Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-02-11

10 hon. w. II. Benedict senator from
the 4lst senatorial district, aud M. F.
Smith, representative from Custer
county, 8. d.
CUSTER CITY, Feb. 10th, 1899.
Gentlemen MY attention has been
called to bill, entitled House Bill No.
80, which has been introduced in your
honorable body, and sought to be made
and prospectors in the Southern Black
Hills, desire to enter an emphatic pro-
test against the passage of said "bilr'
and for the following reasons:
First. Toe proposed measure is un-
called for aud unnecessary, because 1t
puts the prospector to an unnecessary
expense and needless trouble which
poor man can ill afford. To illustrate.
Here are two men who outfit themsel-
yes in the spring to go on a prospecting
trip to seek for mine which will pay.
We will suppose they travel for dis
tance Of Is or 80 miles prospecting as
they go along, digging holes in the
mountain sides and leaving them whea
found too poor, until late in the fall,
when they strike what they consider a
good prospect, and proceed to develope
v
Dor il may prove to be mine. We will
presume they remain and work their
claim until the falling SHOWS of winter
admonish them that it is time to seek
the settlements and go into winter quar-.
ters. We will presume that it is 80
miles to the Office of the county record
er, which they reach after many days of
hard travel through snow drifts, and
get their claim recorded. They rejoice
that their hard trip is over, and they
can rest for a week or two. BY that
time they find it necessary to go to work
in the deep mines which are being oper.
ated, perhaps 80 miles away. They
must do this to earn grub stake which
will last through the coming summer,
when they shall have returned to their
claim for its further development. We
will suppose now that this bill had pas
sed and become a law, and under pen
atty of loosing our mine, We are COM
PEELED TO throw up our Job, return so
miles to the recorders office, procure
a duplicate of our record for which we
pay 10 cents (the recorder cannot afford
to do it for that money! and proceed in
the dead of winter to put up that dupli-
cate alongside of our notice. Now for
what purpose have we been compelled to
loose so much valuable time, and for
what reason are we put to this extra
hardship Why just to make it easier
for some busy body to pry into our pri-
vate business. That Is all We can see
in it, If the curious party wants to know
if our claim is recorded, let him go to
the recorders Office and find out. The
books are open at all times for his in
spection. We have attended to our
business, let him attend to his.
Now that we have shown the injus-
tice and the absurd folly of such law,
we hope the intelligent portion of the
legislature will understand its practical
workings, and strangle 1t at its birth,
and that we may hear no more of 1t.
see too, that in addition to the bill
mentioned above, that there haye been
several other bills introduced for the
regulation of the mines and miners Of
South Dakota. They are all unneces
sary and should be voted down, all ex-
cept one. The bill to increase the width
of "A quartz claim, from 300 to 600 feet
is all right. because it conforms to the
United States law. And / would re-
spectfully suggest in this connection,
that If the legislature Of South Dakota
desire to improve upon our mining laws,
they can do so in one way, and one way
only. And that is 20 repeal and max e
null and void our present mining law,
and adopt the United States law in its
stead, and make it the law of the state.
There are many reasons why this would
be great Improvement, and con.
summation deyoutly to be wished. ]
would recommend this.
First. For the benefit of ofsimplicity
and uniformity. For then we would
not have two sets of laws, complicat
ing nd conflicting with each ether.
Secondly. | would recommend it
because it is under all circumstances
the best law that has ever been devised
by the genius of man. 1t is the result
Of the brain sweat of men experienced
not only in the practical working oi
mines, but men who were also learned
in law. Whatever cnange necessity
may demand in generations to come we
cannot foresee, but as applied to the
condition of the day it is just about al
&. perfect as can be made The so. called
improvements which said bill contem
plates have all been considered by tbs
abest men of our nation and dismissed
as ,unwise and expedIent.
trust you will read and consider the
contents Of this letter, for ] have mo-
written it on my own account, so much
as in behalf, and by request of the min
ers and prospectors of this district. anC
the further knowledge that it reflects
the sentiments of the miners generally
of the Black Hills. There are alwayl
quite number Of the members Of tn,
house and senate who are new to tn,
business Of law making, who think they
must maRe score while it is their In
ming. This is laudable ambition, bu
they should be careful not to undertak,
to paint the lily, and mar a good Law
while trying to make it better! Thi
they are very apt to do, when the,
tinker with something they do not un
derstand. Ambitious burglars the!
need constant watching.
Your constituency so far as l cal
learn are we'll pleased with your worl
thus far, and if you are successful, II
; keeping these marplots from spoilin,
the good mining laws which we have
the miners at least, will give you ere
dit for having made an excellent record
We have asked for no change in tn
mining laws, and we are opposed to an
change, save such as / have mentioned
Should you find it necessary we will Gil
culate a petition memorializing you
honorable bodv to make no change
, With best wishes for yonr health an
success / remain in behalf Of the miner
of the Southern Black Hills.
Very respectfully,