Arizona silver belt., 1898-06-16
SAN CARLOS COAL FIELDS.

The following is portion of letter from the land commissioner at Wash iugton addressed to the register and receiver at Tucson. giving information in regard 10 the opening of the strip, which is of interest to the claimants:
 The survey provided for by said act (of June lO, 1896, has been made and the record thereof is in this office await ing the receipt of the report of the surveyor's examination which has been called for. When said report is re- ceiyed the record will be examined and the approved plat of survey will be forwarded to your office for filing as provided for in said act. There is no apparent necessity for the issuance of instructions in the matsor at this time, but for the information of your office and to onsble yon to answer inquiries relative 10 the opening of said reserva- tion, certain facts may be stated with reference to said reservation.
 In the opening of the Blackieet ln- dian reservation in Montana which was provided for by said act in terms sim liar to those which provided for the opening of the San Carlos reservation, uflice letter of March 29, 1898, forward ed to the local office the approved plat of survey for filing on April l5, 1898, and the local officers were directed to give notice "by furnishing the infor- nation to the local papers as Q matter of news and by posting notice thersof ip a conspicuous place iu your office and such other means will be used as will result in giving us wide and gen eral information of tha notice as pos sible."
 The only difference in tho opening of said reservations is that the San Carlos reservation will be opened sub ject to the ''prcfcrence right of pnr- chase" provided for by act of June i9, 1896, supra.
 This Deed not, however, affect the manner of giving notice of the San ! Carlos opening. The preference righ. ot purchase is accorded only to those who in good faith prior to said act have discovered upon, or located mine of coal or other mineral upon said land. And in order to preserve their rights such claimants would be required to show 8 continuous compliance with the local and general laws and regulations. By the terms of said act, however, no psrsoL could initiate claim to lands in such reservation after the date of the opening. There is nothing in the act which requires claimants to file no- tice of their claims in the land depart ment, it is sufficient if they show a compliance with the mining laws. The survey provided for is only for the ex- terior lines of the ceded portion of the reservation.
 There is no substantial survey for the lands to be opened. Coal claim. ants, therefore, will be protected by showing Q compliance with the coal land laws and regulations in the mat ter of maintenance of their claims. The mineral rights may therefore rest upon their rights acquired by their possessory titles and not file notice of their claims in the land department. In view of this fact the local officers will have no particular duty to perform in the opening of said reservation ex- cept to give notice of the filing of the approved plat in the manner to be indicated when such approved plat is forwarded to the local office. It is understood that when said lands are opened they will be subject to the oper- ation of the United States mineral land laws only.
 The necessary blanks in coal cases will bo duly forwarded to your office.
 Very respectfully,
 RINGER HERMANN, Commissioner