The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-05

Certain urgent reforms of the mining
laws az the state are TO be presented 10
the legislature during its impending session
Representatives OF the several counties
most interested in the subject are begin
ming 10 discuss bills and amendments OF
various character which they viii present
either individually or with the general In
dorsernens Of the mining contingent.
One change in the existing laws appears
10 be agreed upon as Indispensable. IL
looks 10 the prevention of the locating
OF an indefinite number of claims by one
person for the purpose of speculation. Con-
corning this matter the Post-InfeAlgeneer
has received the timely communication
which follows, and has had interview
with Representative NJ. +. Field, OF okan-
ogan county, who is one OF the leading
exponeuts OF the mining delegation in the
legislature.
The letter is from well known miner of
Lakeside and reads:
In your issue OF November q IL was
stated that the faulty mining laws OF Ore
gon had been amended and the regulations
existing IN Colorado governing the locat-
ing OF claims would henceforth apply In
Oregon. The wisdom of this step cannot
but be commended. Years ago Idaho
adopted that Law and Montana, seeing
Washington alone, of all the Northwestern
states, has one % its most prominent in
dasfries hampered by such miserably In
efficient regulations that progress therein
is seriously impeded. The evils permitted
by the present law of location have been
frequently pointed out so there is no need
Of recapitalation. but the gtaring error of
allowing one or two men To stake an
unlimited number of claims. without doing
any preliminary work whatever thereon.
cannot be too severely condemned. 1t
Simply permits these individuals to tie up
large sections Of possibly good mineral
bearing ground for nearly two years. The
most prominent case of this kind in East
ern Washington happened in the upper
Methow country where two men had 1a3
claims and did not possess the means to
decentiy develop single one of them.
Requirements for N Record.
Bona fiie prospectors and mining men
throughout the state are keenly alive to
the necessity for prompt and vigorous ac-
ton on the part of the state legislature
and now that this body will shortly con-
vene. it is TO be hoped that the Post-fntel-
hgencer Will give such action its strong
and unqualified support. In the article
above referred tn it was announced that
this matter would be attended 10 during
the coming session, and one two sug-
gestions pertaining thereto might now be
considered timely. 1t is the unanimous
view of pfospectors and mining men, com
petent 10 express an opinion, that no
claim should be recorded in the books at
SAt county SSit uttis at if1St Ten tett OF
a shaft or tunnel shall have been com
pleted. or an open cut made. not less than
twelve feet deep. One Wei defined wall
should be exposed and mineral in pace
shown to exist. Work to be done In
solid formation. not loose earth or rock
II recorded before such work is done il
will present an opening for trickery and
dispute. In Colorado a locator is given
ninety days To comply with this law some
think this too long and consider sixty or
sevents-five days sufficient. But in any
case stringent regulation IS needed to
compel socators 10 fully comply with these
conditions before being allowed to record
The ANIMAL Assessment.
Another evil almost as had as the
foregoing is the law regulating the assess
meat work 10 be done annually on every
claim AT present this Is and has long
been miserable farce. There are many
claims on Lake CAeian that have been
oAned for from four To seven yeags, and
not ten feet of genuine work has been
done on them. Trail making tso-called),
sometimes in places far siistan, from the
| claim supposed TO be represented. Is a
| common dodge, and every kind OF paltry.
contemplate protext Ia employed to avoid
| actual work on the ledge itself In short.
WITH some men. anything goes-excepi
| striking Il driIl.
"A stated amount OF work on every claim
annually should be made compulsory. IL
| Is difficult to be absolutely fair to ali go
| general average-say eight or ten feet
| of tunnel or shaft. or twelve of open cut
1 NrAh tSu4a DC sE}ulfNs. 10 COM
| ply in full with this TO mean the loss OF
| the claim. The relocating trick Is one of
| the commonest methods of avoiding as
| sessment work and some men make a
| regular practice Of doing this. Comment
| thereon Is needless
| The present laws are wei, suited to the
| needs OF schemers who grab claims indis-
| criminately and then wait for buyers to
| come along, or go TO town to catch suck
| ers- Those who are engaged In other call
ings. but who Hike 10 own claims, provided
| they can evado working them, also find
| matters convenient, to say nothing Of men
| calling themselves miners, but who are too
| lazy TO work and have not the means 10
| hire men. But To those who make a reg
| ular business Of finding and developing
| prospects, and follow IL In good faith they
| are more calculated TO strange and re-
| tard the Industry than to advance and
| foster IT.
Mr.. Fields Suggestion.