Dugway Mining District (Utah). Recorder Mining records, 1872-1877; 1891-1897.

Miners in the Dugway Mountains of Tooele County organized the Dugway Mining District in February 1872. According to established precedent, which was validated when Congress passed a federal mining law later that year, mineral deposits in 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, vol. 17, 1872, chap. 152). Dugway Mining District books primarily contain notices of location (mining claims). Each notice provides descriptive information about the claim, names of locators, and indicates dates of discovery and recording. All notices are signed by the district recorder. Dugway record books also include copies of the by-laws for the district and minutes of miners' meetings.