The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-03-29
MINERAL ON STATE LAND
OPEN FOR EXPLORATION
PROVISIONS OF IMPORTANT BILL
PASSED BY RECENT
LEGISLATURE.

Senate bill sl2, passed by the seven
teenth session of the Idaho legislature
is one of the most important measures
that received the consideration of this
legislature. The bill was introduced
by the senate committee on mines and
mining. but it was drafted and spon-
sored by Stewart Campbell. the state
mine Inspector.
The principal factors that give this
measure its importance are:
l. Adds 100000 acres TO the po-
tential mineral area of the state.
. Making available for sale thous-
ands of acres of state school lands for
which there is a demand, but which
have not been sold as the state board
of land commissioners have generally
refused to sell all lands that they be-
leved to be mineral-bearing
g. Protection of capital and the
prospector i'm developing mineral or
oil deposits in state lands.
T. Opening of state lands to min
eral exploration and development
Heretofore the only method of han
ding mineral deposits in state-owned
land was 10y lease This lease was for
"a period of five years and the lessee
never had any assurance OF renewal
nor was he protected in any manner
in case he should develop "a valuable
mine or oil well Also few mineral de-
posits could be developed by the pros
pector as he is generally unable to
pay a leasing fee for the privilege of
prospecting This new law corrects
these deficiencies as well as insurne
the investor protection.
Features of the Law.
The outstanding features of this
measure are:
1. All mineral gas and oil deposits
ina state-owned land are reserved to
the state and are reserved from sale
and can only be acquired through a
lease from the state
>. All state lands in which the min
eral deposits belong to the state are
open to exploration.
8. Mining locations, similar to
those on the public domain, can be
made on state land. These locations
are limited to two years. after which
the locator has a preference right to
a lease and a mineral lease can not
issue to others than the locator dur
ing this two-year period.
4. The state board of land COM
missioners is empowered to grant oil
and gas prospecting permits for a
period of two years without cost to
the permittee other than the filing
fee and on development of oil or
gas the permittee is given the prefer
ence right to a lease.
Rights of Lessees.
8. The state board OF land COM
missioners can grant mineral gas or
oil leases for period of five years |
The former lessee is given a prefer
ence right to renewal and before a |
new lease can issue to other than the /
former lessee the new lessee must |
buy all of the improvements I'm
provements" are defined as follows:
THE word improvements within the
meaning of this section and of sec
ton of this act shall be construed I
to mean the work performed in the
development of the property the esti-
mated value of the mineral, gas or oil !.
contained in the land, and all build
ings, dwellings, mill machinery mine
trails, roads and all the
used, constructed and ne
cessary for the operation of the mine.
mill or plant" 1t will he noticed that
it is the definition of the word i'm
that absolutely protects Y
the investor or prospector as it as
sures him the renewal of his lease.
g. The mineral permittee or lessee
can not occupy the surface without q
the surface owner or
obtaining his consent.
z The state board of land COM /
missioners can sell all state lands but 4
the mineral deposits and the right to !
and mine the same are re-
served TO the state.
s. All applicants to purchase state S
ands must accept the mineral reser- a
fation to the state
MOrtCr NE rthar ron 1BnNuhtC =