The Shasta courier., 1854-01-14
Proceedings of Meeting of the Miners
of West Weaver, Trinity County.

Proceedings of N Meeting of the Miners
of West Weaver, Trinity County.
Whereas, Very great difficulties have arisen
between miners and ditch companies, with re-
gard to the water of many mining streams and
gulches in many OF the mining districts of this
state, and particularly in this county, which
difficulties have arisen solely from the manifest
ly unjust and monstrous assumption OF an abso-
lutte fee simple title to running water by certain
ditch companies-such ditch companies intend
ing and endeavoring thereby to deprive all mi
ners of their natural, legal, and inalenable
rights TO make use OF such water as would nat
urally flow through the sulch or valley OF the
stream in which they worked, and which is nee
essary to work their claims
Uhereas also, such difficulties have been the
cause OF much annoying, expensive and vexa-
tious litigation, the said ditch companies having,
by the influence OF their money, caused GRIM
nial prosecutions to be commenced against all
and any miners who dared boldly to assert the
the natural and legal rights guaranteed to him
or them as miners and American citizens, and
attempting by all possible means to so overawe,
lntimldate and crush the mining community gen.
erally that they. the ditch companies, might
with impunity and an utter disregard of all nat
ural and legal rights, etfectually carry out their
schemes;
And Whereas, 1t also appears that these same
time endeavorng, by the influence of their gold
and by all other means in their power, to have
the Legislature OF this State pass act confirm
ing to Them all and every the unjust. illegal and
monstrous assumptions OF property in the nat
ural running water Ill the mining districts OF this
State;
Therefore, We the miners of West Weaver
as portion of that class of people of this State
specially interested i'll all matters of this kind,
deem 1t highly necessary that every portion Of
the mining community of the State, take some
Immediate and decisive action upon the subject
OF so vital importance to them before it shall be
too late
In accordance with this belief we have adopt
ed and now publish to the world the following
resolutions, as expressive OF our sentiments Ill
the premises - A
1st. Resolred, That the right of using mining
water as 1t passes through It's natural channel is
one OF the natural and nalienable rights of man /;
and has always been held sacred by all nations,
and respected by all governments.
Cd. ResOtUed, That the right title and interest
of the mineral lands of this State is vested in the
United States government, and that any claim,
title, or privilege, by any person persons to
the mineral lands, or water running over said
ands not derived from the United States gov
ernment, Is null and void and that any and all
rights and privileges of mining are held in COM
mon, and derived from one aud the same source
3d ResolUed, That the mines of this State are
held by the United States government for the
free use and benefit of all citizens who may
choose 10 work them; and that the natural run
ming water OF the mineral lands is an absolute
indispensable ingredient necessary to work those
mines; and that any and all claims of right and
title to the natural running waters of the miues
OF this State, by amy person or persons, are lle-
gal, unjust, and violation of the natural aud lie
sal rights OF the mining community.
4h. Resolced, That the mines of a gulch or
stream, include all the bars, banks and flats,
from hill to hill, which face such guch stream
aud drain directly into the same. Aud that the
miners working the mines of gulch or stream
are by the we'll settled laws of the land and long
established mining usage, entitled to the free
use OF all the water naturally flowing through or
In such gulch or stream, they may deem neces-
sary to work the claims. And that any race
dam, fume, or other thing turning the water of
gulch OF stream out of its natural course, and
from the mines of such gulch stream, when
the water is needed by the miners thereof, is a
trespass upon the natural and legal rights of the
miners thereof, and as such they have the natu-
ral and legal right to remove the same.
5th. Resolred That the conducting of water
in races, fumes, by any person persons,
for his or their use, for mining and working
their claims, is enjoying and exercising the
right held in common by the mining conimnni-
ty. which is right well established by the laws
and customs OF miners; and that such right has
ever been respected and protected by the mining
community.
9th. Rcsoired, That the right of using cunning
water, is "a right held in common by the mining
community. and that any and all claims of right
title. of absolute ownership. of the running
water, as capital by any man. or company Of
men, is an Infringement upon the III ghts of mi
ners and III direct violation, as well of the laws
of the land, as every natural law. and is calcula-
ted to snbvert aud overturn all the wholesome
and well established mining laws and usages
9TH. Resolced That We deem the enterprise
of such ditch companies as bring the surplus wa
ter OF large streams into dry digglngs. worthy OF
encouragement; but deny that any cne man OF
company should have any exclusive right for
such parpose; but on the contrary. consider il
to be highly necessary that it should be left free
to all, TO prevent a too heavy taxation upon nii-
ners generally for the use Of such water.
ReSoiced, That the Secretary forward a copy
of the Resolutions 10 the Shasta Courier aud De
mocratic State Journal. for publication.
SAMUEL SNOW, Chairman.
JOHN A. WATSON, Secretary.