Dugway Mining District (Utah). Recorder

Difficulties forced miners to reorganize the Dugway District several times after its original organization in February 1872. In November of the same year, miners reorganized because the district recorder had departed, apparently taking all records with him. Miners reorganized the district for the second time in January 1876 because the district had lapsed into a disorganized state and had been completely evacuated by claim owners. Mining activity lapsed more permanently in 1877. Miners reorganized the Dugway District again in February 1891. The development of the cyanide process enhanced the profitability of gold mining in the area. In 1896 Dugway miners extended the boundaries of the district to include Granite Peak, which is currently part of the Dugway Proving Grounds. The following year the Utah Legislature enacted a mining law which transferred responsibility for keeping mining records to county recorders (Laws of Utah, 1897, chapter 36).

Local mining districts adopted by-laws to regulate mining activity within the district and elected recorders to deep records of claims. As originally established, Dugway Mining District by-laws limited each claim to 200 feet along a lode with an extra 200 feet for the person who made initial discovery. Claims were recorded within ten days of discovery in a substantially bound book, which was not to be removed from the boundaries of the district. The recorder described all in terms of a substantial landmark, which could be either natural or artificial. By-laws required 25 dollars worth of annual assessment labor to hold claims. When the district was reorganized in 1876, miners made adjustments to accommodate federal guidelines. Claims could be up to 15,000 feet, and 100 dollars worth of assessment labor was required to hold claims. Claim holders had up to thirty days to have claims recorded, and the recorder was to indicate both the day and the hour when claims were recorded.

Dugway Mining District recorders were elected for one year terms at miners' meetings. Only active claim holders were allowed to vote.

Dugway mining district recorders appointed deputies to assist them. In 1897 Utah Legislature enacted a mining law which transferred responsibility for keeping mining records to county recorders (Laws of Utah, 1897, chapter 36).