The Empire County argus., 1854-01-14

fOTtlOi Ol tilc lucy ulSCONpr-
ed that independently of its golden sands, it pos
sessed genial and healthful climate and luxuriant
soil They became attached to its beautiful rivers
Its pleasant and productive valleys and its ex-
pansive plains, and instead of quitting the country
forever as originally intended, they sent for their
wives and little ones to reoin them in this snnny
land.
The transccndant beauties of the country-the
fertility ofits SOIL well its great mineral wealth
and commercial advantages, were soon properly APP
preciated, and then commenced the food-tidc of
immigration, which has since known no cbb.
Among the many fiattering evidences of our pros
perty and progress in agricultural pursuits, none
speak more unmistakcby. than the increased de-
imand and consequent importation of farming i'm
plemens of every character; they give evidence of
the peaceful and lucrative calling of many of our
citizens.
The advantages of engaging in agricultural pur-
suits cannot be too earnestly urged upon the people,
and the employment of labor and capital in such
channel cannot fail to afford profitable returns.
Let us hope, then, we have every reason to
expect that not only mountains and river sands
will continue to yield their rich treasures to the
hrnd of industry, but that vast and unequallcd
commercial and agricultural resources may be so
developed by the enterprise and perseverance of
our people, as to elevate California in the scale of
nations and render her that populous and power
full sovereignty of the American Confederacy, for
which she was so manifestly destined by nature
and by natures God
For the blessings of social order and general
prosperity which we now enjoy in SO high degree,
| claim nothing for the government over which
have been called to preside. But to that spirit of
liberty and progress eminently characteristic of
the American people, united with the intelligence
and determined energy of fellow-citizens. under
the blessings of Providence, we owe all our great
ness and continued prosperity-and to that spirit
and intelligence must we ever look for the welfare
ofo, and the OerDptuity of thp
free institutions which have made our Union be-
loved at home, and respected abroad"
BUILDING hors IN THE MINEs.--The San Fran
cisco Evening Journal of a recent date, has arti-
Gle in relation to building lots in the mining towns,
designed to operate on the members of the Legs-
lature many of whom, it seems, were at the time
in that city 1t strongly complains of some city
eotcmporary for interfering with that which is of no
interest to them and essays to instruct the Legsla
turc in their duties in regard to the matter. We
would not wonder if that journal were equally
cupaple of appearing to dictate in matter that
had better be left to those more Immediately ac-
quainted with the wants of the localities interested
The Journal seems to think the mining region
can yet boast of better tenements than clap board
shanties, which are built at little or no expense,
and which can b, torn down and removed at will
and that the numerous families who have congre-
gated here should be driven from their shanties,
and exposed to the winter storms of the mountains,
to punish them 1--WE can see no other reason for
thesr temerity in venturing so far from home) In
every point it to US the article is founded in
error There may be exceptions, in which cases
the mountain towns are made of temporary materi-
ais and for temporary use. But these few excep-
tons will not justly general destruction of all
the town property in the mines Neither is there
any general custom that exempts frail, temporary
camping grounds from the miners pick and shovel ;
and the moment the pretended occupant hegins to
,lir ba nv tbot Of 6nplarac min nj
is restricted to he ordinary claim. Here are great
numbers of excellent budings-not ella p-board
shanties altogether, but fire. proof brick and frame
buildings of the first class-occuped either by fam
lies of women and children, or by men doing a lie.
gitimate business, without which the miners would
soon find themselves destitute of the common ne
cessaries of life.
More than this, the miners-wth few excep-
tOns of men of the most selfish and short.sighted
character would sooner abandon the mines, and
support themselves by raising potatoes, than inter-
rupt the influx of society that has so much impro-
we'd their condition within two years-and without
n right to build residences, it would be sheer foly
for men to bring their families here; no one would
do it; and confusion than that of so or 81
would be the consequence.
But again the statement that mining towns are
apt to cover the best mining ground, is badly ex-
agerated They are usually built before the ex-
cent Of the mines is fairly known and for this rea.
son will sometimes ground that otherwise
would pay expenses to work; but in their location
there is no such object as to interrupt the miners
the town being erected for the mutual convenience
of the miner and profit of the trader The hvpoth-
ess that men would build one clap-board shanty
after another to hold mining claims, is ridiculous
and would indicate that the writer had but faint
idea of the customs among miners, or the effect
such operation would have on the pockets of the
experimenter. Such a resort, if followed up would
prove ruinous the ShQnties which hold town lots
usually cost not less than $500, and often $4,000
much cheaper and more expeditions way of ac-
quiring large claims has occurred to the miners
That of getting their friends to take them up and
then get transfer.
The natural inference on reading such an article
s, that the writer either belongs to a company who
contemplate appropriatng to their own use some
valuable town property for mining purposes or is
induced to advocate such doctrine by others who are
an that fix. No one, surely, who has the permanent
good of the State at heart could go before the law
makers of onr State and advocate such doctrine
unless he would be satisfied to forgo all the security
comforts and happiness of civilized society
There are few men in California, whose selfish
propenstes will not allow them respect the rights
Of others, and would willingly embark in an exper-
imen of doubtful policy to themselves if there were
possibility of gaining any thing by the experiment
while they could have the qualification of seriously
'nJuuing others. Make it lawful to upturn and de-
stroy all town lots for mining purposes and it would
De special qualification to such, to pitch into the
most valuable lots to be found, and while In many
cases they would not get enough to pay their living
eXpenSeStheY would DESTROY tho nropertv nf on