Death Valley Historic Resource Study A History of Mining

At a meeting of the Miners of Death Valley held at the mouth of Furnace Creek John A. Robinson was elected President and Richard Louey was appointed Secretary when the following rules, regulations and By Laws were adopted to govern the same.

1st that This shall be Known as the Death Valley Borax and Salt Mining District

2nd The boundaries shall be as follows, commencing two miles East of the mouth of Furnace Creek wash and running North parallel with the Mountains fifteen miles, Thence West across Death Valley fifteen Miles Thence South, along Panamint Mts. fifteen miles Thence East to place of, beginning.

3rd That the United States Mining Laws are adopted in full force, with. the following additional Local regulations, that no association of Locators shall Locate more than one hundred and sixty acres and no one person more than twenty acres but this shall not be so construed as to prohibit actual Locators from holding a plurality of claims in this district

4th That A Winters is duly elected recorder to hold office from the twenty first day of November one year or until the twenty first day of November 1882, or until his successor shall be elected.

5th That it shall be the duty of the Recorder to go on the ground before recording any claim and he shall have a fee of seven dollars and fifty cts for recording each claim

Dated, Mouth of Furnace Creek Inyo Co Cal Nov 21st 1881.

J. A. Robinson Pres
Richard Louey Sec.

A Meeting of the Miners of the Death Valley Borax and Salt mining District was held at Camp Winters in said District about 3/4 of a mile North of the Mouth of Furnace Creek on the 21st day of February 1882, in pursuance to a call signed by A. W. Winters and others as follows Notice of Miners Meeting. A Meeting of the miners of Death Valley Borax and Salt Mining District, Inyo County California, is herby called to meet at Camp Winters in said District on the 21st day of February 18882 [sic] to elect a Recorder to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of A. Winters to take effect on the 21st day of February 1882, and for the transaction of such other business as may be brought before it.

We concur in the above call.

A Winters Recorder
Wm B. Robertson Jr.
R. Neuschuander [sic]
Fred^k Maw
U[?], B. Spiller
T. [?] C. Simmonds
Fred. Reinhackle
S. J. Parks
O. Watkins
E. Osborne [?]

Mr. Wm B. Robertson called the Meeting to order and read the Resignation of A Winters Recorder of this District to take effect Febry 21st 1882. The following miners were present at the Meeting Wm B Robertson Jr R. Neuschwander Fred Maw O Watkins F. Reinhackle [U?] B Spiller J S Crouch

Mr. J. S. Crouch was duly elected chairman and R. Neuschwander Secretary, and by a unanimous vote R. Neuschwander was duly elected Recorder of this District to fill the unexpired term of A Winters resigned.

Mr. Wm B. Robertson Jr moved the adoption of the following amendment to the Rules and Regulations of this District.

Resolved that the third clause of the Rules and Regulations and By Laws of this District which reads as follows: That the United States Mining. Laws are adopted in full with the following additional Local Regulations, that no association of Locators shall locate more than 160 acres and no one person more than 20 acres, but this shall not be so construed. As to prohibit actual Locators from holding a plurality of claims on differenct [sic] Deposits in this District; be and the same is hereby repealed and here-after the United States Mining laws without qualification shall govern as to the Location of claims in this District and there shall be no restriction as to the Number of Locations which any person or association of persons may locate.

The above amendment was unanimously adopted

Mr. Wm B. Robertson then moved the adoption of the following Resolution

Resolved that the Recorder of this District shall have the power to appoint a Deputy who shall act instead of and perform all. the duties of the Recorder in his absence and said Recorder shall have the power to rescind such appointment at any time he may see fit to do so. Whenever the Recorder makes or rescinds such appointment it shall be recorded in the Record of this District with the signature of the Recorder signed thereunder. In case of Death or resignation of the Recorder if there be a Deputy Recorder he shall Act as Recorder until a new Recorder is elected. The above Resolution was unanimously adopted.

No further business being brought before the meeting it was then adjourned sine die.

R. Neuschwander
Recorder

Greenland Death Valley Borax and Salt Mining District Inyo County California. April 6th 1882. To all whom it may concern I hereby appoint Mr J S Crouch Deputy Recorder of Death Valley Borax and Salt Mining District with full power to act during my absence

R Neuschwander
Recorder