The Anaconda standard., 1895-05-22
FIX THE LOCALITY
1T IS THE CONCERN Of ALL


lanu commissioners: - tr
Butte. May 20. 1895.
To the Owners OF Mining Claims and
to the People OF the State of Mon
tana:
On the 26th day of February.s1sss. an
act providing for the examination and
classification OF the lands claimed by
the Northern Pacific Railroad company
under their grant in the states d Mon
tana and Idaho, was approved by the
president. In section Of said act the
IeIsuIm eq1 40 xBp-o1 psnesI e1A sssIp
mining locations have been hezetofore
made or patents issued for mining
ground In any section OF land, this
shall be taken as prima facie evidence
that the 40-acre subdivision within
From this 1t il apparent to all that It
Is absolutely necessary to -fix the local
ity of every 40-acrc tract within the
| railroad grant containing one or. moro
unpatented mining locations. ~ 400 80
The president Of the United States.
| as provided by the act Aforesaid. has
appointed three commissioners Tor each
Of the Bozeman. Helena and Missoula
land districts for the purpose ,Ol, sxnrn-
| lining and classifying these lantis.9 r'he
| governor OF Montana has requested us
to guard the interests Of the people OF
possible to said commissions for the
purpose OF securing just classification
OF these lands as mineral or non-min-
eral. srE a1IE
The grant of the government to the
Northern Pacific railroad in every odd
numbered section OF land for 40 miles
on each side of it's definitely located
line, also two indemnity grants COM
prising altogether every odd numbered
section for 20 miles on each side Of its
grant, thus subJecting to the operation
OF this law, section of the Mate Of
G4vxtn H. --ar-
long. To carry out the purpdne OF the
law we request owners OF every un-
patented mining location within the
limits OF this grant where the lands
are surveyed and on odd numbered
sections. to ascertain at once upon
is situated so that the proofs can be
furnished to the United States COM
missioners. Blank affidavfts for such
proof will be furnished on application
to T. g. Merrill. president. these proofs
should be made In duplicate, two copies
soon as practicable to said president
On lands that are unsurveyed. proofs
shall be made, giving the location of
the mining claim. 1t is desirable In, i
each case to designate attnehRJhs pos
sible the county in which the mine or /
location is located, the locality In re-
lation to highways, railways or towns.
The commissioners agree to post in a |
conspicuous place in the United States
land offices in their districts. SO that |
the same may be opened to Inspection |
or publication. list of the lands to, |
be examined during the ensuing month /
1t is requested that the citizens OF each /
district select at least one man, |
thoroughly acquainted with the min
ing locations OF that district, to see /
that these proofs are properly execut-
ea, eay,t EaGn t,,d Proof VIII hays blank am,
sworn to. The person 4HdDked sh8uld7 I
have acquaintance with the locality, I
and the qualification necessary to point
out to the commission the different
mining locations In the, district or
under examination. The
law provides: THAT all such land shall
be classified as mineral which by rea-
son of valuable mineral deposits are
open to exploration, occupation and
purchase. under the provisions of the
United States mining laws. and the
commissioners In making the .olasSif1-
,ation hereinafter. provided for shall
AXE into consideration the mineral ais Al
severed or development on or adjacent |
% such lands. and the geological for
nation of all lands to be examined and
or the lands adjeSento othereto
Ind the reasonable probabilities Of sdch
and containing valuable mineral de-
,osits. because OF its said formation or |
ocation or character" 1880
This renders 1t very important that
,roofs should be furnished the commis-
Il belts and the courses and direction
n which they run. Also as to the geo.
ogical formation OF the different dis
riots. whether granite, porphyry, lime,
tc., so as to assist in deciding wheth-
r or not in such formation the lands
hould u be properly ciassed as mineral
And to place before the commission
RS full knowledge of the location
lnder examination with reference to
he probability of its containing valu-
bile mineral deposits, whereFsuch de-
'osits do not outcrop,, ID is absolutely
necessary that the inhabitants OF such
ocation should provide the several 1
commissions with the fullest reasons
or decision that lapd Is mineral, Al
ompetent person should at an times
company the commissioners and ia
ilitate their work
The organization of the several COM
nissions has been severely crippled, by
he small sum appropriated To Garry |
ut the purposes OF the act. and they
he Northern Pacific, companyn,of a
urveyor to accompany each cn11 mis-
Ion during the performances on. their
uty, who is to be used solela a the
purpose OF Information In id6nl 3ng
egal subdivisions. While swe2 <>not,l
ee anything improper in this. nj rel
minds us. that the people swilllhave tol
ely on themselves to take soare of their I
everal localities. and failing in this.
hey viii have no one to blame but 1
rsI snSs Of The the stsss Tss s
oad grant has been the subject OIL
arnest solicitude on the part of1all the
eople of Montana. and a vigilant and Z
areful pursuit OF all the people's rights :
aS c,.ss,,1nd eu,minated ate, n z iaE provi4mt Tor
toner's have been appointed under the
aw TO perform the duties devolvtnE
pon them. They are on the ground to
ommenee their work 1t nov. remains
or the people 70 perform q duty they
we TO their districts ana neighbor-
loods; nrst. TO facilitate the work of
ne commissions by every friendly aid |
their power; second. TO keep a vigi-