The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-16

. DDA9TLE. THURSDAY. DEC. 10.
10 .rITLE. TO CANADIAN CLAIMS

Many persons throughout the United
States who are intending to 60 20 the
xIOndikc region appear from their cor
roepondcnce received IN this city TO be
eonfusec In their minds az to the char
acter Of the tenure Of gold claims In
TIE Canadian Yukon. and 30 many ask
kof information On this point that the
Uont-xntelligencer considers it duty
aeAln 70 give publicity TO the law.
Order IN council No i.ls9. Of May Il,
~, - amended. IL the dominion law
governing this subject.
Claim Is defined On the personal
sight Of property I'm a placer mine or
Atggings during the time for which the
grant OF such mine or diggings In made.
An entry Zee Of si5 shall be charged
the first year and an annual fee Of 800
Tor each Of the following years"
In consideration Of payment Of the
Zee prescribed above the law proceeds
- prescribe the form OF grant" which
- the only title procurable. as follows:
1.-THE minister Of the interior hereby
grants to the said ......... "a 3D., for
the term Of one year from the date
hereof the exclusive right Of entry up
on the claim for the miner-like work
Ing thereof. and the construction Of a
residence thereon. and the exclusive
right to all the proceeds realized there
from, upon which, however. the royal
~ prescribed by clause IA of the regu-
lations shall be paid" Clause II pre-
scribes a royalty Of 10 per cent on the
gold mined. provided the amount mined
ON single claim does not exceed $500
per week. and 20 per cent. on all gold
mined In excess of $500 per week.
The law then prescribes that: This
grant docs not convey to the said
............ "a. 3D., any surface rights
In the said claim. or any right of own
ership in the soil covered By said
claim; and the said claim shall be for
feitcd unless the claim is continuously
and In good faith worked by the said
.......... "a. b.. or his tor their assoc
ciates'
From this exact quotation of the law
Il Will be seen clearly that Canada
grants no title other than an annual
lease for minimum price Of 500 per
annum plus 10 per cent. Of all gold
mined. This lease is subject To for
fixture II the claim IL not continuously
worked or IL the lessee or his assignees
shall leave 1t .unworked for seventy
two hours conseeutiveiy without an Ak
cuse satisfactory to the Canadian gold
commissioner.
II can readily be seen how precari-
GUS Is the tenure Of a claim on the
Canadian side of the Yukon country.
and Il should be borne In mind that the
size OF claim for the mos. part does
not exceed 100 feet square, and In no
case Is more than TOO feet wide and
600 feet lorg.
On the other side. the American side.
. man may secure perfect title to
twenty acres Of placer claim In perpe-
tslty for she sum Of s. 20 per acre, or
fractional part thereof United States
Revised Statutes. section 2.ses). after
survey. sixty days advertisement and
certificate that the claimant has done
$500 wcrth OF labor or his claim Omitted
States Revised Statutes. sections :. So
s.sasl. This includes as much timber
as he needs in his business. for which
he would have To pay in Canada.
From all Indications Americans will
stand equally as good chance for sue
cess prospecting IN the American Ya-
kcn as in the Canadian Yukon country.
and all other things l.einE eQnal. sood
Americans should develop their own
country. In this case. Americans have
a very great advantage In their ability
TO secure title