Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-16
Concerning Oil Lands

Concerning Oil Lands
Congressman Smiths bill to provide
for the disposal of lands chiefly valu-
able for oil and asphaltum follows.
Be It enacted by the senate and house Of
/ representatives, Of the United States in con-
gress assembled. that public lands OF the
United States in the state OF California chiefly
valuable FOR mineral oil asphaltum may
be acquired under the provisions OF this act
and from and after. the passage OF this act
such lands may not be located as placer min
ing claims
Sec. 2.-That any citizen Of the United States
over the age Of q years. and any person who
has fled his declaration Of intention 10 be-
come such citizen, may file a declaration un-
der oath with the register and receiver Of the
land district wherein such land is situated
thta he intends TO claim and improve or cause
TO he improved for the oil or asphaltum there
on a tract Of land, deSribing Il, not exceed
ing 100 acres. II such land be surveyed It
shall be located in rectangular form by metes
and bonuds, according TO the system OF pub
lie land surveys and described with certainty
by reference to some we'll established and con-
spicuous post monument or natural object
In no case shall claim be more than one
mile IN length. Such oath shall be made be-
fore the register receiver aforesaid or be-
fore the clerk Of any court OF record in the
land district where the land is situated and
shall state that the affant believes such land
TO be chiefly valuable for its deposits Of min
eral oil or asphaltum. and distinctly his rea-
sons for so believing; that he intends 20 make
or cause 20 be made bona flde effort 10 pro-
duce oil or asphaltum on said land in paying
quantities: that he has not previously claimed
any land in the same county under the pro-
visions Of this act
Upon filing this declaration the declarant
shall pay TO the receiver a fee equal 10 25'
cents per acre Of the land claimed, and there
upon the register shall enter such application
upon his books, and no entry or hling shall
thereafter be received for said land until such
claim has been abandoned as herein provided.
But nothing herein contained shall be held 10
deny or abridge the right to enter said lands
for the purpose Of discovery and development
Of metalliferous minerals nor the assertion
of a mineral claim thereto. II the claimant
has made his declaration of intention to be
come a citizen, or II he be a naturalized cit
izeu, he shall furnish satisfactory record evil
dence Of that fact, which evidence shall be
filed with the declaration and be thereafter
conclusive Of the right or the party TO enter
the land, II the claim shall have passed to
an innocent purchaser.
Sec 3.-That at any time within three years
from the filing of the claim aforesaid the
claimant or his successor In interest may file
am application for patent. Such application
shall show the applicants right to or interest
in said claim; that there has been made such
drllngs or excavations on said claim as
enable the claimant to produce oil or as
phaltum, or both, in commercial quantities:
If the application be made on behalf Of one
or more individuals, that each Of them Is a
citizen Of the United States over the age Of
81 years, or that he has made his declaration
of intention 20 become such; il on behalf Of
a corporation, that fl is duly organized un-
der the laws of some state or territory and
has a valid charter authorizing to take,
own and operate such property, Application
on behalf OF an individual shall be made by
himself; on behalf of two or more, by either
Of them; on behalf of a corporation, by the
president, vice president or secretary thereof
At final proof documentary evidence shall be
submitted as to matters Of record; and as to
tho character of the land the improvements
and production there' shall be furnished the