The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-21
CHANGES IN MINING Laws.
Directors TO Those Proposed an"
Others suggested Instead.

Everett. Wash, Nov. 10. 1871
To the Editor: see an effort Is being
made or to be made to change our bnteu
States mining statutes at the next session
of congress I'm several important partica-
lars. AS a miner and prospector, THINK
the changes proposed are not for the BEST
interests OF either the prospector or the
miner.
The first of the changes proposed Is 10
permit q person TO make location before
any discovery. In placer ground TINS
Nigh, do provided a certain amount OF
work be required or mineral shown in a
limited time thereafter. On placer claims
the United States requires no assessment
work to be done leaving that entirely TO
local laws or rules. Ii there is no local
law Ia effect, person can hold. Withoht
work or cost, as many claims and as much
placer ground as he desires. without limit.
Hut In quartz locations the case Is DIFF
fereut. and the rule should be different.
The law at present permits any Amer
lean citizen over the age OF Il years 10
locate and bold as many quartz claims
as he IL able 10 do the required assess
nient work upon. IL does not take long TO
locate a claim; II may take some time 70
discover mineral Under the present rule
the presence OF mineral Is the necessary
fact 10 exist before a valid location can
be made. Under the proposed rule. IL Il
person were disposed TO be hog" he
EONfd locate q NhOie eefiipu OF knWnSHlp
IN mineral belt and then prospect the
ground at Ills leisure OF possibly hold 1t
for speculative purposes without pros
peos!ng or showing UP mineral at all, and
thus suppress and keep out all prospect
INK In that vicinity. holding back indet-
niieiy the mining Developments that might
ne made. While II Is necessary TO show
mineral in order 10 make a location, yet
wnen first discovered. slight evidence viii
suffice: Indeed. so long as the prospector
Is prosecuting hts search on a tract Of
ground and is Ia actual possession of T.,
whether he has uncovered any mineral or
1ct he has 4 superior right 10 any one
who may come on the same ground for
Tie same purpose. or any other pnrpose
Inconsistent with the possessory right OF
the first os,CupteT.
Such being the present law, OF what use
except 20 Che spee nlatoF or 20 the hog
Is a law allowing locations made without
mineral heing found? The mar who ex-
rfeises diligence Is protected ~ 4 Is. 0nd
Il IL only diligence that the government
should reward. our laws are already 700
liberal f. some respects ard IN those
spects should be amended: these possibly
are the manner ~ making locations and
performing assessment work,
And here We GENE 10 the second change
proposed. which. IF ana,yzed. viii ne seen
Ia be along the same line as the FRS; and
ihe tendency 81 which e 10 lnjnne the
pros pectcr aud benefit the speculator. The
second change Is "a require a payment IA
she government II SO par claim annually
INSTEAD % requiring annual asses nntnt
work The policy ~ our government las
heretofore been 70 foster the mining ia
,lustry by requiring development. The
average prospCs tcr as s1ile has little
cash 10 spare lie IL fnli Of dsvs' work
\ Tax 0n an Industry is aetr'uert. =
hindranee 20 thar extent II S. = dead
Il. ?
to she thing ITSELF Il husiis Il up The
result Of this pelicy heretofore pursued
8 sven Ia ne enormous mining industry
des elapci under shr present law What
q prospectcr wauld have 20 pay "a i
license on one rls1n weuld sTuastake Hin
.2r three or fosr months ana peTmif him
n DO three times ta4t amount ~ work CA
the claim. No prosoecter could hoft
NaeA hess develop u quartz mining claim
undrr this law, unless Il wo4ia pav from
fse grass roots lie would tA the Hrst
pisce De compelled to lind work 10 earn
his $50 then beside earn enough 20 SUP
port Aim while developing It. The result
wanid te that, f. order % work IL ai AL
he would he compelled - $acrtstee 81 o.
4 controlling interest }n il ~ The fellow
Hha stood by wtih ms ga aus who could
aHa would cay:
Farfeft Sour e'.ln Or aivo rsc a ron
ts7s53Fre Interest. so rather n xou wf~h
N1urscif another c}afm. 4 Hpl veil .sltr
fse q dess' - this
NJ. wh&s We want g 4 iaw THAI wrsG -,ss
tae w5onev AK Il new does i0ta tAs ,ja.s,,s
tPsn 50 rae mines; srco1rage ,rsst>&A a.
5enrtveiuE
Eas hera are tA~ ehxnxes thag .N.,1sts
,4 trsS@; Work hesaes location. scutva.
ia1f 20 annual assessment work: prcof a.
tfte required hefore sevoxss5nE Rscsttas,
rr0of ~ annual Assessment wsr& rer~
Sctr j0 absence 81 which taeeeItero ~
claim. rToof - work "a - Hiesf far ra--e+f
wfh'@ tAsrty 6avS f10sf esd os vpsr- as.
sessnenr work - Re aosse on IT, ,iaf~s
oT SIS tse acfGsR DEVELOPMENT ~ gmaf
CLAIM thauTh not actually aars rs, .na
C$Stto- oC placer claims TesulrA xssyk -,
- done ~ "aeh oastrs srreSr-ect.v., ag 4,-t>
IL &EHsev 10 ho3S TIE claim PROV s.4s
= 'ssFt several c}sfFsas san 1~- wcrk~s4 y, ,v,>
s&vsutsEea5as}y Together. sach work -s,ssss
aE he &enc aU AHy ore e. more ciaErr.~
so c00Fse. tasss t&sk suggestion eosls4 ss,r
apss5{ - PLAYERS. tNe f5t1s - wAses hss
ai7rRas FSSssess fFogn ;sse government
Ar ks2toy 1 iAIak these ssass-st sons
sH@c18 t@ discussed Ay the r>'gsvrs asss
te"sss=g tiers themselves. tsere are an, ia
se Important changes In ear saaasas iass