The Meeker herald., 1898-04-02
TUNNEL SITE Bill
REPRESENTATIVE BELL PR5
PAREs ONE.
Provides fsx the Prsventioa Of Coe1Set r
tweea fanssl aaA Lode ClsAns-vn
Rensdy lneqsalitsss In the Frsssat Itu
-Y.vor.b,y Rsporssd By the CsenitsSe


washinton, d. c.. March 25.-The te-
port in favor Of Representative Bets
bill providing for an amendment to
section 2,323, relating to tunnel sites,
was made yesterday by Represent.
By Mr.. bell. The report reviews the
law as 1t stands at the present tine,
and states that 1.-THE discovery from
the surface entities the miner to l.500
feet in length and COO feet in width,
and also the same area when the dis
covery IL made in a tunnel" Tunnels
are usually run at right angles to the
general course Of the veins. The Su-
preme Court has held that q tunnel
claimant may take his whole claim on
either side Of the tunnel that he may
desire after he cuts the vein, and he
10 required to give notice in order to
protest against anyone applying for
patent on any ground within 500 feet
Of the line Of the tunnel Yet when
he cuts vein In tunnel he may take
his claim all on one side, though II
covers ground actually purchased OF
the government by others within the
1,5OO-foot limit.
The evil that section Of this bill
seeks to correct Is to confine the right
Of the tunnel claimant to 75O feet on
each side of the line of the tunnel
should the extension of the claim be-
yond $50 feet of the line of the tunnel
conflict with the rights of any former
locator. II the tunnel claimant does
not conflict with any other locator he
may under section of this bill take .
full claim on one or both sides of the
line Of the tunnel.
A. hA 1ur c%n u 10 a Mt
Is entitled to only 1900 feet OF the
vein. but not being confined to either
side or to any portion of one side and
the remainder on the other, and hav-
Ing the right to choose his whole claim
on either side or a part on one side
and the remainder on the other, rem
ders anyone locating a claim within
1,SOO feet Of the line on either side OF
the tunnel subject to the will Of the
tunnel claimant IL he cuts the same
vein, or, In effect, sewers ii.
Section 2 of the bill requires a tun-
mel claimant to stake his claim at the
surface and record within sixty days
from within the time the vein is cut.
Otherwise 1t will be deemed that he
has abandoned the same. should any
other locator discover the same claim
outside OF the tunnel and locate the
same. These lands are sold for IS per
acre, and the interest of the govern
ment as well as that Of prospectors re
quires there should he no ambiguity
about the intention of claimants a. to
the specific ground desired.
Section of the bill gives the claim
ant all ore from the point touched to
the surface of the vein. though the
apex of the vein may depart from the
side lines. Mineral veins rarely ex-
tend vertically. These veins vary ir-
regularly from a vertical position.
Tunnel locations are what miners call
blind lodes. or lodes the tops or peaks
Of which are covered up with earth or
Debris and the location Of the apex
can only be estimated r-vAeA.s naors
thoroughly developed than b possible
before the. sixty days and recording.
Letters from the secretary Of the in
terror and the commissioner Of the
general land office favorAbly recon-
mending the bill are made Z part Of
the report, and with this indorsement
II IL expected that the legislation will
pass both houses. as It has a unani-
nous report from the committee, and
b believed to be necessary since the
recent Supreme Court decision.