Tombstone epitaph., 1921-06-12
hAYcEN INTRODUCES siLL
TO CHANGE PERIOD FOR
DOING MINE AsSESsNeNr

W NAShlNGlON, ID. C.. June e--Ths
House Committee on Mines and Min
ing has submitted favorable report
on the bill introduced by Hon. CARL
Hayden. Of Arizona, to change the
period for doing assessment work on
unpatented mining claims from the
calendar year 10 the fiscal year end
ing June 80. Hon. Marion E. Rhodes.
of Missouri, the chairman OF the com
mittee. in reporting the HAYDEN bill
made the following statement:
The sole object of this bill is 10
change the time fer performing the
work required TO be done annually on
unpatented mining claims from the
calendar year 10 the fiscal year, such
change To begin at midnight OF July J.
1921. Every provision of the mining
laws will remain the same except that
the u months within which such
work must be done will begin on July
! and end OF June so OF the following
year instead of beginning on January
and ending on December 81 CT each
year.
1t is the usual and natural ten
denoy OF all persons to postpone doing
anything which must be done in linn
tied time until near the close of the
period For this reason the major
portion OF the work one. on impatient
ed mining claims under existing law is
delayed until the months OF. Novem-
ber and December. after the weather
has become cold in the mountain re
sions. In the higher attitudes il is
often impossible to reach many min
ing claims in the winter season on ac-
count of the heavy snowfall. There
has. consequently. been a demand for
a change in the period for doing as
sessment work from the calendar 10
the fiscal year, so that the last two
months will be May and June, when
the climatic conditions are more ad-
yantageous. The testimony before
your committee shows that this bill
has the approval of the great majority
Of persons engaged in mining and
prospecting and is generally supported
by the Members of Congress from the
Western States. The Legislature OF
the State Of Nevada. in February, 1921,
passed, by unanimous vote. a mem
orial to Congress urging the enactment
Of legislation which will provide that
the period in which annual assessment
work shall be done shall be between
the 3Oth day Of June Of one year and
the 1st OF July Of the succeeding
year
Only two objections have been
made to this change in the mining
law. 1t is said that there is a demand
for farm labor in May and June which
does net exist in November and De-
cember The fact is that in the noun
tain regions OF the West the harvest
season does not begin until after July
], so that there will be ample time for
men who have been doing assessment
work to 90 down into the irrigated
valleys and assist in gathering the
crops The other objection comes from
Alaska, where it is said that prospect.
ing and assessment work can best be
done when the ground is frozen. The
enactment of this bill will benefit the
Alaskan prospectors and claim owners
by extending the time in which to do
assessment work from December 81
through the winter months Of January
and February and until the ground
thaws out in the spring. II is, there
fore. the opinion OF your committee
that no exception should be made for
mining claims located in Alaska but