The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1912-06-27
WHAT CONSTITUTES VALID MINING CLAIM.

Mining and prospectors III the west manltesng
alarm and openly crcisng recent ruling of the department
of the interior relating to mining says the Mining and hnsi
eeng Journal The opinion illustrates clearly the attitude
of the government officials their construction OF the laws at
present in force and policy widely and seriously
with that hitherto pursued in the granting OF pat
ents for mineral lands
The first requirement in the initiation of title mining
claim is that of discovery Before lode claim be located
there must discovered vein lode in place carrying gold
silver cnnabar lead TIM copper or other valuable metal IN
til recent there had been disposition on the part OF the
land department officials inquire whether not the lode so
discovered could be worked at profit They deemed then
duty to grant patent when such lode had been discovered
staked developed at of at least $780, surveyed and paid
for at the rate So per But finding that mining CLAIMS
were some times located for timber other nomnera
commodity the agents of the government instituted pocy oil
inspection At first when it was found, as IN the case here
referred to- that the surface of the claims contains no timber
Of commercial vaue that there is water through or
upon said CLAIMS and the land embraced essentially mineral
in character and useless for agricultural purposes there ana
to be good reason for refusing patent ana patent
generally followed, frequently at some INDEFINITE ana Vel!
much delayed date.
Now the prospector is confronted with new lnelpreta
tion of the law The land may be worthless for any other
purpose than mining but unless there is exposed ven or
lode of mineral bearing rock in place possessing IN and OF IT.
self present or perspective for mining purposes paen
Twill be withheld and the government inspector the ndVldua
upon whom placed the burden OF deciding whether or not
the lode has prospective value me prospec'or sei,
who has expended time and money it's discovery and dve
opent and who is willing to pay the government price ior
the land is compelled to accept the verdict OF whatever III
spector happens be called upon to render an OPINION
te INSPECTOR happens to have mine developed IN such
lode or under similar geological and working conditions or
he in good humo he finds that the vein has prospective
values otherwise his report is adverse
The poor prospector longer expect to out and
locate and acquire for himself valuable mining property lie
must be financially able to develop to the point where IS GER
tanlv valuable under the conditions where is found or is
forced to sell for fraction of its value to one with
capital enough prove that it is mine good enough Tor
Uncle Sam to part with The incentive to explore is largely
Withdrawn and the mineral wealth Of the unexplored public
domain will be conserved for the who already has surplus
money to spend.
Most modern nations offer liberal reward to the dscoVelef
Of new eposs of valuable The United States has de
veloped more rapidly than other countries in its mineral IN
dsry and in material prosperity largely because OF its liberal
policy for the disposal of it's mineral and agricultural lands
Anv future legislation Interpretation OF present statutes
which has tendency to cua opportunity or lessen the re-
ward for honest labor and enterprise is not likely to result IN
the spread of prosperity the settlement OF unenanted
oons nor will it be received with approval by the public at
large
Here is another illustration Of the crying need for rational
revision of our mining laws If the discovery provision were
eliminated entirely and prospecor were permitted to stake
his claim and hold it long he performed reasonable
amount Of real development work most of this particular
otv If troube and expense would be obvated.
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