Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-03-31
ASK CONGRESS
TO REVISE THE
MINING LAWS
BiSbee, Through Board of
Trade, Joins Mining CenterS
In Asking For Creation of
Department of Mining.

Bisbee has fallen in line with the
efforts that are being made through
out the different mining sections of
the United States to induce cOngBsss
to revise the mining laws of the
country so that they will be a help
Instead of a hindrance to the develop
ment OF the mineral resources of the
different states and territories. This
falling into line was done yesterday
by the Bisbee Board of Trade, at the
meeting of which a carefully prepared
resolution in regard to this matter
was passed.
The resolution, a copy of which is
printed below outlines the course
whereby thousands of dollars worth
of valuable mining property is being
held back from development or else
subjected to total loss because of the
close construction that has been pdJ
on the law within the past two years,
during which time the land Office has
required an examination and report
by special agent. Under a strict in
depreciation of the law mineral in
sufficient quantities to be OF CONNER
cial value must be shown on the sun
face before the patent can be issued.
This alone, in view of the hundreds
of thousands that have been expended
in deep exploration, means an enor-
nous loss, to SAY nothing of other
phases of the law which are mention
ed in the resolution, and which are
considered by men thoroughly famil-
lar with every phase of mining to he
| unjust and unwise.
The secretary of the board was in
structed to prepare copies OF the res
olution and mail them to the chair
man OF the mining committee in the
House of Representatives, the chairS
man of the same committee in the
| Senate, and to send a copy to Hon.
Mark Smith. Following is copy of
| the resolution:
Whereas, the general land Office of
| the United States has heretofore ac-
cepted proof sent by applicants for
/ patents on lode mining claims, with
out special investigation by the dc
partment. and has applied a liberal
| construction of the statutes relating
to issuance of patents for lode min
! ing claims, and
Whereas, during the past two years
| the department has ordered an eX-
animation and report by a special
| agent or the department upon eacn
application for patent for lode min
! ing claims, and
Whereas, such special agents and
the department have been placing a
strict construction on the laws relat
| ing to mining claims requiring a
disclosure of mineral in place, IN
| sufficient quantities to be of CONNER
cial value before issuance OF patent
and -
Whereas, in the Warren mining dis
trict and in other districts through
out the public land states and terri
tories large amounts have been paid
kout on the purchase price OF unpat
ented mining claims, and in the ok
ploration and development or fhe
same. where the mineral disclosed OF
the surface was not sufficient to com
ply with the strict letter of the law
and is found only at diferen
, points in the group which is beins
developed by deep exploration, AM
not o neach of the claims OF I'M
} group as required by the presen
strict construction OF the land dc
partment, and
} Whereas. if the department cor
tinues to apply a technical and stric
construction of the mining law
, rather than the liberal rule hereto
fore followed and approved in III
decisions of the supreme court of tn
United States, the future develop
. not on each of the claims Of tn
United States will be seriously in
peded,
Resolved, that there should be a n
vision of the mining laws of tn
United States along the following
, lines:
First: The establishment of a dt
partment of mining with its head
) member of the presidents cabinet.
: Second: A uniform law for III
manner of locating mining claim
; should be enacted, prescribing IN
. contents of the location notice, tn
method or manner Of monumentinl
, such claims and requiring a surve
; to be made and recorded within
reasonable time after the location.
Third: A liberal requirement Q
; mineral indications, which may b
disclosed on the claim itself, on IN
: adjoining claims, or in the vicinit
! thereof, should be included in sal
| revision. -
Fourth: Abolition OF the apex LAY
; which provides that the locator of
!. lode lead or vein in the surface ms
7 follow the mineral contained therei
3 outside the side lines of his claim.
Fifth: Authorizing the withdraw
: from entry by agricultural claimant
: of lands in the vicinity OF any pr
ducing mines, or in the vicinity
: any district in which active explor
. ton work is being done for the deve
!. opment of coal. oil, iron or any 9TH
: mineral prescribed by the preseI