The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1900-09-26
CHANGE MINING LAW.
Numerous Objections Raised
to the Present Statute.

ol the state. ~ at pfeScIt constituted,
some fadIcal legislation IN the interest OF
the mining industry may I've looked for at
the Coming session Oi the state legis.
lature. The present law, known as the
Smith law, beiug named after the maker,
Senator William Smith, of Baker City,
while ATTENDED to remedy all the abuses
previously complained Of, does not appear
20 meet with the entire approval OF the
miners Oi eastern Oregon.
Senator Smith himself recognizes the
fact that the law might be improved IN
some respects IN the interest 0i eastern
Oregon, bat contends that the changes
most desired hy the people Of that section
were opposed by the mining men ol south
crn oregon when they were under con.
sJcfa,iJn duing the last session ol the
lrgi i,latufr. Iiy reason Oi the difference
iu the seasons m eastern aud southern
oregon there Is conflict Of mining IN.
tefeS,s between these two sections.
Under the present law the locator OF a
mining claim has three days in which to
stake III, boundary Iiars after making
location. 80 DAY, IN which to l,,c the Io,a
ton tot record, and 20 days IN which 10 10
the location work necessary To hold the
claim. The location work, which is not
10 he considered rlrt oi the assessment,
work required under the United States
mining laws, must consist ol a shaft not
less than 10 lee, deep, Of u tunnel or cot
not less than TO feet IN length.
Eastern Oregon mining men contend
tia, there Is IN injustice IN the cNatllonS
ot this law. II i claimed that three days
lS not sufficient time IN which 10 properly
stake the ground, especially When the
snow u deep, as IN the mountains oi
eastern Oregon II is during good por-
ton oi the yei'. Another objection heard
against the present law Is that more time
should he given In which To record. The
time Tor doing the location work, II is be-
lieved, could be shortened To 90 OF even
10 days. and the time IN which 10 record
extended TO 90 days. The reason given
VWS W NldN w many " " wv
known whether a claim Is worth record.
ing until after some little work has been
done.
Il Is argued also that the shortening Of
the time IN which TO do relocation work
would have salutary effect upon tine
mining industry In that II would discour.
age the holding Of many claims for specu'
iative purposes, to the detriment Of those
who might develop them II they had a
,hanee to locate them. Under the pres.
ent law man making a relocation Of a
claim has the same time In which TO do
his work as the man making an original
,oeatioN--0o days. This facilitates the
holding Of claims without doing work, as
locator can relocate his own claim the
moment the 70 days expire, and hold II
40 days longer Tor the purposes Of specu.
iatio0. He knows the exact hour his time
,, up aud can be on the ground promptly
10 post his new notices. Although pet.
haps not many take advantage Of this
,ooptaoie. still the opportunity Is there.
and elaimhog can hold any number Of
claims tos an indefinite length Of time
without doing work II he SO desires.
While II Is not likely that the interests
al the mining men Of southern and east.
rrn Oregon can be entirely reeonciled or
that the wants Of all can be met, II Is GER
tain almost that some changes In the
present state mining laws will be made
this winter. Eastern Oregon's mining