The PRESIDENT protempore. That is the impression of the Chair. The bill (S.No.257) to regulate the occupation of mineral lands and to extend the right of preemption thereto is before the Senate as in ComWhole, the pending question being on the amendment reported y the ComMining. as amended. The amendment as amended, was agreed to. It is to strike out all of the original bill after the enacting clause and in lieu thereof to in scrt: That the mineral lands of the public domain.both surveyed and unsurvcyed.are hereby decliired to be free and open to exploration and occupation by all citizens o the U.S., and those who have declared their intention to become citizens. subject. to such regulations as may be prescribed by law and subject also to the local customor rules of mine rs in the several mining districts. so far as the same may not be in conflict with the laws of the U.S. SEC. 2. Abife, That whenever any person or association of personsclaim a vein or lode of quarts or other rock in place bearing gold silver. cinnnbar or copper.having previously occupied and improved the someaccordingto the local custom or rules of miners in the district where the same is noted and having expendedin actual labor sit and improvement sthercon an amountofnot lessthanSLUIX) and in regard to whose possession there is no controversy or opposingclaim. it shall and muybe lawful for said claimant or association ofclaimants tofile in tholocal land officoadingramof the same so extendod laterally or otherwiseas toconformto the locallaws. Customs and rules of mine rs and to enter suoh tract and receive a patent therefor. granting such mine, togetherwith the right to follow said vein or lode with its dips. angles and variations.to any depth although itinriyenter the land udioimug.w lpehIan adjoining shall be sold EUDJCOtIo this condition. Sic.3. Abife: That upon the filing of the diagram asprovided in the2nd soction of this act and osting the some in acpnspicu ous place on the CItLllH togetherWith a notice of intention to apply for a patent. The register of the lnnd office shall publish a notice of the same in a news paper published iienrest to the loention of said claim and shullulso pose such notice in his officefor the pe riod of nincty days: and after the expiration of said period.if no adverse claim shall have beenfiled. it shall be the duty of the survcyor genera].uponapplication of the part. to surycy the premises und mako a plat thereo. in orsedwith hisa prom]. designating the numberand descripttono the location the vii iie of the lnbor and improvements and the 0 ar ncter of the vein exposed: rind upon the paymentto the proper officer of 5 dollars peracrc.t ogether with the cost of such survey. plat. FDdJIOHCQ and giving satisfactory evidence that said diagram and notice have been posted on the claim during said period of 90 d'iys. the register of the land otfico shall transmit to the GLO snid plat, survey and description and a patent shall issue for thosumothereupon: but said plat survey or description shall in no case cover more than one veine rlodo and no patent shall issuefor l are than one vein or lode. which shall be expresset in the patent issued. SEC. 4. Abife: That when such location and entry of n mine shall be upon uusnr vcyed lands. it shall and may be lawful. after the extension thercto of the public surveys.ton du, ist the surveys to the limits of the premises according to the loention and possession nnd plnt aforesaid and the surveyor generalway. in omen ling thesurveys.vary the some from a rectangulai fnrininsult the circumstances of the country and th local rules. l. iwsand customsof miners: Provided, That no location horo atter made shall exceed200 feet in length along the vein for each loentnr. with an additional claim for discovery to the discoverer of the lode. with the right to follow such vein to any depth. mth all its di 5.variations and angles together with a reasonab a quantity of surface for the convenient workin of the some as fixed by local rules: And provide fifurllwr, Thnt no person may malts more than one looatitn on the same lode. had not more than 3,000 feet ghall be taken in anyone claim an association 0 persons. ySuciV. Abife: That the POTUS be and is hereby, authorized to establish additional land districts and to appoint the necessary omcers under emsting laws. wherever he mayde cmthe same necessary or the public convenience in executing the pron 51"! M is act. 51w.6. Abife: That whenever adverse claimantsto any inine located and claimed as aforesaid shall appear before the approvalpf the survey.as provided in the 3rd section of this act. all proceedings shall be stayed until a final settlement and adyudication in the courtsof competent Jurisdiction of the rights of possession to such claim, when a patent may issueas in other cases. SEO.7. Abife: That wherever prior to the passageat this act. upon the lands licre totoredesignated asmineral lands which have been excluded from suijvcy and sale there have been homesteads madeby citizens of the U.S., or persons who have declared their intention to become citizens, which homesteads have been made improved, and usedfor agricultural purposes, and upon which there have been no valuable mines of glold silver, oinnabar or cup or discovered, and which are properly agriculture. lands. the said settlers or owners ofsuch homesteads shall have a right of preiimption thereto and shall be entitled to purchasethe same at the price of $1 20 per acre and in quantity not to excee 160 acres or said parties may avail themselvesof the provisionsof the act of Congress approved May 20, 1862 entitled “ An act to secure homesteadsto actual settlers on the public domain, " and acts amendatory thereof. Site.8. Abife: That upon the surv oyof the lapds aforesaid, the SecyInte rior may designateand setapart such portionsof the “it! lands as are clearly agricultural lands, which lands shall thereafter be subject to preemption and sale as other public landsof the U.S., and subject to all the laws and regulationsapplicable to the some. S EO9.Abife: That whenever.by priority of possession.rights to the useof water for mining. agricultural, manufacturing or other purposes, have vestedand accrued, an the same are recognizrd and acknowledgedby the local customs. laws. one the dBClSlOI‘IB'OcoI.urts, the possessorsand ownersof such vestedrights shall be maintainedand protoctec in the same: and theright of way for the construction of ditches and canalsfor the purposes aforesaid is hereby acknowledged and confirmed: Provided, however, That whenever, after the passage of this act. any person or persons shall in the construction of guy ditch or canal.injure or damagethe possessiona! any settler 9n the public domain, the party committingspeh iniury ordamageshall belia lc to the party ininred for such injurg or damage. SEC. 10.Abife:, That the right of way for the construction of highwaysover public lands, not reservedfor public uses, is herebygranted. SEC. 11.Abife: That as afurther condition of sale, in the absenceof necessarylegislation by Congress.the local Legislatureof any State 9r lcrritory may prowde rules for working mines. involvmg easements, drainage, and other necessary means to their complete development and those conditions shall be jully expressedin the patent. The bill was reported to the Senate as amended.and the amendment was concurred in. The bill was orderengross for a3rd reading, was read a 3rd time, and passed. On motion of Mr. STEWART, the title was amended so as to read, “A bill to legalize the occupation of mineral lands and to extend the right of preeiuption thereto.”