The Sierra citizen., 1854-08-19
T For the Sierra Citizen.
NO. VI.
Letters from Major Downie.

The miners were coming up pretty fast
now, and our cabin was full all the time.
1t was small, and we could not accommo-
date many, but all were welcome who
could get in; often we crawled into our
hunks to make room and give them a
chance near the fire to steam themselves
before lying down-they called it drying
their clothes. We were greatly amused
to hear them talk of going home when
they made one or two thousand dollars;
some were married, and how they wished
to be back again, and said they would do
anything if somebody would inform them
of place to make raise. l comforted
them by saying five or six thousand would
not satisfy them, and when they had accu-
mulated that amount their thoughts of
home would be less than during their
poorer days. Our cabin was happy one;
and never was the weary miner turned
from it while there was room to lie down,
or to stand in the corners. About this
time VIM. Slater came up and camped
above us, and J. F. Foster employed him
to sell his goods. He was soon taken sick
in the wet tent, and sent for me, as he
wanted medicine; | took him into our ca
bin and put him into my bunk, laying on
the aoor myself; and my partner said |
was troubling myself too much about men
l did not know; but he required some one
to care for him and could not allow him
to lie and perhaps die, where he was. |
would not mention what / had done were
it not to make the matter more plain about
this same Slater, and how he worked him
self into our good graces and finally made
a clean sweep of all the dust in our camp
and John Smiths. who lived in little log
hut with Mr.. Carman about the upper
part of the "garden" that is. During his
convalescence he heard us speaking of 60
ing prospecting, and also wishing for
some means to transport our money be-
low-we didn't know what to do with it.
Some of the boys got into conversation
with him about the price of gold below,
and he represented that it was easy to OBJ
tain twenty-five dollars an ounce-quite
easy, and this announcement capsized all
our calculations as to the amount we had
as we had always reckoned it at sixteen
dollars an ounce This news so overjoyed
us that there was nobody like Slater-he
was the man who could get more money
for dust than any other; in fact we talked
the matter over to ascertain ifit was not as
well to give him the other two dollars
over per ounce as present, it was much
easier counting up-just five ounces to the
hundred dollars. Little did we think when
we took Slater from the muddy tent in
our own cabin, that we were warming up
a viper to sting us; but, no matter; I'll let
him go for the present, and see that the
miners have their claims staked off,
Those camped down the river about
Goodyear's and Cox's bars got an armful
of stakes, and commenced driving them all
along the banks to the forks. By the
time they got here they found ground that
looked better, and nothing would do but
get another armful, which'they drove along
the North and South Forks clear out of
sight. By the time they got through sta
king off for one day, another party were
at work on their claims, causing immune
rable disputes, and it was thought advisa-
BILE to call a meeting Of the miners to en-
act suitable laws for our government and
to prevent rows. Accordingly meeting
was held in Mr.. Kelly's cabin, Major
Briggs in the chair; byc-laws were passed,
and things went on smoothly again for
some time-until the lawyers camp up.
Upon examining file of old papers in
our desk, transferred to us by the proprie-
tor of the Mountain Echo, we find a copy
of the original manuscript laws referred
to by the Major, and thinking they will
be read with some interest as curiosity
from Californias early history, insert
them below.-ED.1
"FoRKs OF THE YUBA,
March Sd, 1850.
Net according to agreement at Mr..
Kelly's cabin. Meeting was organized by
the appointment of Maj. Briggs as chair