Blue Mountain Mining District (Utah). Recorder Mining records, 1894-1897.

The records kept by the Blue Mountain Mining District recorder include both notices of location and affidavits showing proof of annual labor. The recorder kept location notices or claims in accordance with federal law which provided that mineral deposits on the public domain were free and open to exploration, and locators of the same had exclusive right of possession (see Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America, 1872, vol. XVII, chap. 152). Blue Mountain District by-laws required that each notice should provide the name of the claim, and designate whether placer or lode location, provide the names of locators, indicate the date of location, tell how many feet or acres the claim involved, and provide a description by which the claim could be clearly identified. (San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Miscellaneous records, Book B, p. 240-245, Utah State Archives, Series 23400). Federal mining law required that at least $100 worth of annual laborbe applied in making improvements in order to maintain and eventually patent a claim. In the Blue Mountain District each miner swore that he had performed the necessary amount of labor on a certain claim. He specified what that labor involved and who had performed it. All affidavits confirming proof of labor were sworn before A.L.F. MacDermott, county clerk or A.L.F. MacDermott, justice of the peace. Mr. MacDermott was also mining district recorder.