Year: 1865

at length upon the suDJecC OF mlHeral lanuS, ana


while protesting strongly against the sale of


these lands adopts The ideas Of the Secretary of


the Interior. and argues strongly that they should


be taxed for the purposes of National revenue.


The attention of our mining readers is called to
the following extracts from the report. He says:
But the material and moral prosperity and adj
vancement of this Government and people will


be best promoted by the adoption OF such
course with regard to the mineral wealth OF the
public domain as shall secure the largest product


with the most equitable distribution among our
own people land at the same time subject this in
tercst to an equitable proportion OF the public
burdens with which the people and treasury are
charged


1t is believed that these desirable, nay, indis-


pensable objects. will be best secured by retain
| ing the propretorship of the mines in the whole


people, charging them with reasonable percent
age upon product, and making the right OF oc-
cupancy dependent upon the steady exercise OF
diligence and good faith in working them. When
these conditions fail beyond reasonable time and


without adequate cause the right TO occupy


should cease, and the ground be open TO other
citizens who will give assurance to boua hde oc-
cupation. thus securing to the nation the accumu-
laion Of wealth, to themselves adequate reward,
and to the national treasury Its just proportion
OF the product.


BY such policy The expenses of survey will
be substantially obviatcd; no portion OF the pub
lie domain will pass from the possession of the


nation with insufficient compensaion-nor for


more than its actual value; all will share justly


the national liabilities, and the whole will be open
to all our people; ailording these distant re-
gons shall be reached by ready means OF inter
communication now in progress of construction,


Il vast and solid capital, sufficient for the necessi-


ties of the people. and for the control and man


agement OF the world commerce which must ere
long center upon our shores.


When the nation is weighed down with tnan-


cial obligations, with pressing necessity for con


stant supplies of the precious metals, the real
representatives of value and currency of the
world, there is no subject OF civil affairs which
addresses itself with more force at this time to
the attention OF statesmen than the establishment
by law of system which, whilst it shall do just.
ice 10 the interests and equities OF individuals


under existing mining usages and customs, shall
ut the same time come, TO some extent ut least,
in aid OF the public treasury. The undoubtcd


proprietary title to these mines is in the United


States. For fourteen years they have been left
open without tallaee, and during that period


hundreds OF millions have been extracted and


carried away by individuals and capitalists.
To sell such interests and divert the Govern


mcnt ot the ultimate title would be to realize the


force and folly in the moral of the great iabulist


wherein the regular daily golden supply was Civ
| en- up in the vain hope OF graspng at once large
/ yet unknown wealth. resulting in the penalty of
/ total loss and disappointment. The sale OF these
I luttIPSl5 WOuiu Dc W tNCudiSc INC ItuuDIIC, u


liberal generous, benlcent proprietor, for the
! sharp, remolseless capitalist, to wiring from the
/ l1boring classes enormous profits. Il would, III
| fact, be policy contradcted by the cnli ghtened
| systems OF Europe, and that which has existed
! under other sovereg gntics on this continent aud
/ in the Island oil Cuba for more than three hun
! drcd years.


/ Discarding, then, all theories which would


wrest from our Government the lee in the mines


and minerals what is the course which sound pol


icy dictates for the benefit Of our people unuivi
/ dedly and the country at largc? Is it to allow


these vast in tcrests to pass exempt from any
/ trbutiOn in aid OF the public finances when all


the other interests Of our people are reached by
| the taxing power to uphold the republic? The


Judgment OF the General Land Office is against


such proposition.


| On the other hand the obvious course to be


pursued is TO make these pubic interests reason


ably contribute, like all other interests to sustain
| Government This may be done by system so
! liberal to the mining interest as scarcely to be
| telt by tin TACT, giving the indemnity which


will he found in The security and certainty to
! them in obtaining the usuiluct


/ To thi, cnd legislation is recommended open
! ing the miuc~ and minerals Of the public domain
/ the property of the nation, to the occupancy Of


all loyal citizens subject, as far as compatible
/ with moderate seignongc, to existing customs


aud uSages, cOnceaing to the diScoycrer, for q


small sum. right to one mine, placer or lead


with pre- cinptve right, in the same district


to an additional claim, both to be held for the
! term OF one year, Tor testing the value Where


found nOn-yeldiug, nothing is paid by claimant
| but the inCOnoidcrabG fee in the first instance


which gave him security Tor making the desired
| test; but whore found profitable, TO be perma-


ncntly secured, or secured Just as long as the


claimant may choose to work the premises, by


the payment. at reasonable rates, OF specific


sum pei foot, with the percentage upon product
| which may be prescribed by law, and forfeiture


within period oil grace after the lapse OF each


successive year, and thereafter, in default OF pay


ment the mine to be open to any other appli-
! cant. 1t is recommended, in this connection, that
! it shall be the duty Of the collector or deputy
collector of internal revenue nearest the proper


mining district to receive and account for all


moneys paid for the use Of the United States


under the suggested system of tallage, the iAond


OF such officer TO cover the responsibility, whilst


the internal revenue assessor or assistant assessor
| for such mining district shall make returns to the
| collector and General Land Office OF the names
| of all persons working mines within his jurisdic
| ton, with specific designations as to localities.
| The machinery in detail would require the set
| ting apart and mapping Of the several mining


districts, and it is believed, would. with care in


the details cf legislation, be made completely


effective with the aid OF existing civil officers of
| the United States and without additional eX-
! pense TO the treasury.


GEL he attention of readers is called to


an extract from the report Of the Commits


sioner Of the General Land Office, in another


column. 1t is evident from this that it is the


design Of the Administration, if The consent


of Congress can be obtained, to lax miners


for the privilege Of occupying mining ground,
as well as per centage Of the proceeds.
To do this corps Of additional collectors


will be required who would be as regular in
attendance upon white miners, as Our county
collectors now are upon Cinnamon.


There is fixed determination to raise a
large revenues sfrom the mines of the Pacific
coast, and people may as well familiarize
themselves to the burden.


IL Z. l.. =. l. /