El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-08
AMEND MINERAL LAWS Of TEXAS
IS DEMAND Of MINING CIRCLE
Opinion That Present Laws Are Unjust and Hamper
Mineral Production Is Voiced by Various Speakers
At Dinner; Senator Dudley and Representative
Pool Promise Their Support To the New Bills.

I certain where lines may actually run
| In many instances About 1883 a law
provided for the state geological sur
Tey TO classify the mineral lands but
no funds we're provided Later the
land commissioner classified them, es-
pecially those west Of the Pecos. In
I 1913, law providing for the disposal
OF these lands was passed OF the
present law Of 1915 / see two good
features The law OF extra lateral
rights by which a locator can follow
his vein outside his side lines does not
prevail 10 cause litigation as under
the federal law, and the affidavit OF
annual assessment work provides for
an itemiZed statement OF expendi-
lures for the required 500 worth OF
work helps 10 prevent fraud
I think we should have the same
law as the United States with the two
features mentioned, with the addition
Of the payment Of annual tax Of say.
ten cents an acre per year. even s.
per claim Of 20 acres, and thus max
ing il costly for the railroads TO hold
their mineral lands and not develop
them. Royalty up TO as high as one
third Of the gross and payment Of is
cents a ton for coal are prohibitive
features. The law At one time fixed
the value Of mineral lands at Se0 per
ecre when not worth over $50 for
other purposes"
Dr. Harlan. experienced miner in
Texas, said IF I-had my way, / would
wipe out every law regarding min
erals in Texas and start anew. I To-
Gated two claims in FL PasO county,
now Culberson county under the old
assessment. law. but got my papers
in too late and was informed my loca-
tons We're subject 10 the new law
where we had 10 pay, as per appraise-
ment SIS per acre in installments
with four percent interest I paid out
and got patent in fee simple and now
pay only state and county taxes and
own both mineral and surface
rights. The present law is a bUngle- /
We don't know where we are and at
best are only lessees. II we fail to do ]
the 800 per year we lose out and I
can not refile on the same ground I
We should want TO offer a man a I
claim as cheap as any state in the ]
union The present law was made in I
the interest OF the cattlemen by poll /
icians.
says Law Is negotiable.
Leonard Worcester. Jr- said: 81
would not engage in mining on state /
lands in Texas I would not try il I
except where 1 could get title in fee. 4
I think We should wipe out present 1
laws and substitute the United States ]
laws Royalty on the gross output is 1
never paid 10 private lessons and this 4
states law for such is grossly in /
equitable
Here are some cumbersome feat
ures and a locator is subject 10 the !
land commissioners discretion en-
1rely- the former makes q discovery |
and posts his notice thereon Then he 4
is required TO apply for q permit 70 4
prospect and at the same time make !
affidavit that he has done ten feet o. .
work and recorded his notice Of loca- !
ton After all this, the commissioner (
can turn him down and decline to al I
low his permit After the permit he 4
must file an application for a survey 4
and this application can be declined {
BY the land commissioner"
Dudley Enjoys Brfckbats-
Senator r. II Dudley said 7 have I
enjoyed these brickbats at my Law.
was its author. although I did not
know what its features were It was /
prepared in the state land office and I 3
merely introduced It IN the legis- !
lature. There was not a mining man 4
IN that legislature. I suppose I was I
the nearest 70 one Of any. Now I
recommend that you practical min 4
ing men get together and draft your
law and I am very sure if you can agree 4
on It the legislature will be glad TO I
give you what is right Have your
representative, 2 practical man. down
there 10 help US out and answer qUes-
tons, for we legislators from E. PasO