The Nevada journal., 1854-01-13
South Yuba Canal.
Editor of the Necada Jonrnal-Dear

In the Sacramento Union, of the 7th inst,
correspondent at Grass Valley under the
signature of g r. P. Fl. :" in adverting to the
acknowledged Importance of artificial water
courses IN the mining districts, for the develop
ment OF Its vast resources in the precious metals
Ia subject upon which the writer treats with
an able PEN makes the following remarks in
relation to the South Yuba mining and Sac
ramento Canal company -
"There is not more inviting scheme to the
capitalist. one that would yield more mag
nifcent constant and permanent return upon
the investment, than that which would have for
its object the construction of large canal
leading the waters ofthe Sonth Yuba into Grass
Valley and its vicinity. The route, through
the auspices OF a company organization, has
long since been surveyed, but of practical
moment nothing further has been done. Why
it Is that the project has so long remained dor
mant, we are unable to say. We shall be
happy for the welfare of our country that they
are not playing the part of the dog in the man
ger--for from the valley borders to the moun-
tain tops the cry is water! water If they are
incompetent to follow this survey with the
actual work-to build canal for the rant of
money, let them open the fertile fields to the
magic capital of the millions under which the
vaults ofmonled men are groaning for the want
OF suitable chance for inves ment."
In reply to these structures upon the transac-
TONS OF the company [ beg leave to state for
INC ihlorlnatioh OF the correspondent of the
Union, and the public generally, that it has
not been the forte OF this company to ostenta-
lively announce their acts or the merits of their
enterprise to discerning public for the Dur.
pose OF gaming prestige to which they were
not entited-but on the contrary whenever
they have appeared before discriminating com
munlty IN the advocacy of the merits Of their
enterprise they have studiously avoided MAKING
representations which could not be substantial,
ted by lncontrovertlble facts Nor on the other
hand can they be charged, with anv show of
justice, as ntlmated by the writer, with with.
holding from the mining interests an enterprise
so thoroughly identified with the prosperity of
the people: The following facts connected
with the history of the company must be con-
elusive On this point
Early IN June 1851, and Immediately after
the completion of the first water coursc far
mining purposes any importance. q recon
nolsance OF the route was made by the proiec-
tors: which was Immediately followed up bv =
preliminary survey and the entire practicabiitv
OF the enterprise announced in the Nevada
Journal IN which great work, the public were
invited to participate. Such however was thc
want oil ialth in the utility of the undcrtokino
that 1t met with no favor or encouruocmnnf
but was pronounced not only visionary and
chlmerIcal IN its inception but totally uncalled
Tor and impracticable. With this nonulor
prejudice against the enterprise it would have
Deen iolly Tor the company to have then prr
sisted IN urging the merits of their claims an,
with much reluctance and r, .rct. y mnin<
season was permitted to nteryepc-whpn thl
growing and fast increasing wants Of the minor
seemed to authorize the re-aoitation ortbe ucs
tlon. Public notice was therefore oiven an,
IN accordance Herewith, subscriptiou books +,
a capital stock of Sl,000.O0O were oncpnd !,
Nevada, Grass Valley, Marysyilc, Sacrament,
ana San franclSco--but months passed an,
stlll The company were without sufficient on
couragement to proceed. The proprietors ba,
to learn, amid all the unpara!cd prosnnrtr a
the country-and i'll the face Of :: fail knowl
edge OF the paramount value and necessity .
the work at the present time univcrsoIlv al
mttcd even by those who at an earlier nar;o,
gave 1t their unqualified condemnation Tim
Calliornla had no surplus or spare canital +,
prosecute with success an ENTERPRISE of 81 oraat
Il magnitude. In other words. that the mn3tbI,
returns OF capital invested in the inIividu5
operations of commerce and OF trade wcre g,
rcmuneratlye, that no induccmnnt bnp,o,.o
tlatterlng III its character and nctwithstand;n,
the acknowledged legitimacy of the Object
could prevail on men of means to divert nvon
portion of ther wealth into this new channel :
Under these adverse circumstances. wifi an NJ,
Willingness to involve themselves in finon,;,
s,such as lave been 10 , often v;t
messed III the mining regions in prosecuting sim
lar projects on lesser scale resulting in a ouad
| ruple cost OF the works--for the want 0famnI,
ana ready means, the company during tn,
past summer directed its attention TO nrocnrino
the requisite capital from abroad: in further
ehce OF which object, special agcnt-with fnl
power, sailed for New York and London i,
August last and such was the character Of the
advices received from him on his arrival that
the company at once placed men upon the line
of the works finally surveyed whose labor was
only suspended upon the setting in of the win
ter season, which made it impossible to progress
further until the melting of the SHOWS.
Subsequent advlces from the company's agent
give the pleasing intelligence that no doubt
now remains OF speedy and full accomplish
ment of his important mission--in which event
the friends of the enterprise may look forward
with confidence upon the opening of the spring,
to witnessing thousand men, if need be, upon
the line of the works and to its full completion
at the close of the dry season of the present
year, through vast mining region now far
above the reach of water.
Respectfully yours, T. w. CoLBURN,
Secretary of the Sonth Yuba mining and Sacra-
mento Canal company