The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-18

SEATTLE. THURSDAY. FEB. II
THE MINING LAWS.

great majority % the r1en VINO sre IN
tsrcstsd IN the development OF the mining
Industry o. tho state believe that the legis-
IafDre should make some amendments 10
the mining laws ia tie direction OF putting
a stop TO abuses common under the las as
IL stands.
Under the law one man can make as
many separate mining locations as ne de-
sifes IL any district. TO hold these claims
to is required to do 500 worth Of work
each year upon each claim. But be Is not
compelled to do that work until one year
after the LET of January following ths loca-
ton.
As II f. A man locates ten or a dozen
or ap TO Gfty claims during the summer
IN some newly discovered district His
sole necessary outlay for the locating is
the cost Of recording. which would amount
20 about 20 cents FOR each claim. when
the claim Is once filed Il Il not subject TO
relocation, even II no work Is done upon IL.
until one year from the list OF January fol-
lowing ~ mat time the original locator.
II be Is on the ground. can make re-
locations. can carry the claims for two
years longer. and can keep on repeating
the process indefinitely.
II Is rarely the case that the man who
makes locations in this number does so
with any Intention OF doing the develop
ment work the Law requires. bis sole OBJ
ject IN making the locations is 10 cell the
prospects as soon as he can ind pur-
enasers, at q price which suits him; which
be can DO soon or late. IL the district Ia
finally developed somewhat by the work
OF other people
II 10 said that the mineral districts OF the
country would not have been discovered
or opened up for years had il not
been for the work Of thu hardy prospector.
who explores the districts. undergoing
great hardships In so doing. solely under
the stimulus OF n hope OF finding lodges on
which ne can locate claims TO sell; that Il
Is the selling OF claims. not mining. which
brings the prospector the reward for his
services. for few prospectors are practical
miners. aud rarely one has the means 20
develop mining property.
AL of this may be. and doubtless is true.
but at the same time II Is equally true that
system which permits one man TO hold
large number OF claims. Of which he does
not propose 10 develop single one. for an
Indefinite length Of time. needs correction.
Nothing OF the kind was contemplated by
the law. and the whole business is simply
an evasion OF the intent OF the law and an
abuse Of the libeFaiity OF It's provisions.
The RICH, 10 take up mining claim IS
given to every man who chooses TO exer-
else t. not as a mere bounty. but as a
matter or public policy. that thereby the
seiaorsl resources or the country may be
developed. and thus additions made 10 the
wealth % the country. No one car pur-
chase piece CT uneeveloped mineral prop
erty from the government a. any price
the policy Of the lsw forblds il. What Is
required is that person who has been
permitted 90 select a mineral location shall
proceed at oaee 20 develop the property.
and Il IS only after he has done SEQ worth
Of work upon IL that 10 Is permitted 20
acquire title TO II by purchase Tho re-
quigement % an expenditure Of 500 wc-th
% work each year upon each claim IS not
49, Nft @t&F $50 NtA AAtEk4F RRAaE not Et
considered oppressive By any one WHO
takes such claim with the honest lntcn-
ton 81 developing Il. Locating claim
with any other purpose than nat OF com
plying with the law il a fraud upon the
government. go matter how common the
practice may -.
EveG those who see the abuses Of the
present system are not prepared 20 agree
upon what remedy should &c applied. The
general weight 81 opinion IS. however. "a
favor Of requiring Development work to be
commenced upen saca claim withla com
narstlveiy hrlef period after the claim Is
recorded, ava that such work should b
continuous duria< the summer season an
til A. least TIE rnialmam amount az Labor
required by tas Law Is accomplished. "
ehis were the Jaw. one or tao proset-te-s
would not Be perrnlttes 20 neg" a Nho,e
district hy locating claims whteh shrv can
nsves develop. and which they are not will
tx 90 sei So prospect prizes.