Columbia gazette., 1854-01-07
FOR THE COLUMBIA GAZETTE.
Soaora, Dec. 3lst, 1853

MIR. EDYToR,
Permit me to occupy small space ii
your valuable columns, to explain Ger.
tain mAter, that is agitating this com.
munity, viz. the passage of an ordinance
by the Common Council of the CITY,
granting to L. C. Gum, and others, the
exclusive right to mine Sonora Creek
within the limits of the City.
1t is not my intention, here, to give
the specification of this project, for ii
has been published in an ordinance, pub
lished in the Sonora Herald. But mere
ly to state facts, in relation to the mo-
tives that prompted the Board of Alder
men to pass said ordinance, and to cor
rect an erroneous impression, that has ta-
ken possession of the public mind, en-
gendered by Misrepresentation, either
by designing men, or by those that did
not fully understand the matter, which
is calculated, in its nature to reflect dis
honor on the Board, or an abuse OF the
powers vested in them. AS one Of tia.
body, l deem it necessary to give 4 plain
and true statement Of the case, that the
public, may judge impartialy, in the
premises. When DR.. Gum, and hi-
associates, some two weeks since, pre-
sented their petition, to the Common
Council, the subject was new to them,
or a majority Of them. 1t was received
and referred to committee, composed
Of one Alderman from each ward, to in
vestigate, and carefully examine into
this proposed enterprise, and report a.
the next meeting Of the Beard; and
upon the report of that Cosnm;ttec, was
the ordinance passed, after some consid-
erable debate. Now tie substance OF
that ordinance is this; the projectors OF
this work, agree to construct good,
and sufficient canal, or drain, to be
walled up on either side, vita stones,
tor the free passage cf tLs accumulated d
waters, that have, every winter, over
flowed some Of the most valuable lands
in the City, thereby rendering it unsafe:
to excet costly buildings. And that a
broad and level road may be made into
the very center Of the City, thereby,
greatly improving the property along
the line Of the works, making valuable
that portion of tho city lands which are
now almost worthless, for which they are
to receive every alternate lot, and the
privilege of mining the bed Of the creek,
The Common Council at the time this
ordinance was passed, firmly believed,
the City could be greatly benefited by
the construction Of this work, and were
Of opinion, that she would receive an
equivalent for the property disposed e.
And am satisfied are OF that opinion
still. AS regards the opposition to this
measure, | do not intend to impune the
motives Of the gentlemen, who oppose
it, for am fully satisfied that most ot
them, are high minded honorable gen.
tlemen, and believe the motives in call
ing meeting of the citizens, was to
have the subject fairly and impartially
investigated; but that report has gone
out, and has been circulated amongst
the mining population that the Common
Council Of this City, have granted to g
certain few, the right to mine Sonora
Creek,to the exclusion of all other claims
that the miners on the Creek would
be Immediately disposessed, that
the Council had been influenced to IA
vor the measure by bribery and that they
had sold their honor, for an interest in
the operation. That this is belioy-
ed by portion Of the community, | am
fully persuaded. But this is false, and to
prove to them its falsity, l challange in
vestigation, and before they pass judg-
ment upon us, give us fair hearing
j. L. &.