Endangered Spaces: Eastern Sierra
The Dirtbag Diaries
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The Impact of the 1872 Mining Law on the American West
Before 1872, open mining on public land was illegal. Legislators in the West convinced them that miners were performing valuable public services. Federally managed land that wasn't set aside for specific uses became open to mining claims. In practice, anyone could walk onto public lands, find gold and stake their claim.
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