Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1895-02-20
ARIZONA JOURNAL-MINER
J c. MARTIN. Edr,or and Prop'r.
MARTINS MEASURE.

There Is no law which carries with it a more disastrous meaning to the general prosperity of sec ton than that which comes within the meaning of a combine or trust.
 On the other hand, there is no law which says to the people of mining or farming community the few are to be favored at the expense of the many, but what there is, necessarily, opposition to it. Such a law may be said to be in existence at the present time, covering the question of ownership in mines, the law, in short, that has the authority of the national Congress in the non-per- formance of annual assessment work on mining properties. The enact ment of the above law at first created only favorable consideration among those whom it affected, as 1t evidently gave to the miner and the industry he pursued, seeming relief from the burdens and cares of his calling. So far as it went, so far was it good. But when the abuse of it followed, then the con- sideration of it became the more earnest and deliberate.
 Recognizing the injustice of the law, even though it emanated from the highest legislative channel in the land, Representative Martin has introduced bill in the legislature at Phenix, which will set aside the malicious practice which u
 the national law, and the communi- ties it affects, and give to each and every person their inalienable rights in mining. The bill which he is the author of has already excited the few like the national measure favors them, while among the many it has created favorable comment and candid spprobstion. This is as it should be. A hog only squeals when he is stuck.
 If a law were passed giving to an incorporated mining company the ground of an adjacent claimant sim ply because the former had expended tens of thousands of dollars to develop its claims, while the latter had only filed a certificate, valued at few dollars, the favoritIsm would be as apparent as it prevails to-day under the assessment law in force. But it would not be, how ever, any more unjust, in broad sense, than chsracterizes the law as it is being daily practiced and faith fully carried out.
 The authority given to the miner under the national assessment law is so supreme, that aside from the ] individual benefits, it likewise in- suits the community. It says to | any one that he may locate indefn- | itely, and hold his ground by sim ply advancing annually a nominal sum, developing the property if he 1 chooses, or leaving it in idleness, on l the other hand. The aim of many 1 miners is to abuse this law, and the l manner in which they are doing it is shown in the filings made with the county recorder, wherein as high as twenty mining claims, each I500 feet long and 300 feet in width, are itemized under the head of one exemption notice that costs but Sl.50. Reports from several dis tricts say that a few industrious loca5ors have a monopoly on many square miles of ground, which they intend to develop" some time within the meading of the law. It is practices like the above, which the author referred to is endeavor- ing to wipe out, giving thereby to all men who travel the hills, an opportunity to pursue mining leg itimately and as it should be.
 The national assessment law as it is icing industriously followed out, will react, not alone on the men who are 80 eagerly following it out, but to communities as we'll will it retard their advancement and the development of the resources which surround them. The law which is now before the legislature should be speedily passed and put into effec- tive operation at once.
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