The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-03-07
Mining Law Revision

The annual meeting of the American institute of mining engineers
was held at the headquarters in New York, February 10 to 20 Man,
men eminent in the profession of mine engineering read papers and
the discussion covered a wide range. Probably of most interest to the
general run of men engaged in the mining industry was the plan pro-
posed for a modification of the existing mining laws. Mr.. Edmund
Kirby, chairman of the committee On mining law revision OF the Amer
lean Mining Congress, has worked out a definite plan OF procedure an6
presented it to the meeting.
Congress has been asked to create a commission to hold hearings
in the mining states and to prepare and present, not later than mex
January, a definite bill for a new act. One of the addresses delivered a
the meeting of the institute was made by Senator Thomas }. Walsh o
Montana, chairman of the senate committee on mines and mining. HI
discussed the present status of legislation affecting running and made il
evident that rapid and sure progress is being secured. In his address
Senator Walsh said, among other things:
1t is now over forty years since u system of laws in relation
to the disposition of mining lands was devised. Generally speaking,
it has met the conditions in a most satisfactory way, excepting
always, the part dealing with the disposition OF lands containing
coal. That part never would have been operative at all had not the
practice now condemned as criminal been pursued. As the APP
preparation of Goa. lands has all but ceased in consequence of the
failure of the law to recognize that al entry of $50 acres will not
justify the expenditure necessary to the mining of coal on a COM
mercial basis, a revision in respect to lands valuable for coal is inn
peratve. Aside from that feature, however, the conviction IS
quite general that the extra-lateral rights give rise to compica-
tons Sc numerous and serious, it is such a prolific breeder Of litiga-
ton, not infrequenty characterized by imposition and perjury, that
it ought to be abandoned. The idea in which it had its origin was
a just purpose to stimulate the prospector by assuring him the
vein discovered through his sagacty and his sef-denial, and was
most commendable. But in practice it often served to deprive the
enterprisng miner of the legitimate fruit of his toll and eXpendl-
lures. Every lawyer of experience is familiar with instances in
which orebodies of great value have been uncovered by expensive
development made by the owner OF M CLAIMS IN WHICH uey are
found and who has been obliged to yield them up upon the claim
of an apex in adjacent territories, the owners of which had no
suspicion of their existence.
1t will be found profitable to compare the working OF the sys-
tenn TO which we have become attached, with those that have been
developed during the past two score years in the English colonies
the Latin American republics, and other nations that have been re-
ouned to legislate concerning the public mineral lands. An en-
rghtened public sentiment concerning our mineral land policies
can be formed only in the light that is afforded by knowledge OF
the kindred systems of the progressive peoples of the earth. "A
compilation of such laws, accompanied by a brief explanation OF
their character and the measure of success which has attended
their working, is all but essential to comprehend the actual value OF