Weekly journal-miner., 1916-05-10
REGULATIONS FOR PROSPECTING
 ON FOREST RESERVES EXPLAINED
The State Bureau of Mines Gives h. formation of Value in Recent
 Announcement.


 many inquiries relative to prospect ing on forest reserves, and desires 10 make the following announcement:
 Broadly speaking, the rules relat- ing to prospecting for mineral on for est reserves are just the same as on any public land. The occasion for any difference between the forest SGT vice and the prospector is usually thc result of the fact that. because the forest service covers its territory with the rangers, the land laws are enforced, while on the public domain there is no provision for doing this and in consequence their application has been very largely lost sight of.
 All mineral land, whether on forest reserves or on other unlocated lana. is under the jurisdiction of the secre- tary of the interior, while the forest service comes under that of the sec retary of agriculture. The part which the forest service takes in connection with mineral land is merely that of carrying out courtesy of one depart ment to another and because th2y have men on the ground who are available for the work. There is the advantage. however, that the forest service is presumed to. and does p into all the facts and as far as possi- ble adjust any differences. It is their purpose and intention to encourage development of any mineral land, in great many cases because it is very desirable as a matter Of fire protec ton to have, the reserve occupied.
 In addition to this fact, the act creating the forest reserve specih- cally states in the following language:
 but it is not the purpose or intent of these provisions. or of the act providing for such reserN a. tions, to authorize the inclusion there in Of lands more valuable for the mili eral therein, or for agricultural pur- poses, than for forest purposes"
 That the situation is fully realized ! is shown also by the following quo | tation from the act or its amend | ments: The secretary of the interior may permit, under regulations prescribed | by him the use of timber and stone | found upon such reservations. free of l charge, by bona fide settlers, mine residents, and prospectors for mineral, for firewood. fencing. buildings, min ing. prospecting, and other domestic purposes. as may be needed by such persons for such purposes; such tim Der to be used within the State or Territory, respectively. where such reserve may be located.
 Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the egress or ingress of actual settlers residing within the boundaries of such reservations. or from crossing the same to and from their property or homes; and such wagon roads and other improvements may be constructed thereon as may be necessary to reach their homes and to utilize their property under such rules and regulations for all proper and lawful purposes including t that Of prospecting, locating and de-
 
 of: Provided, that such persons com ply with the rules and regulations cov- ering such forest reservations.
 Use of Water. "All water on such reservations may be used for domestic. mining. milling ,or irrigation purposes. under which such forest reservations are situated. or under the laws of the United States and the rules and regu- lations established hereunder. il And any mineral lands in any for est reservation which have been or which may be shown to be such, and subject to entry under the exist ing mining laws of the United States and the rules and regulations apply ing thereto. shall continue to be sub jcct to such location and entry, not. withstanding any provisions herein contained"
 From "The Use Book" is will be I very evident that the policy of tae forest service is to give anyone who goes on the forest reserve in good . faith every opportunity to carry on his work to the very best advantage . They have, however, frequent cases ( to contend with where the rights are I abused and the laws broken without i any reason or excuse. The following | is quoted from instructions to the ex- | ecutive portion of the forest service V and no fair minded person can take [ exception to what is stated particnl- I arly wne1 it is remembered that the q work of the forest service is for the [ benefit of many thousand people for every prospector that might reason- ably be expected to go on the grounI. f
 Definition of Valid Claim. c "A valid claim is one initiated iii good faith under some act of con D gress for the acquisition of title to C public lands and continued by use al- !