Tutsagubet Mining District (Utah). Recorder

In 1897 the Utah Legislature enacted a mining law, which abolished the office of mining district recorder. County recorders of the respective counties assumed all the duties and responsibilities previously performed by mining district recorders (Laws of Utah, 1897, chapter 36, "Mining Claims.") All books previously kept by district recorders were deposited in the office of the county recorder. However, the records suggest that the Tutsagubet Mining District recorder functioned for only two years, after which the responsibility for recording mining activity in the district fell to the Washington County recorder.

Utah law recognized mining district recorders as public officials, and deemed the records in their custody to be official public records, receivable in the courts of the Territory. Utah law also required that the mining rules and regulations established by each mining district should be recorded by the county recorder in the county where the mining district was located (Compiled Laws of Utah, 1876, Chapter 10). The Tutsagubet Mining District recorder was responsible to record all mining claims within the mining district. Tutsagubet District by-laws required him to visit the ground at each claim and ensure that the claim was distinctly marked before he recorded it.

The mining district recorder was elected from among the mining claim holders for a two year term.

The recorder appointed deputies as necessary to assist in carrying out his responsibilities, and he collected a fee for each recording.