Hi Sue- thanks so much for sharing information about the California Historic Cemetery Alliance with us here on the Mariposa list- I certainly have an interest in how the legislation is proceeding- The one thing I am also concerned about is that cemeteries on private land- by that I mean on deeded ranches etc. in the area are protected from citizens coming on their land without consent- ranchers in our area tell stories of their rock walls coming down, stone by stone, and private cemetery items disappearing- metal detector digging,etc.. I am most interested this statement: >Most people don't realize that California law provided that title to these old >cemeteries vested in the public by way of the codified statutes of 1872. If >your county is not claiming it as public land, they're saying it's privately >owned and this is not so. If anyone would like further information about these >early laws, please contact me direct. Is this in conflict with current private land-? Any help would be appreciated- Thanks, Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Sue Silver <ssilver1951@jps.net> To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 9:28 AM Subject: [CAMARIPO] TopoZone Topographic Map >Leslie, > >This is what is shown on the USGS map through TopoZone.com. It looks like it could also have been the cemetery of Whiskey Flat, which I'm sure was probably an early village of the area. You're lucky it's shown. 95% our El Dorado County's cemeteries aren't! > >Here's a USGS topographic map from the TopoZone! http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=10 > >Most people don't realize that California law provided that title to these old cemeteries vested in the public by way of the codified statutes of 1872. If your county is not claiming it as public land, they're saying it's privately owned and this is not so. If anyone would like further information about these early laws, please contact me direct. > > >Sue Silver >EDC Pioneer Cemeteries Commission >ssilver1951@jps.net > > > >==== CAMARIPO Mailing List ==== >Mariposa County, California GenWeb Project Page: >http://www.cagenweb.com/mariposa/ > >

Carolyn, In Texas a cemetery is generally not private land, but access to it may be across private land. You have a legal right to be in any cemetery for several specified purposes, but the surrounding land owner may deny you access. I don't know whether anyone has tested any landowners by flying in by helicopter. In some areas that could be quite dangerous. Cheers, Jim