AGENCY: Rush Valley Mining District (Utah). Recorder
SERIES: 24161
TITLE: Transfers
DATES: 1864-1866.
ARRANGEMENT: Roughly chronological by date recorded.
DESCRIPTION: Transfers are mining deeds conveying mining claims or mining property from one individual to another. The transfers in this series were created before federal mining law was enacted, and are based on regulations established by the Rush Valley Mining District. According to 1864 by-laws, no individual could hold more than one claim by location on any one vein, with the exception that the discoverer was entitled to one additional claim (By-laws Rush Valley Mining District, Utah Territory, Utah State Archives, series 3651). The by-laws provided exception to this rule by stating that one individual could hold any number of claims if he acquired them by purchase. In addition to limiting the number of claims, original Rush Valley District by-laws also limited the amount which could be claimed to 200 feet along a lode with 100 feet on either side, which is an amount considerably smaller than the 1500 feet later allowed by federal law. These limitations prompted vigorous trading of mining claims in the Rush Valley District. Federal troops, who made up the bulk of prospectors in the district, were called out of Utah in 1866 and mining activity temporarily subsided. When by-laws were revised in 1870 the one claim per person limit was dropped, eliminating the need for claim trading.
RETENTION
DISPOSITION
RETENTION AND DISPOSITION AUTHORIZATION
These records are in Archives' permanent custody.
FORMAT MANAGEMENT
Microfilm master: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm duplicate: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Paper: Retain in Office permanently after being microfilmed.
APPRAISAL
Historical
Transfers of mining claims in the Rush Valley Mining District (Utah), provide information about early claims and mining activity in Tooele County (Utah).
PRIMARY DESIGNATION
Public