The Nevada journal., 1853-04-15
GRASS VALLEY, April II, 1858.


A. A. SARGENT, ESQ:
My Dear Sir-What shall the citi-
zens of Nevada county do about the
Plank Road Z? 1t is evident to me if
not to most other men, that we have
been fooled by both Sacramento and Ma
rysville, in regard to this enterprise
and the conclusion is clear that the
whole has been game Of bluff" play
ed off upon each other. We never had
confidence that Sacramento had the
ability to experd money for a road-an
no ono who has visited that city any
time in the last three months would give
her credit for hardly being able to pay
her inevitable municipal expenses.
With Marysyille the matter was en-
tirely different. We believe her citi-
zens in earnest, and that the promises
made were to be honorably redeemed.
Gentlemen of Grass Valley and Neva-
da," said the highly respectable COM
mit,ee, "Marysville has determined!that
a Plank Road shall be built this season,
provided you give us any, the least, en-
couragement: BUT SHE WILL BUILD 1T
ANY How.n
Veil, we elected to join with Marys-
vile, and in few days, with the effort
confined to mparatlvely few individ-
uals, Nevada and Grass Valley subscrib-
ed bona tide over s125, 900, and would
have doubled this amount after ground
bad first been broken. But Marysville
appears to have exhausted herself by
the magnitude and earnestness of her
promises, and in Performance has abso-
lutely done nothing The project of q
Plank Road sleeps in her keeping The
opportunity to connect herself with the
populous towns Of Nevada county, at
time when she would haze no opposition
10 encounter from the riual city, seconded
by the united exertions of our citizens,
is slipping by-and when: another sea-
son, Sacramento shall have recuperated
her exhausted resources, it will, with
Marysville, be TOO LATE. She will
have lost trade, the profits of which to
herself each year, would greatly exceed
the entire cost ofa Road If no road be
built to Marysville this gear, there will
be but one built nert gear, and THAT
WILL BE TO SACRAMENTO. The reasons
for this are too obvious for remark.
But the project of a road to connect us
with some point on navigable water, is
not abandoned. There are a few in
this town, who WILL if seconded by as
many at Nevada, forthwith proceed to
organize the "Neyada and Grass Valley
Plank Road Company" with capital
in fact, and in reserved right, sufficient
to construct Plank Road to that City
which will give us the most material
aid" We are able to perform whatever
We stipulate to do, and rely upon it, Ne
yada county will begin. The gods
help those who help themselves" and
honest corporators have nothing to fear
from the lion in the path" which has
struck such terror to the men of the
cities of the plain 1.-THE individual Ii
ability clause of the California Constitu-
ton. Name three or five men of Neva-
da, good and true, who will unite with
as many of Grass Valley, and the first
blow will soon be heard. hate these
folks who eternally talk and never act.
The world is full Of them, and they are
the real "old fogys"-the dead weights
upon the car of progress.
The present year will be one OF good
results to those interested in working
gold mines an place. Already the fogs
of prejudice, and the deeper darkness of
willful ignorance, which have so long
overshadowed the efforts cf the pioneers
in Quartz Mining, begin to lift, letting
in here and there the pure warm rays Of
a glorious sunlight. OF my own part in
the development of this, ere long to be
great interest of California, cannot yet
properly speak; but others, co-operators
in the same field, deserve mention for
their long-abiding faith, and their ear
nest efforts under many difficulties, to
establish Quartz Mining upon sure and
profitable basis. Among these, most
prominent are VIM. c. Crossett, Esq,
c. Conaway Esq, Drs, Bacon, Delavan
and X. T. Huddart, to whom great praise
is due for the degree ofperseveranco and
success with which they have severally
pursued the business AS you are q.
ware the Aqua Fria (English) Company
have completed their negotiations for
the mill and property of the Gold Hill
Company, and | understand will this
season put up extensive buildings and
machinery. To-day, | had the honor of
an interview with j. McDoUGALL, Esq,
agent and superintendent of the West
Mariposa Company, who has returned to
Grass Valley after nearly years ''pros-
pecting" in other portions Of the State,
and has leased the mill of the Rocky
Bar Company, temporarily, for prelimi-
nary operations. Another English COM
pany is expected to locate in this town,
arrangements for which are nearly con-
summated. 1t will be seen, therefore,
that in Quartz Mining, and as combining
advantages not found elsewhere in equal
degree, Grass Valley maintains her we'll
earned reputation. In regard to this
and other topics, | prosose to address
you from time to time, as leisure and
your space will permit.
Nn,trc fr,, w