Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-06-01
For the Telegraph.
mining nronnd Gsrrss x-nrler

MIR. EDITOR a writer i'll the Telegraph
OF the 18th inst, after NOTICING the amount of
gold yielded from the mines in the vicinity of
Grass Valley, during the past three wears,
suggests that the hills still TEEN with the pre-
clous metal, and that what is necessary to
cause these hills to dsgorge their treasure. is
the establishment of a more lihora1 oodo o.
miners laws, than that which now prevails
Laws which will secure to those who will r;sl,
their labor or capital. a share in the oroft.
OF any dlgglngs they may develope. which the
present laws fail to do, for should party set
to work to prospect hill, they are at once
beset by men who compel them to define tboir
claims, and then proceed to stake off all tbo
ground not covered by the prospecting party
who may not strike the lead until they reach
claims in which they have no interest thus
they loose their labor or money Doubtless
there is much truth in this, and that in conse-
quence many are deferred from embarking in
operations which would probably be attended
with loss to them. while it might enrich those
who lacked the energy or means to search for
themselves-hence capital that would employ
labor is diverted to other channels while la
Dor remains inactive.
The miners as body, are not wanting in
intelligence industry or liberality, and /
venture to assert, that were the matter placed
before them in proper light, they would at
once establish such code of laws as would
remove the cause Of complaint. The present
laws were framed when it was thought that
gold was to be found only on, OF near the sur
face; on running streams or where streams
had ceased to run. Such mining, around
Grass Valley. involved but little risk, as the
character of the diggings could soon be ascer-
tanned. But now, people must labor for
months to open lead, with no certainty of
being repaid.
The few hills around Grass Valley which
have been worked, have paid well for the la
Dor bestowed, and there are unquestionably
many others as rich as the richest, that re-
main untouched, (unless by stakes) 1t rests
with the miners to decide whether those treas
ures shall remain hidden, or whether they will
give encouragement to parties, willing to incur
the expense and risk, to develope them. Let
them decide to allow to any party who will
open lead, sufficient amount of good
working ground when discovered or develop
ed: then capital and enterprise will not be
wanting to ensure the undertaking, which
may give employment to many now idle.
What is required to develop the rich re-
sources of Grass Valley, is capital to open the
mines and water 10 work them. We are in
formed that the capital necessary to construct
large canal to bring in the South Yuba. has
been secured, and that the work will be com
menced Immediately.
| do not imagine there would be any great
difficulty in raising the means to oprospect any
OF the hills around Grass Valley. There are
two plans which present themselves one for
the miners to form companies of Twenty-Five
or fifty, pay monthly assessment of five or
ten dollars, or sufficient to employ single or
double gang to run a tunnel into the hill de-
sired to be prospected. Another plan would
be, to form joint stock company of, say one
thousand or more shares of twenty-five dol
lars each, to be paid in monthly installments
of five dollars, at the banking house of Messrs.
Adams q Co., or Wells, Fargo & Co., in San
Francisco, Sacramento, Marysville, Grass
Valley OF Nevada, scrip to be issued, and the
payments to be endorsed upon the back of
certificate; fines to be imposed for non-pay
ment of installments when due, the shares not
to be liable to further assessment. The oh
ject of this company would be to prospect or
open and drain any mine which might be an
proved of by such majority of the officers Of
the company as might be agreed upon. The
directors Of the company to have the appoint
ment OF hands, and management of lead until
developed, and to be reimbursed for all mon
les expended, from the first earnings of the
mines, and to receive a certain percentage of
subsequent earnings. for one or more years.
Ihe low price at which the shares would be
placed, the object, Ito develop the resources
OF section of country, acknowledged to be
one OF the best in California; would ensure
the support not only of the miners, but of ev-
cry storekeeper in Grass Valley, for they
would be directly interested, while many