ARIZONA GHOST TRAILS
by
Richard J. Hinton
1969
Frontier Book Co., Publisher
Fort Davis, Texas 79734
From
The Handbook To Arizona
c1877
Limited to 1000 copies
Summary of Mining Laws, Federal, Territorial, and Local; Desert and Timber Lands; Homestead and Pre-emption Rights; Spanish and Railroad Grants. Land Offices. Officers of the Territory. Legislation on Irrigation. Artesian Wells, Mining, Etc. Routes, Distances, and Fares from and to all the Principal Points east and west, and in the Territory. Altitude of Important Points. Meteorological Tables. Mineral Springs. Southern Pacific Railroad Lands, Etc.
Before the passage of the Act of 1866, by Congress, the ownership of the mineral lands was retained by the nation. The first discussion of the policy of selling such lands began in 1850, the argument being to make them a source of revenue. The policy of leaving the mineral land open for private exploration and development prevailed, and remained the rule until 1866. The uncertainty of titles, etc., was urged in 1865-6, as reason for a change. Under legislation preceding that date, no title could be or was conferred to mining claims, beyond possessory rights, maintained by working and payment of a small royalty. Citizens of the United States might explore and occupy under regulations as prescribed by law. In the absence of congressional enactment, local legislation was authorized to provide necessary rules; the local customs and district rules not in conflict with the United States laws were also recognized. The law was, in reality, a license only to go upon the mineral-bearing portions of the public domain. Ownership, however, attached to the minerals extracted, and the government had no claim to them, except so far as royalty or license fees were concerned.