Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-03-22
HOW THE MINING
CONGRESS WILL
HELP DISTRICT
Conditions Threaten Harships
on Prospectors - Reasons
Why Arizona Sonora Branch
of A. M. C. Should be Strong

The mining interests of this coun-
try have increased so greatly in the
recent past, that the Importance OF an
organization along the lines of the
American Mining Congress is OBJ
vious.
The most important object to be
attained is the revision of the mining
laws, particularly SO far as the OBJ
tanning of title to mineral land on
the public domain, is concerned. For
a long time these laws have been IN
satisfactory. 1t is no light task tu
bring this about 1t requires the
earnest effort of Just such an organi-
cation as the American Mining Con-
gress, to accomplish anything in this
direction. Any individual can lay be-
fore his senator or representative in
congress, instances where he has
suffered a hardship, and that is prob
ably the end of the matter. He can
suggest no remedy, and in all proba-
bilities, neither he nor his congress
man would be listened to, If they did
present a bill for the consideration OF
congress. 1t is a fact, that up tc the
present time, there has been no re-
form attempted towards meeting new
conditions, or removing all abuses.
We have had practically the same
laws for forty years.
The people in this immediate vicin-
ity can readily appreciate this state
of affairs from controversies that haVu
recently arisen in the United States
Land Office Everyone knows that
the mining laws as originally adopted
were simply the enactment by con-
gress into law, of the customs adopt
ed by the miners of California. The9
were all right at the time, because
they dealt, either with placer claims,
or with lode claims where there was
well defined lode or vein, cropping
out at the surface. In the latter case
1 it was the lode or vein that the miner
sought to acquire. Discovery was thu
first step. 1t will easily be seen how
confusion arises when one attempts
| to acquire mineral ground, under con-
ditions where there is no lode or vein
outcropping at the surface, and maybe
no indication of ore, for depth OF
hundreds or a thousand feet, and even
then, the ore may not exist in CO..
| tinuous vein or lode, but in isolated
or detached masses. The prospcetor
may be assured that the ground CON
tains large quantities of ore at great
depth. yet he cannot obtain title to
the ground, until he expends large
sums in work (sums beyond the
reach of the ordinary prospector)
and subject all the time to the as
sertion of adverse claims by others
who want the ground for some other
purposes-at least on some other pre-
| text-when their very object may be
To obtain the mineral.
! The courts and land department
saw the hardship caused by the liter
al Interpretation Of the law, and by
a liberal construction extended the
application of the law, to make opera
tive. what was obviously its intent
But recently. and instances are
numerous, the land department has
seen fit to abandon this liberal Ioli'
CIV. and require the statute to be liter
ally followed, with the result that
many persons who, in good faith, can
not obtain title, even though 1t is
conceded that the ground is mineral
and contains large quantities OF val
liable ore, but not yet exposed to the
ieye.
| This means that the day of the poor
Imam as a prospector is at an end
/ Claims in a country, where the condi
tons are, as they are here, can only
be exploited and acquired by large
capital. Here, is where the utility Of
the American Mining Congress ap
pears. Through this organization
there can be presented to congress
wise and carefully framed legislation
to meet the needs of the people. Al
expense that an individual canno
bear can easily be borne by an organ
ization. "A campaign OF education car
be inaugurated. Any measure sug
gested will have the Endorsement o
the best mining men in tn ecountr.
THE men who know what is needed
There is no section Of the countr!
! that the foregoing considerations ar
more important &c, than Arizona, AM
: this is the reason that every citizel
| | of this district and vicinity, SHOULD
support and take part the organi
, cation OF the Ariozna-Sonora Brancl
, of the American Mining Congress.
, The revision of the mining laws is
r Of course, not the only object to b.
: achieved by the congress, but it j
] Dow. Jones &, Co., New York, says