Year: 1869




We make the following extracts from late
communication by Commissioner Wilson, Of the
general land office, in relation to mining and ag
ricultural lands:


If a tract of land, say forty acres, has mine
upon it., occupied and worked by the occupant
thereon, in pursuance of mining customs. there
certainly can be no trouble in proving that fact,
and it requires tedious and expensive inves,i-
cation to determine that such tract cannot be
entered under the Presumption or Homestead
law. IT, on the contrary, the adjoining forty
| acrestract is we'll adapted to farming or garden-
ing, has never had a mine upon it, one that
| is now exhausted and longer worked, and
presents no positive indications of possessing
valuable deposits of the precious metals the
facts are such as to be capable of ready proof,
requiring no protracted examination, and dis
trict officers should excise much care to prevent
unnecessary embarrassments and delay by com
binations, having selfish purposes in view, seek
| ing to interrupt the regular disposal of the pub
| lie domain.


certain subdivision either has a mine upon
it and is occupied by miners in pursuance of the
mining customs of the district or it is not i'm
proved and occupied as mine. In either case,
the facts obvious, and susceptible of easy
proof If 1t is occupied as sumine, or if vein
of quartz or other rock in place has been traced





has existing mine upon it, and metallfer-
Gus vein of rock is known to pass through
| penetrate it. the land is not properly classed rs
mineral. although, contrary to present indica
tons, gold. silver, cinnabar copper may at
some future time be discovered on it.


One part Of a quarter section may be mineral
land and another part Of it only fit for agricult-
ure but it does not follow, from forty
eighty acre tract having mining Improvements
on it, that the other eighty cannot be entered
under the Pre-empion or Homestead law.
Where mine exists miner should he allowed
such an additional quantity of land as is neces-
sary Cor the convenient working of the mine,
but beyond this he ought not to be allowed to


interfere with The disposal of the public domain
and if the residue of a quarter section is farm
ing land, it should be disposed of accordingly.


Under this ruling the great bulk of q mining
lands lying idle and not subject to location
may be put into market. We understand from
the above opinion of the Commissioner that all
lands not actually occupied for mining is soon
to be put into market-to be sectionized and
opened to pre-emption and homestead claimants.
! PARTING INTERVIEW BETWEEN EMMETT AND HIS
BETRoTHED. - Emmet was unfortunately be-
trayed by his enemies in attempt to emanci-
pate his countrymen from tyranny and oppres-
sion. He was therefore convicted of the crime
of treason. and sentenced to be executed. The
evening before his death, while the workmen
were busy with the scatiold, young lady was
ushered into the dungeon. II was the girl
whom he so fondly loved, and who had now
come to bid him an eternal farewell. He was
leaning in II melancholy mood against the win
dow frame of his prison and the heavy clanking
of chains smote dismally on her heart. The in
terview was bitterly affecting, and melted even
the calous sonl of the jailor. As for Emmett he
wept, and spoke little; but as he pressed his be-
loved in silence TO his bosom, his countenance
betrayed his emotions. In low voice. half
checked by anguish, be besought her not to for
get him he reminded her of their former happi-
ness, of the long past days of their childhood,
and concluded by requesting her sometimes to
visit the scenes where their infancy was spent,
and though the world might repeat his name
with scorn, to cling TO his memory with atfec-
tlon Al this very instant the evening bell
pealed frcm the neighboring church. Emmet
started at the sound and as he felt that this
would be the las. time he should ever hear its
dismal echoes, he folded his beloved still closer
to his heart, and bent over her sinking form with
eyes streaming with tears of affection. The
turnkey entered at this moment and though
ashamed Of temporary betrayal Of sympathy
dashed the rising drop from his eye and frown
again lowered On his conntenance. The man
mean while approached to tear the lady from his
embrace. Overpowered by his feelings he could
make no resistance, but as he gloomily released
her from his hold, gave her migiature OF him
SELF aud with this parting token of attachment
imprinted the last kisses of dying man upon
her lips. On gaining the door she turned round
AS if to gaze on the object of her widowed love.
He caught her eye as he retired the dungeon
door swung back on its hinges, and informed
him that they had met for the last time on earth.


Nav Nor Nan