Pinto Iron Mining District (Utah). Recorder
Abstract
Biography/History Notes
Utah law recognized mining district recorders as public officials and deemed the records in their custody to be official and 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 by-laws for the Pinto Iron Mining District (recorded by the Iron County recorder in Location Notices Book B 1), established that the Pinto Iron Mining District recorder was responsible for recording all mining claims, and that he was required to visit the ground at each claim to ensure that the claim was distinctly marked before recording it. The by-laws also required that the mining district recorder's record books remain in his office and be open for public inspection.
The mining district recorder was elected from among the mining claim holders in the district for a two year term. District by-laws required him to take an oath and give a $1,000 bond.
The recorder appointed deputies as necessary to assist in carrying out his responsibilities, and he collected fifty cents an hour for inspecting claims. In 1897 the Utah Legislature enacted a mining law which required mining district recorders to deposit their books in the office of the county recorder. County recorders of the respective counties assumed the responsibility for recording claims which had previously been recorded by mining district recorders (Laws of Utah, 1897, chapter 36, "Mining Claims").