goldrushexpedinc

I believe it was actually Clinton that signed the moratorium. Right as he was getting ready to leave office. But suing the DOI for reinstatement might not be a bad idea. A class action suit by a large group of miners could do the trick. So question then is, who would sign up to be part of the suit?

I think these guys have just nailed out the correct way to get their way with the State. We have found that the louder you are, the more you get back from the states. It would be ideal for a miners group to get together and file a group of such legal documents, harrasing the BLM and FS for giving public land away. Start a movement using the exact tactics of the conservationalists and logic would dictate that you would get similar results. If that resulted in more land being re-opened, or god forbid, the moratorium on patents being lifted, well, I think that would be a battle well waged.

For what its worth, each county pretty much makes up their own rules as to what they accept and what they will and wont file. We always file an NOI and the fee, we have seen too many people lose claims over an argument or dispute of what is considered an acceptable form of work. For the difference of $140 you have the peace of mind of knowing that its done, and its done right. Its amazing how the govt has been able to push people off land by denying their affadavits after the Dec. 1. date. Nothing that can be done at that point. As a side note, when we see these denials, its usually in a cluster of claims, and usually in a site that is being considered for Wilderness designation.

Something to look at in dating the camp, its not likely 1880, if the can was used for something besides lard it may have been transported from somewhere else. The hand soldering would be common up into the 1900s, just as most any mine camp had a blacksmith of sorts. Likely that the can was bastardized as a left over and being that there is never an abundance of easy stamped metal, fashioned into a tool that could be used at the site. My main reasoning is the rust factor, pre-1880s you likely wouldnt have anything left that you could pick up. Just my .02. BTW.. great forum and a lot of interesting info here! We had a customer recommend the site as they had made some good contacts here, looks like they were right on the money.