Legal Document

371 U.S. 334 83 Supreme Court Reporter 379 9 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 350 Raymond R. BEST et al., Petitioners,v.HUMBOLDT PLACER MINING COMPANY and Del De Rosier. Number 52. Argued Dec. 10, 1962. Decided Jan. 14, 1963. Roger Pacific KF135 P2 Marquis, Washington, D.C., for petitioners. Charles L. Gilmore, Sacramento, Cal., respondents. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The sued in District to condemn certain property needed construction Trinity River Dam Reservoir California,1 obtain immediate possession it, secure title complaint asking that be allowed reserve authority have validity mining claims determined administrative proceedings before Bureau Land Management Department Interior. a writ possession; but no other issues action been determined. See 185 F.Supp. 290. 2 later instituted contest proceeding local land office seeking an determination respondents' claims2 alleged embraced within is nonmineral character minerals not found limits sufficient quantities constitute valid discovery. Respondents, who had 30 days answer or allegations taken as confessed,3 brought present suit enjoin officials Interior from with action. granted summary judgment States. Appeals reversed, 293 Federal Reporter, 2nd 553. case here on petition certiorari which we granted. 368 983, 82 600, 7 522. 3 We deal unique form property. A claim public lands possessory interest 'mineral character' respects discovery 'within claim' has made. Cameron versus States, 252 450, 456, 40 410, 411, 64 L.Ed. 659. must such 'a person ordinary prudence would justified further expenditure his labor means, reasonable prospect success, developing valuable mine.' Castle Womble, 19 L.D. 455, 457; Chrisman Miller, 197 313, 322, 25 468, 49 770; supra, Page 459, 412. locator does carry patent lose mineral claim, though he take risk will longer support issuance patent. Houston, 66 161, 165. It shown at time application 'the minerals,' worked-out qualifying. Logomarcini, 60 371, 373. 4 Respondents' are unpatented, controversy still being are, however, against if there mineral, statutory requirements met.4 supra. was entrusted General Land-Office 1812 (2 Statutes-at-Large 716) transferred its creation 1849. 395.5 Since time, plenary over administration lands, including lands; it given broad issue regulations concerning them.6 supra—an written by Van Devanter, who, Assistant Attorney 1897 1903, did more than any give distinction illustrates special role field. claimed lands. His rejected proceedings. Cameron, vacate oust him. said: 5 'By general provisions execution laws regulating acquisition rights care these confided Department, tribunal; Secretary Interior, head department, charged seeing this rightly exercised end may recognized, invalid ones eliminated preserved. * 6 'A location gone higher quality immune attack investigation unpatented under homestead kindred laws. If valid, gives claimant exclusive rights, so do desert claims. But right arises kind. All conform law they initiated; otherwise work unlawful private appropriation derogation public. 'Of course, power strike down arbitrarily, long legal remains government power, after proper notice upon adequate hearing, determine whether and, invalid, declare null void.' 459—460, 8 'Due process implies hearing. require hearing courts, forbid inquiry department.' Orchard Alexander, 157 372, 383, 15 635, 639, 39 737. issued, controversies 'should solved appeal courts.'7 Brown Hitchcock, 173 473, 477, 485, 487, 43 772. And see Northern company McComas, 250 387, 392, 546, 548, 63 1049. wrote nothing principles. concluded, since went into interests get possession, was, necessity, left judicial determination. Its conclusion rested primarily Rule 71A Rules Civil Procedure, 28 Code Annotated KF65 U5 That Rule, describing way compensation shall determined, concludes sentence 'Trial all court.' 10 Yet courts try sometimes wait until agency competence field ruled them. appropriateness procedure situations well known, dispute soundness Abilene doctrine, adumbrated Chief White Texas & Pac. Cotton Oil Co., 204 426, 27 350, 51 difficult imagine appropriate invocation jurisdiction one involved proceeding. Cf. Thompson Magnolia Petroleum 309 478, 628, 84 876; v.Texas Mexican 328 134, 146—151, 937, 944—947, 90 1132. Congress management domain prescribed perfected.8 holds plainly can prescribe follow acquire sector. 11 Respondents protest, saying remitted proceeding, suffer disadvantages procedures much less onerous claimants those Interior.9 express views contentions, each them appropriately raised reserved review. 12 foreclosed insisting resort pursuant eminent domain, either entering physical without court order, instituting condemnation various Acts Congress. Dow, 357 17, 21, 78 1039, 1044, 1109. Title passes later, entry marks taking, rise compensation, fixes date valued. Id., 22, 1044. Institution incompatible between use means title. 93.970 Acres, 360 328, 79 1193, 1275. No purpose served forcing abandon orderly favor seizure, leaving Tucker Act. 13 conclude institution obtaining inconsistent remedy determining claims, acted properly holding hand resolved task. 14 Reversed. S.Doc. 113, 81st Cong., 1st Sess. 120, stating project 10,000 acres. Contests Regulation Management, CFR, 1962 Supp., § 221.67. 221.64. KF62 §§ 26, 26; Mining Regulations 185.1—185.3. 485; 2, 2. 1201, 1201. Claimants today Examiner's decision Director (43 221.1), him (id., 221.31), courts. Foster Seaton, 106 U.S.App.D.C. 253, 271 836. told nine Examiners assigned mining-claim cases, comprise 75% 85% their hearings, fiscal year 1960—1961, 322 mining-law cases (involving 1,162 separate claims) were Examiners. Of these, 81 (343 closed procedural grounds hearing; 241 819 claims), hearings merits held decisions rendered Examiner; appeals Management. In 1961 total 27,228 adjudication during year. These included 7,457 title-transfer (e.g., applications land-disposition conflicts), approximately 20,000 investigations Bureau's engineers invalidity. Annual Report, Director, 1961, pt. 4, Pages 86—120 (Statistical Appendix). say (1) value while (2) strictures proof 'discovery' great could satisfied unless Basin drained; (3) established showing deposits gold, Examiner only mines actually operating profit.

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