In the 1897 case of Logan County v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on a dispute involving land patents and mineral rights in Colorado. The county had been granted certain lands by Congress under an act that provided for the disposal of coal and other valuable minerals found within them. However, it was later discovered that some parts of these lands contained gold deposits as well, which were not mentioned in the original grant from Congress. The court held that while Logan County did own all surface rights to these lands along with any coal deposits beneath them, they did not have ownership over any other types of minerals unless specifically included in their patent from Congress - including gold. Therefore, when gold was discovered on this property after its initial transfer to Logan County, those rights belonged to the federal government instead. This decision set a precedent for future cases regarding land grants and mineral rights: if specific resources are not explicitly mentioned in such grants or patents then they remain under federal control even after being transferred into private hands.

In the dissenting opinion for Logan County v. United States, the justice argued that the majority's decision was inconsistent with previous rulings and interpretations of property rights under U.S. law. The justice contended that a county should not be held liable for damages caused by mob violence unless it can be proven that local authorities either participated in or failed to prevent such actions despite having sufficient power and opportunity to do so. He further asserted that holding municipalities financially responsible for all acts of civil disorder would place an undue burden on them, potentially leading to bankruptcy and undermining their ability to provide essential public services. The justice also expressed concern about setting a precedent where counties could be sued by private individuals or corporations seeking compensation for losses incurred during periods of social unrest, which he believed could lead to widespread abuse of the legal system.