Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1896-03-28
a MINING BILL
IN TR0DUcED IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, BY CON-
GRESHAM NEwLAHDS.

Hon. francis u. Newl6nds, ~ the re-
quest OF the California Miners Associa.
ton, introduced the following bill:
A bill TO amend chapter six. Of title thir-
ty-two VI 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 Assem- bled, that
section 2324 Of the Revised Statutes be
amended so as TO 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 law q; 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 . 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. ALI
records Of mining claims hereafter made
shall contain the name or names Of the
locators, 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
oath o1J "a mai AanatOo oha
seyenty-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 ell 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
bred feet in 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 CON-
mencs at twelve o'clock meridian on the
irst 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
afidavit 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 Q 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 represen tatives do not resume work
upon the claim after such failure and be-
fore such relocation, and continue tbs
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 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 ct least once . week
for ninety days; and II ct 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
made the required expenditures. A copy
of such notice. together with On 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
9 tunnel for the purpose OF developing
claim or claims owned by said person OF
company, the money 60 expended in run
ming said tunnel shall be taken and con
sidered as expended ON said claim OF
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 shsll
have power to administer oashs 10 theiI
assistants"
Sec. 8. That section tw~enty-three hun
and t~hirty-fve Of the Revised Statutes b
amended so ~ to read:
''Sec. 1886. All afidAvits required Il
be made under this chapter may be veri
fed before any officer authorized TO ad
minister oaths In the State or Territor,
where the claims may be situated havint
an Official seal. and all testimony and proof
may be takon before any such officer. AMI
when duly certified by the officer taking
the same, attested by his seal OF office
shall have the same force and effect as |
taken before the Register and Receiver o
the Land Office. In cases OF contest as q
the mineral or agricultural character o
the land, the testimony and proofs may b
taken, as herein provided. ON personal no
tice OF at least ten days to the opposing
party, or IL such party canno be found
then by publication OF At least once a weel
for thirty days 10 a newspaper TO .
designated by the Register OF the Lam
Office as published nearest 10 the Location
Of such land and the Register shall re
quire proof that such notice has beef
given; provided, that the presence OF roc
in place bearing gold. silver, cinnabar
petroleum, or other valuable mineral
shall be regarded as presumptive evidenc
that the land containing the same is. an
always has been. mineral in character
and provided further. that in investigai
ing the character OF land with q view I
ascertain whether il ID more valuable 10
mineral than agriculture, evidence may b
taken OF the mineral discovered or devel
oped adjacent to such land, proof OF whIcl
shall be presumptive evidence that th
land In question IL. and always has been
mineral in character; and provided fur
Their, that wherever and is proven to be
~well-de6ned mineral belt such land shal
be deemed. presumed and taken TO be. an
always to have been. mineral land, unles
the contrary is proven; and provides
further, that the provisions OF thi
chapter shall be literally construed
with the view TO aid the applicant in pro
--~s.. tssso 40 sha pasDaFat lanAa NJ Shu
United States. and that the rules and reg
u~iations prescribed by The Land Depart
ment OF the Government and that OF III
officers, In disposing OF said land. shall b.
so formulated and administered az so assisI
the Government in disposing OF said lands