from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
MINE. An excavation made for obtaining minerals from the bowels of the
earth, and the minerals themselves are known by the name of mine.
2. Mines are therefore considered as open and not open. An open mine is
one at which work has been done, and a part of the materials taken out. When
land is let on which there is an open mine, the tenant may, unless
restricted by his lease, work the mine; 1 Cru. Dig. 132; 5 Co. R. 12; 1
Chit. Pr. 184, 5; and he may open new pit's or shafts for working the old
vein, for otherwise the working of the same mine might be impracticable. 2
P. Wms. 388; 3 Tho. Co. Litt. 237; 10 Pick. R. 460. A mine not opened,
cannot be opened by a tenant for years unless authorized, nor even by a
tenant for life, without being guilty of waste. 5 Co. 12.
3. Unless expressly excepted, mines would be included in the conveyance
of land, without being expressly named, and so vice versa, by a grant of a
mine, the land itself, the surface above the mine, if livery be made, will
pass. Co. Litt. 6; 1 Tho. Co. Litt. 218; Shep. To. 26. Vide, generally, 15
Vin. Ab. 401; 2 Supp. to Ves. jr. 257, and the cases there cited, and 448;
Com. Dig. Grant, G 7; Id. Waifs, H. 1; Crabb, R. P. Sec. 98-101; 10 East,
273; 1 M. & S. 84; 2 B. & A. 554; 4 Watts, 223-246.
4. In New York the following provisions have been made in relation to
the mines in that state, by the revised statutes, part 1, chapter 9, title
11. It is enacted as follows, by
Sec. 1. The following mines are, and shall be, the property of this
state, in its right of sovereignty. 1. All mines of gold and silver
discovered, or hereafter to be discovered, within this state. 2. All mines
of other metals discovered, or hereafter to be discovered, upon any lands
owned by persons not being citizens of any of the United States. 3. All
mines of other metals discovered, or hereafter to be discovered, upon lands
owned by a citizen of any of the United States, the ore of which, upon an
average, shall contain less than two equal third parts in value, of copper,
tin, iron or lead, or any of those metals.
6.-Sec. 2. All mines, and all minerals and fossils discovered, or
hereafter to be discovered, upon any lands belonging to the people of this
state, are, and shall be the property of the people, subject to the
provisions hereinafter made to encourage the discovery thereof.
6.-Sec. 3. All mines of whatever description, other than mines of
gold and silver, discovered or hereafter to be discovered, upon any lauds
owned by a citizen of the United states, the ore of which, upon an average,
shall contain two equal third parts or more, in value, of copper, tin, iron
and lead, or any of those metals, shall belong to the owner of such land.
7.-Sec. 4. Every person who shall make a discovery of any mine of
gold or silver, within this state, and the executors, administrators or
assigns of such person, shall be exempted from paying to the people of this
state, any part of the ore, profit or produce of such mine, for the term of
twenty-one years, to be computed from the time of giving notice of such
discovery, in the manner hereinafter directed.
8.-Sec. 5. No person discovering a mine of gold or silver within this
state, shall work the same, until he give notice thereof, by information in
writing, to the secretary of this state, describing particularly therein the
nature and situation of the mine. Such notice shall be registered in a book,
to be kept the secretary for that purpose.
9.-Sec. 6. After the expiration of the term above specified, the
discoverer of the mine, or his representatives, shall be preferred in any
contract for the working of such mine, made with the legislature or under
its authority.
10.-Sec. 7. Nothing in this title contained shall affect any grants
heretofore made by the legislature, to persons having discovered mines; nor
be construed to give to any person a right to enter on, or to break up the
lands of any other person, or of the people of this state, or to work any
mines in such lands, unless the consent, in writing, of the owner thereof,
or of the commissioners of the land office, when the lands belong to the
people of this state, shall be previously obtained.