The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-28
ALIENS CAN'T HAVE 'EM.
British Columbia Has Brand New
scheme.

British Columbia Has n Brand New
scheme.
SPOKANE, Feb. 26.-The Spokesman-Iae
rieto publish hes the following somewhat in
teresting bit of news. 1t will be read with
considerable interest in Montana:
News of an important amendment to
the mining laws of British Columbia has
created a sensation among miners of
Washington and Idaho who have ex-
pected to acquire interests over the line.
Copies of two bills, entitled San act to
amend the mineral act, 1884," and IAN
act to amend the placer mining act, 1891, |"
have been received here by A. j. Miner,
from a high official at Victoria, with an
accompanying letter, stating that both
bills passed the provincial legislature
Feb. IL. The mineral act contains this
clause:
Section 10. On and after the passage OF this
act It shall be unlawful for any alien, unless he
declares his intention to become British sub
iect, TO hold any mineral claim by location, but
this shall not refer to any location made by such
alien before the passage of this act.
Doubt was expressed as to whether or
not the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS would give
his official sanction to such n measure,
but this seems to be set at rest by the pub
LEGATION In the Victoria Colonist of Feb. %
of complete list of bills passed by the
provincial legislature, and to which the
royal assent was signified. The list in
cludes "An act to amend the placer min
ing act, 1884," and IAN act to amend the
mineral act, 1884, the titles correspond
ing exactly with those of the bills re-
ceived by Mr.. Miner.
The act does not affect the rights of
aliens who have already acquired inter-
ests in British Columbia, but it will
seriously dampen the ardor of prospect
ors and others intending to go In with tn @
tide this spring. OF course. means may
be found to evade the law, SO far as own
ershp is concerned, but it will materially
lessen the opportunities of poor men de-
string to go as prospectors.
Another important provision of the min
eral act as amended is as follows:
section 4. The holder of a mineral claim may,
in lieu of the work required by section "a OF the
Mineral Act of 1891" as amended. to be done
on "A claim each year. pay to the mining re-
cordeT in whose office the claim is recorded the
sum of 500, and receive from such recorder
receipt for such payment Such payment and
the record thereof In any year shall relieve the
person making / { from the necessity OF doing
any such work during the year in and for which
and upon the claim in respect OF which such
payment is recorded.
This is deemed a liberal concession,
and also the following clause is accepted
as favorable to miners:
Section o. Any free owner who has duly To-
Gated or may locate a mineral claim shall be
governed by and shall complete his title thereto
under the provision Of the act or acts under
which the claim was recorded, in the same man.
ner as If the said acts were in force; and the
provisions of any subsequent amending act
whether imposing further conditions, or relev-
ing from conditions then existing or relating to
procedure, shall not, except as is specially pro-
vded in such amending act, apply 10 the claim
SO located.
The amended acts take effect after pub
LEGATION for two successive weeks in the
British Columbia Gazette.