§49e Annual labor or improvements on Alaskan mining claims; affidavits; burden of proof; forfeitures; location anew of claims; perjury

Summary

Each year, until a patent is issued, at least $100 worth of work or improvements must be done on every mining claim in Alaska, no matter when it was located. The owner or someone who knows the facts may file a sworn, written statement with the district recorder saying the $100 of work was done. That statement must say the claim name or number and location; how many days of work and what improvements were made and their value; the dates; who ordered the work; and how much was paid and by whom if not the owner. The statement must be filed within 90 days after the end of the year. A timely sworn statement is treated as initial proof the work was done. If no statement is filed in time, the claimant must prove the work was done. If the owner fails to do the required work, the claim is forfeited and others may locate it as if it had never been claimed. Federal perjury laws apply to these sworn statements.