The Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1852-1872, 1853-06-25
THE SHASTA COURIER.


per concerning meeting held by the miners OF
Sidney and McKenzie's Guches in Weaverville,
in relation to the water difficulties" a. they
are called.
From the resolutions purporting to have been
passed at said meeting aud published by yon,
it would appear that it was meeting OF all the
miners having any claim upon the water IN dis
puie and that the resolutions were passed by
the deliberate votes of III. But such is not the
AS near as can learn, the trnth Of the case il
this: In so, when there were but few miners,
comparatively, either in Sidney or Mc'Kenzie's
Clutches. or West Weaver, and the water OF
West Weaver was more than sufficient for both
districts. DR.. Ware dug race, turning the wa
ter, or por ion of the water Of West Weaver
into McKenzie's Gulch, aud until last summer,
the water still running in West Weaver was
sufficient to supply the miners working there.
But last summer the number of miners had SO
much increased that the miners of McKenzie's
and Sidney Clutches foresaw that there would
not be sufficient water for themselves and those
of West Weaver, and being the stronger party,
resolved, by polite stroke, to appropriate
enough for themselves, though they should rob
those working on the stream. Accordingly, as
suming to themselves the right Of making mi
ming laws for West Weaver, (Which is distinct
and separate district they assembled in a con-
| vention at which not one miner from West
Weaver was present, and by resolutions unani-
mously adopted. declared that all the water Of
West Weaver creek belonged to themselves
bat that out of pure generosity they would give
their friends upon that creek four tom heads of
water-which four tom heads, when they had
got down to the diggings, were scarce sufficient
for two, and at times not enough for one. After
many earnest but vain remonstrances upon the
part of the West Weaver miners-being the
weaker party, they were obliged to submit
The result was, that nearly all the miners on the
creek were thrown out Of employment, many of
them losing their claims, which they had been
at great expense in opening
About two weeks since there was a great
scarcity of water in the diggings of West Wea-
yer. meeting of the miners of the district
was held, at which, after true statement of the
cause Of the scarcity of the water had been
made, it was resolved to call upon DIR. Ware
and request him to permit enough water to run
down the creek to supply the wants of those
working upon it. Accordingly committee was
appointed who called upon the Doctor, and re-
respectfully requested him to let down one-haf
the water belonging to the creek, but were re-
fused. They pointed him to some ten or twelve,
toms of water running to waste, and were called
God damned liars for their pains. Finding that
nothing but abuse and curses could be obtained,
they returned and made report proceedings.
That evening the dam and reservoir Of Dr.
Wares was destroyed. and portion Of the race
sluiced. The next day water was plenty in
West Weaver.
Upon the 9TH inst there was general meet
ing of the Sidney and Mckenzie miners the
which, by especial request, the miners of West
Weaver attended. Before any proceedings were
had, they explained their position to the miners
OF Sidney and Mckenzie, stating that they as
sumed the right of making their own regula-
tions, and did not wish to meddle with those of
others, and would take no part in the proceed
ings of the meeting. They further stated that
the water of West Weaver by law and by mi
ner's right and usage belonged to them, and
that they should have it by peaceable means if
possible, but have it they would; and if there
was more water than they needed, they were
perfectly willing that the miners of Sidney and
Mckenzie should have it. The meeting was
then addressed by Mr.Ware, who, to get cause,
pettifogged forDr. Ware very admirably indeed.
His expose Of the law upon the subject was
miserable misconstruction of it.
The West Weaver miners, after some little
discussion, withdrew from the meeting, and all
that was afterwards done was done by the mi
miners of Sidney and Mckenzie, and those in
terested with them.
The preamble to their resolutions saying that |
it was " a few malicious persons" who had dam
aged the reservoir and race of DR.. Ware, was |
purposely intended to mislead those unacquaint- |
ed with the case. Now l pretend to say that |
the miners Of West Weaver are as quiet and |
well disposed as any to be found in California; |
they have tried reasonable means to have
their rights respected and without any avail
their remonstrances were sneered at and them
selves insulted; they were told that, that which |
of right belonged to them they should not have,
and were further told that their diggings were
worthless, aud that as the diggings of Sidney |
were rich, that Sidney of course should have the
water. Not only insulting our poverty, but rob
bling us because we were poor. think that IT
men would quietly submit to all these things
they would justly deserve them, but the miners
on this creek are Of better metal-shey fully |