Gilpin observer., 1913-12-25
ATTENTION, MINE OWNERS

There is no industry so hampered
by red tape federal and state laws,
as the mining of precious and semi
precious metals. Nearly all the re-
naming public domain in the noun
tain states is covered by forest re-
serve, compelling the prospector to
obtain permit before prospecting
upon that particular reserve, and if
he be fortunate enough to discover
mine, be compelled to hunt up a
forest ranger and submit his find for
his opinion as regards to 1t being
true fissure vein or a spur. And upon
that opinion rests his chances of OBJ
tanning a patent. Many of these for
est rangers are men of no experience
in mining and may report adversely
to the federal authorities, who will
deny any further development, and
If by chance he succeeds In obtain
ing a patent, his first great want is
timber to make the collar of his
shaft secure. His mine may be above
timber line, and at the foot of the
mountain lie huge forests of timber,
the property of Uncle Sam, but the
prospector' is not allowed to cut a
stick until he has complied with the
red tape federal requirements. He
| then proceeds to complete the $500
worth of development work required
by law before allowing patent to is
sue. In this district, 1900 feet by
300 feet is legal patent claim.
Some mining men are averse to the
apex law of 1872, holding that it
tends to litigation, which may be the
case in some instances. Our state
laws divide mining into districts that
vary in regard to size of locations.
Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit and Boul-
der counties are allowed 1500x300
| feet, all others are allowed 1500x600
feet, with vertical side lines.
Much of the land in these counties
is not patented and as the veins dip
from 10 to 1850 degrees, we contend
that the apex law is the only one
|
patents. The most of the mines pat
ented in this district are only $50 by
1900 feet, and some of them would
dip outside of their vertical side
owner is handicapped if he wants to
build road to his mine, or to lay
water pipes to and from his mines,
he must hunt up a ranger, and get
his consent to act, and then wait,
perhaps months for the government
red tape wheels to revolve. The fed
eral government has nov Withdrawn
all coal lands and water power from
entry, and if a mine should be for
tunate enough to be located near a
good water power or coal bank xOn
the government domain, it is as iBe-
less to him as though he were 100
miles away. These drawbacks and
Inconvenience would seem enough
to dishearten the most venturesome,
but this is not all, the early settlers
were mostly miners who discovered
and made many fortunes for themsel-
YES and others from our gold and sill
yer mines, and around such a mass
of non-producers Of any thing save
minerals naturally sprung class call
ed the rancher, who supplied their
wants by tilling the soil of the val
leys, and who enriched themselves
by finding a ready market for their
products among the miners, and as
soon as they became a majority fac
tor in the state legislature, began
to introduce and make laws throw
ing the burden of taxation upon the
mine owner, instead of equally shar-
ing the burden of state expenses.
In Colorado, our mines are assess
ed at their full cash value, plus one
eigth Of their annual gross output,
plus four times their net output.
This state Of affairs. if allowed to
exist, must necessarily close our
mines in few years, as mining can
not stand such taxation. The agri-
cultural and fruit lands of tie state
are taxed In many cases on a one
third valuation, and unless we can
succeed in convincing portion of
the farmer legislators of the unfair
ness Of the taxation, we can never
get this iniquitous and unjust law
repealed. The mine owners in every
portion of tie state should hold meet,
ings and thoroughly understand all
the changes of tie mining laws pro-
posed to congress, and see that such
proposed changes are beneficial to
the mining industry. Let us get busy
at once.