"
SEQ. s. That section twenty-three hun
and thirty-ivs Of the Revised Statutes be
amended so 90 to read:
"Sec, 1886, All affdavits required to
be made under this chapter may be veri
fed before any officer authorized to ad'
minister oaths in the State or Territory
where the claims may be situated having
an official seal, and all testimony and proof,
may be taken before Sny such ofi1cer, anc
when duly certified by the oficer tskins
the same, attested by his seal OF office
shall have the same force and effeos as i
taken before the Register and Receiver O
the Land Office. In cases OF contest as u
the mineral or agricultural character o.
the land, the testimony and pr oofs may b
taken, as herein provided, on pc rsonal no
tice Of at least ten days to the opposint
party. OF II such party cannot be found
th,,n by publication of at least once weel
for thirty days in newspaper to D.
designated by the Register OF the Lane
Office as published nearest TO the location
of such land. and the Register shall re
quire proof that suoh notice has beer
given; provided, that the presence of rocl
in place bearing gold. silver. cinnabar
petrole um, or other valuable mineral
shall be regarded as presumptive evidence
that the land containing the same is, an'
always has been, mineral in character
and provided further. that in investigst
ing the character OF land with view Il
ascertain whether i. IL nore valuable 70
mineral than agriculture, evidence may b
taken Of the mineral discovered or devel
oped adjacent to such land. proof Of whiel
shall be presumptive evidence that tn
land in question is, and always has been
mineral in character; and provided fur
ther, that wherever land is proven TO be
well-defip ed mineral belt such land shsl
be deemed, presumed and taken TO be, su'
always to have been, mineral land, unles
the contriry is proven; and provide,
further. that the provisions OF thi
chapter sh all be literally construe
with the vie TO aid the applicant in pre-
curing title 10 the mineral lands OF th
United States, and that the rules and REG
uiations pres cribed by the Land Depart
ment of the Government and that of il
officers, In dis posing OF said land. shall b
so formulated ,snd administered as 20 assis
the Governmen in disposing OF said land
TO bona fide applicants. and not so as
s..pala he II fharanf 0r imnQaa 0nQF