The San Francisco call., 1897-03-28

%NH state ever passed as many bills re-
GyXS laung to mining affairs as did the one
2 whicn mas just adjourned. In fact, the legis-
latlon erected this year is the first OF much
value and OF a compre hensive nature which
has found its way into the California statutes.
1t Is somewhat remarkable fact that the
chief mining State of the Union had before
this year passed fewer laws relating to mining,
for the encouragement and protection of the
great industry, than any other mining State.
The late Legislature did much for the
miners. This was q result of the organized
and united efforts of leading mining men, of
the new life which has been infused into the
industry, and of general disposition to en-
courage and foster it. For the first time in a
generation the hostility OF the agriculturists
of the valley had disappeared, and there was
the gratifying spectacle of the men of the
fountains and of the valleys working har-
moniously for their mutual benefit The re-
cent rapid development of the mining re-
sources OF Southern California another
source OF the larger interest in mining affairs
and the larger support which mining meas
ures could command The Legislature dis
played unanimously disposition to give the
miners what they asked, and it did so. This
, was especially easy because the miners asked
no new appropria tions of money aud nothing
at the expense of any other interest The
most important legis lation was result OF the
efforts OF the Mine rs Association, which pre-
sented a series of weLl-considered bills and
kept them alive on the files. This is but
another evidence of the value of that strong
organization.
The bill which attracted the most public
notice was the one, now q law, which reap
propriated aud made available for expendi-
ture the $250,o0O appropriated four years ago
for the restraint OF debris in the mountain
tributaries OF the Sacramento by means of
dams on condition that the United States
pend like sum- The Government appropria-
ton is ready for expenditure under the direc-
tion of Government engineers The State ap-
preparation is lying in the treasury, having
already been raised by taxation. The law
proyides for is expenditure. with proper safe
guards, by the State Debris Commissioner,
who shall agree with the Government engi-
neers composing the California Debris Com
mission to plans for restraining works and
approve the payment OF one-haif the cost of
such works out of the State appropriation.
The expenditure of $500, 600 viii thus follow
at once
The "dredger" law, appropriating $500, 900
for dredging the Sacramento River was not a
mining measure, but is so closely allied TO the
hydraulic mining interests to be indirectly
one. The bill was passed with the reciproca
cooperation of the miners, and it is expected
that the dredging work and the attendant
study of the deposits of alluvium in the Sac
ramento and its tributaries Will show that
they are largely due 10 the natural erosion
consequent on civilization and not wholly due
to hydraulic mining This would naturally
still further lessen the opposition to hydraulic
mining and further stimulate the redevelop-
ment of this great branch of mining.
The act regulating the location of mining
claims is one of the most impor tant of tie new
mining laws. 1t is a strange fact that this is
the first law relating to mining locations
passed in this State. The Federal law of min
ing locations on public lands is rather general
in its scope and contemplates supplementary
legislation by the States. All of the other
mining States have long ago MADE the needed
supplementary enactments, and several States
have this year passed new laws on the subject
most of them, it is asserted by some, better
than the new California measure. The mat
ters upon which this supplementary legisla-
tion is needed are the precise manner of mark
ing claims, posting notices. recording, assess
ment work and on-all of which are
important to the legality of mining claims,
and concerning which so much disputing,
confusion, litigation, laim-iumping and so on
arise.
The new law prescribes the manner of To-
eating claims upon the public domain, requ1r-
ing at the point of discovery a substantial
monument, and thereon preliminary notice
containing certain things and the recording
of such notice with the County Recorder.
Within sixty days there shall be filed a certih-
cate of location containing, among other
things: "a description of the claim, defining
the exterior boundaries as they are marked
upon the ground. and such additional de-
scription by reference to some natural OBJ
jects or permanent monument as will identity
the claim" The requirements of the de-
scription in the posted notice are similarly
general The law is unsatisfactory and much
criticized because it lacks the important fea-
ture of particularly prescribing the manner OF
marking claims. It prescrlbes, for instance,
but one monument instead of several monu-
ments or stakes and there is left room for
errors, disputes and g continuation OF the con-
sequent confusion, litigation and claim jnmp-
ing.
The most valuable feature of the law is re-
ouirement that the locator must do $50 worth
of work within sixty days after discovery.
Heretofore the locator has had from one to
two wears to do the 500 worth of assessment
work required by the Federal statute. If the
locator fails to do this work within the sixty
days he cannot relocate the claim. Hereto
fore q man had been able to hold fifty claims
for nearly two years without doing any assess
Inent work and then relocate them, thus
easily evading the intent of the statute.
County recorders are made the sole custodlans
OF mining records. The law viii be in effect
sixty days after Its passage
Another i'm portant act is one extending the
mechanics lien law to mining properties. thus
giving adequate protection to the rights OF the
working miner.
Protection is extended to owners of mining
property by an amendatory act making 1t
grand larceny to steal ores and other valuable
things from mines and other mining proper
ties the additional projection being given IN
additional specifications of property. The old
law prohibiting mine-robbing did not cover
sufficient ground.
The destruction or alteration OF mine mark
ings is made felony.
The law requiring the secretary and super
intendent OF a mining company to hle weekly
statements is made applicable only to COM
panfes whose stock is listed on PUBLIC ex-
change, and the statements are to be monthly.
The law as passed in the days Of stock specu-
lation had become needlessiy burdensome
and gave opportunities for blackmail.
Other acts of less general interest relate 10
the sale of corporate mining property, mining
locations on school sections and to locations
on unclaimed townsite properties
Mining Miscellany.
Two more promising young Californfa min
ing engineers have found London employers
at fattering salaries. H. G. Hoover, gradu-
ate of the college of mines of the State Uni
vcrsily, who has been connected with the
United States Geological Survey, and who for
two years has been an assistant to Louis Janin,
the noted mining engineer, lett last week for
London, under engagement with an English
syndicate. He will 60 to West Aus stralia to
,1u