Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-04-10

he at the same time feels that something is
due from him for the privileges he ENJOYS.
and he would willingly pay a reasonable
sum to have those privileges defined. and
to be protected in the enjoyment Of them.
The gold il, the rivers. the dry diggings.
and the ravines. is accessible 10 any man
who has the strength to use pan or wash
er, spade and pick axe.
The employment of machinery nay.
perhaps. facilitate its collection but il is
not essential. Every man is master ofhis
own movements. The case Will be very
different with the vein mines. which We,
remain in the rock. To work them sue
cesstuNy will require machinery. with
horse or steam power. involving an expen-
diture OF capital in proportion to the extent
OF the operations.
No prudent man VIII make such invest
ments until his rights and privileges shall
have been clearly defined by law. In the
absence of all legal regulation, if a man
were to discover vein-mine, and incur
the expense oterectlng machinery 10 work
I. any other person, citizen, or foreigner,
ght construct an establishment along
side Of him. deprive him Of his discovery.
and destroy the value of his properly =
Hence it will be perceived that any law
prescribing the privileges and duties Of
miners. should be SO framed as to secure
the rights Of all
There is some fertile soil in the gold re-
gIon-be autiful valleys and rich hill-sides
which, under circumstances favorable
to agriculture. would undoubtedly be val
liable for that purpose; but al present. and
as long as the collection Of gold shall con-
,nue to reward labor 50 much more abun-
dainty than the cultivation Of the soil, the
important matter to be considered is. the
proper mode of disposing Of the metallic
wealth Of the country.
The first step. in my opinion. should be
to reserve the entire reg ion where gold IS
found from the operation OF the pre- emp
ton laws, and from sale, 50 that II may be
now regarded as the common treasure Of
the American people. and hereafter as a
rich inheritance to their posteritv. Then
provide for the appointment Of a commits
sioner Of the mines. and sufficient mum
Der of assistant commissioners TO carry
the law into effect. Let the office Of the
commissioner be established at some
point convenient to the mines, say Sacra-
on the principal rivers. and in the most
productive districts. Provide that any and
every American citizen. on application at
the Office of the commissioner, or anv of
his assistants. and by wing one ounce,
or S16. or such sum may be consider
ed Just and proper. shall be entitled to re-
ceive license or permit TO dig anywhere
in the Territory for one year. Provide,
hall
purchase Of the u!scovoror, voin mine.
shall be entitled to work il. to certain ex-
tent. under proper regulations. on paying
TO the commissioner such per cent. on the
proceeds of the mine as may be a suitable
tax Oh the privileges granted. 1t will be
necessary also to allow the miner 10 cut
and use such timber and other building
materials as his business requires; and
also to allow those who work under per-
mits the privilege Of erecting cabins for
shelter through the winter. Authorize the
commissioner to lay out sites for towns in
convenient situations TO the mines. and Of
fer lots for sale. reservng the metal and
mineral. so that those who m AXE mining "a
permanent pursuit may accumulate the
comforts and enIoyments OF civilized life.
Let those who desire to cultivate gardens
or farn,-ots be accommodated twill De
necessary also TO authorize the sale Of
timber and other materials. for building
and other purposes. There may be other
suggestions which do not now occur TO
me. but no doubt will. to those who may
be charged with the preparation Of any
measure which may be brought forward on
this subject.
have suggested one ounce, or SIC, as
the price Of permi. or license to dig or
collec. gold tor one year. This regard
as about the average value of one days
labor in the mines. This tax on $4,000
miners, the probable number mex, sum-
mer. will give a revenue of $500 COO
On one hundred thousand miners-the
probable number in 185l-i, will create
81 900 900, besides the per centum on the
vein mines, and the sum received for town
lots. timber, &C., which would probably
swell the amount 10 at least $1,000 900.
Any variation in the tax imposed will. Of
course. increase of diminish this estimate.
4 suitable amount Of money thus COL
lected should be expended in construct
ing roads and bridges to facilitate conn1u-
nication 10 and through the mining dis
tricts.
These facilities vii, SO reduce the cost
Of living in the mines. that the miners will
gain instead of losing by the tax. These
are accommodations which the miners
themselves will never provide. because o.
the want of concert Of action among them
sufficen, TO accomplish such objects, but
for which they will willingly pay any mod
crate contribution. A liberal per cenium
should be allowed ou. Of this sum as a
school fund, and for the establishment of
a university to educate the youth Of Cali
fornia. lie, it no, be considered that this
will be doing injustice TO the older States
of the Union. They will reap harvest
sufficiently rich in their intercourse with
their younger sister on the Pacific TO justify
the most liberal course Of policy towards