Preuss Mining District (Utah). Recorder
Abstract
Biography/History Notes
Federal regulation allowed claims to be 1500 feet along a lode with 300 feet on each side. In order to maintain the claim, prospectors were required to do at least one hundred dollars worth of work on the claim annually. Local districts could impose additional requirements as long as they were not in conflict with federal law. Preuss District by-laws specified that each location should be marked at the site with a monument at least 4 feet high, and with additional monuments at each corner. Location monuments were to include a notice giving locators' names, location date, and the number of feet claimed. Claims were to be recorded by the district recorder within 20 days of discovery.
Miners in the Preuss District elected recorders for one year terms. District by-laws allowed recorders to collect one dollar for each claim recorded.
Preuss District recorders appointed deputies to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities. In 1897 the Utah Legislature enacted a mining law which transferred responsibility for keeping mining records to county recorders. (Laws of Utah, 1897, chapter 36). At that time the records of the Preuss District were transferred to the Beaver County recorder's office.