Effective 28 Aug 1939

444.020. Failure to post statement of conditions, effect — rights of miners. — 1. Whenever any such owner or lessee of real estate shall permit any person or persons, other than their servants, agents, or employees, to enter and dig for lead ore or other minerals on such real estate, with his consent, but without such owner or lessee complying with the provisions of section 444.010, and such person or persons having so entered upon said lands by the permission or consent of such owner or lessee as aforesaid, and having in good faith dug or opened any shaft, mine, quarry, prospect or deposit of mineral, or extended or opened from any shaft or mine any room, drift, entry or other excavation, he or they shall have the exclusive right as against such owner or lessee giving such permit or consent, and against any person claiming by, through or under such owner or lessee, to continue to work, mine and dig such shaft, mine, prospect or deposit of mineral so dug or opened by him or them as aforesaid, in said real estate, with a right-of-way over such lands for the purpose of such mining, for the term of three years from the date of the giving of such consent or permit; provided, however, that if such person or persons, in each case so mining as aforesaid, shall fail or neglect to work or cause to be worked such shaft, mine, quarry, prospect or deposit of mineral for ten days, not including Sundays, in any one calendar month, after commencing said work, he or they shall forfeit all rights to work, mine or hold the same as against such owner or lessee, unless such failure or neglect was caused by unavoidable circumstances, or by the act of such owner or lessee or his agent, or unless such owner or lessee consent thereto; provided further, that such person or persons, so mining as aforesaid, shall pay to the owner or lessee of said lands giving such permit or consent the royalty for mining thereon, at least once every month, if demanded by such owner or lessee, by delivering the same to him at or near the mouth or opening of such mine, shaft or quarry, or at the nearest usual place of business of such owner or lessee, or at any other place that may be agreed upon by such miner and owner or lessee; which said royalty, unless otherwise agreed upon by them, shall be the same in kind and proportionate amount as is paid by others mining the same kind of ore or mineral on said lands to such owner or lessee, or the value of such royalty in cash; and if there be no other person mining on said lands on terms prescribed by such owner or lessee, then he or they shall pay to such owner or lessee the same rate and kind of royalty on lead ore or minerals taken out by him or them as is paid by miners on lands nearest thereto belonging to other persons, or the value of such royalty in cash.

2. Such owner or lessee of any real estate shall have a lien on all minerals taken or dug therefrom for the royalty due thereon until the same is paid; and if any such person or persons so mining shall refuse or fail to pay such royalty to such owner or lessee, or his agent, when demanded as aforesaid, he or they shall thereby forfeit the right to work such mine, shaft, quarry, prospect or deposit of mineral, and the said owner or lessee may thereupon enter and take possession of the same.

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(RSMo 1939 § 14784)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 13594; 1919 § 7437; 1909 § 8409