Year: 1867

The recent circular of Comm iSSloner Wilson TO
United States Registers, Receivers, and Surveyor
General in relation to the survey, presumption and
purchase of mining property, IS of interest TO all
interested in mining well TO those officers.
/ The Commissioner of the Land Office has prepared
an elaborate and lengthy circular in relation TO
the subject under the act o: Congress approved
July 26. 1856. By the first section of this act all
the mineral lands of the United States. surveyed
and unsurveyed laid open to all citizens OF the
United States and to those who have declared their
intention TO become such, subject TO statutory reg
uatious and also to the Customs and rules of mi
ners in the several mining districts not in conflict
/ with the laws of the United States.


Commissioner wSson informs the Registers,
Receivers and Surveyor Generals. that it is their
/ duty TO acquaint themselves with the local mining
customs in their districts.


/ Mining claims may be entered at any district
land Office in the United States under this law by
any person or association of persons, corporate
incorporate In making the entry, however. such
description Of the tract must be made as will in
dieate the vein or lode, part portions thereof
Where by the local laws, customs, or rules of the
miners of the district. the surface ground is per-
mitted TO be occupied for mining purposes. except
tue surface of the veins lodes, and the walls of
such vein or lode unascertained, and the lateral
extent of such vein lode unknown, ii should be
stated that the extent of such vein or lode cannot
be ascertained by actual measurement but that the
said vein or lode is bounded on each side by the
wall of the same, and to estimate the amount OF
ground contained within the given end lines, and
the ascertained walls of the vein or lode. ard in
1 oh tho oil
tanned between such end lines and side walls, with
the right TO follow such vein or lode, with all its
dips, angles and variations to any depth. although
it may enter the land adjoining provided the esti-
mated quantity shall be given to horizontal plane
bounded by the given end liues, and the walls on
the sides of such vein lode.


By the third section of the act it is required that
upon the filings of the diagrams, as provided in
the second section, and posting the same in
spicuous place on the claim, with notice of inten-
ton to apply for patent, the Register shall pub
lish notice of the same in newspaper nearest
the location of the said claim.


The Register is also required to post the said
notice in his Office for ninety days. After that
time, should no adverse claim have been filed, it
shall be the duty of the Surveyor General to sur





preliminary to the survey, however, the appli-
cant is required to make deposit covering the
necessary cost of publishing the notice. the
veying and the plating. After the survey shall
have been duly executed. and the plat approved
by the Surveyor General, the party claiming shall
file the same with the Register and Receiver and
thereupon pay 10 the said Receiver s. per acre, for
the premises embraced in the survey; after which
it shall be the duty of the Register to transmit to
the General Land Office the said plat, with the
proof endorsed satisfactory by the Register and
Receiver so that patent may issue if the proceed
ngs are foand regular.


The unity of the surveying is to be maintained
by extending over the mining districts the recan-
gular method, at least far township lines are
concerned The contemplated surveys of the min
eral lands will be made by district deputies under
contracts. In consideration of the very limited
scope of surveying involved in each mining claim,
the per diem system is reSorted to, the compensa
tiou not to exceed $40 per diem. including all
expenses.


The extent of the locations is not to exceed two
hundred feet in length along the vein for each To-
cation, with additional claim for discovery to
the dscoverer of the lode, with the right follow
such vein to any depth, with reasonable quantity
for the convenient working of the same, as fixed
by local rules. No person is to make more than
one location the same lode, and no more than
3 5000 feet shall be taken in any claim by any
association of persons. The deputy surveyors are
required to be scientific men, and to bring in du-
plicate specimens of the ore, of which is to be
sent to the Commissioner of the General Land
Office. and the other retained hy the SURVEYOR
General.