3980-3985
PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE
SECTION 3980-3985
3980. Sluice boxes, flumes, hose, pipes, railway tracks, cars, blacksmith shops, mills, and all other machinery or tools used in working or developing a mine, are deemed affixed to the mine. 3981. The business of hydraulic mining may be carried on within the state wherever and whenever it can be carried on without material injury to navigable streams or the lands adjacent thereto. 3982. "Hydraulic mining," as used in Section 3981, is mining by means of the application of water, under pressure, through a nozzle, against a natural bank. 3983. Any corporation organized in this state for the purpose of mining or carrying on mining operations in or outside this state, may establish and maintain agencies in other states, for the transfer and issuing of its shares. A transfer or issue of the shares of the corporation at any of its transfer agencies, in accordance with its bylaws, is valid and binding as fully and effectually for all purposes as if made upon the books of the corporation at its principal office within this state. The transfer agencies shall be governed by the bylaws and the directors of the corporation. 3984. Any shareholder of a corporation formed under the laws of this state for the purpose of mining, may visit, accompanied by his or her expert, and examine the mines owned by the corporation, and every part thereof, at any time he or she may see fit. When the shareholder applies to the president of the corporation, the president shall immediately cause the secretary thereof to issue and deliver to the shareholder an order, under the seal of the corporation, directed to the superintendent, commanding him or her to show and exhibit parts of the mines that the shareholder named in the order may desire to visit and examine. The superintendent, on receiving the order, shall furnish the shareholder every facility for making a full and complete inspection of the mines, and of the workings therein, and shall either accompany the shareholder in person or furnish some person familiar with the mines to accompany the shareholder in the visit to and through the mines and every part thereof. If the superintendent fails to obey the order, the shareholder may recover, in any court of competent jurisdiction, against the corporation, the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) and traveling expenses to and from the mine, as liquidated damages, together with costs of suit. In case of a refusal, the directors of the corporation shall immediately remove the officer so refusing, and thereafter he or she shall not be employed directly or indirectly by the corporation and shall not be paid any salary. 3985. All grubstake contracts and prospecting agreements entered into after September 19, 1939, and which may in any way affect the title of mining locations, or other locations under the mining laws of this state, shall be void and of no effect unless the instrument has first been recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the instrument is made. The instrument shall be duly acknowledged before a notary public or other person competent to take acknowledgments. Grubstake contracts and prospecting agreements, duly acknowledged and recorded as provided for in this section, shall be prima facie evidence in all courts in this state in all cases where the title to mining locations and other locations under the mining laws of this state are in dispute.