The Trinity journal., 1856-08-23
Water bitches


umns, to prove to the citizens of Weaveryille aud
10 the miners of Trinity County, the great utility
Of Water bitches. 1t often happens, however,
that it requires more argument to convince men
of the practicability and profit of rational and
tangible enterprises, than it does to eate the mind
with high expectations Of realizing fortunes, seen
through the visionary schemes Of chance DIS
tance lends enchautncnt to the view None can
70 sadly attest the truth of this-its folly and ru
in-as the miners Of California.
In years past, the miner was actuatod by the
belief that gold was only to be found the bars,
and in the banks Of Greeks, Rivers, and natural
streams hence it was that the miner felt himself
to be a mere waud,rtr Of the mountains and plains
Of California, exhausting the means accumulated
in one place in travelling to another, and always
ready to pull up stakes aud bound off al the first
breath, when busy rumor insinuated richer dig
gnes and better thing beyond Those who have
been thus wearied by this perigrinating policy,
may be reckoned today by thousands indeed, it
nav be safely inserted as within the bounds of
truth that the great ma ajority Of miners who have
been in the State since the days of 40, have been
subject to and injured by this thoughtess folly.
Things have changed materially in California
within the last three years. The sweating ankle
ty that formerly kept the miner and merchant in
such ayarcous suspense to make pile" and
return ts their earlier homes only defeated the
very object they sought, and proved fatal to their
sanguinary hopes, producing no other effect than
a., .,.l. tgl ,,u,. .ri1 ~
the miner aud merchant, and bringing nothing in
the end but a summary of mishaps, and an emp
ty purse.
The true philosophy Of labor and human econo-
my. is that which teaches the means and system
by which judicous management and honest labor
may reap its highest reward. Experience has
taught the miner that this high reward is not to be
obtained by adherence to every rumor, or roam
ing about from one locality to another, from hill
TO hill and from stream to stream. The man who
would now succeed in mining, must apply him
self to his business with proper industry, and OPP
crate upon systematic principles Necessity may
well be considered the legitimate mother Of in
vcntion, and to this is to be attributed the enlarg
I'd sphere Of action and enterprise that presents
itself to honest and Independent labor to-day in
California.
1t is but few years since the enterprise in
ditching was commenced in this State, under the
most inauspcious circumstances. Labor was then
high-the State was and the people fuctua-
ting, and mines where pick and shovel were the
only capital required, were more plenty Ditch
der the heat and spur of the moment, and con
Quoted with the most foolish extravaganza
by men, too, who had neither the requisite knowl-
edge, the proper capacity, or the means to com
plete them.
To this then, is to be mainly attributed the
cause of the many runous failures which took
place IN earlier days, with ditching in California
Many-yery many of the best and most worthy
men in this State, have experienced severe losses
by these badly conducted projects, and many are
there, who have not yet recovered from the shock.
All those feversh and undigesled plans-bad man
agement-rocklcss operations and consequent
failures, had only the effect to destroy the conf
dence of intelligent men of means, and rctard
the growth, and prosperous development of the
rich mineral resources with which the State a.
bounds, and when public confidence is once dcs
troyod in the practicability and profit of these
heavy undertakings it is hard thing to regain
he few to be found now, who feel sore upon
the subject Of water bitches, and who express
doubts and fears of the success aud profit of thi.
and that undertaking, in the mines where capita
it.r 10.
1t is common for man to feel and bear with re
gret, the stroke of adversely, and more common
still for him TO speak from the prejudice of al
empty pocket th an good and impartial Judge
ment there are but three facts to ascertain b
the miner and capitalist, to prove the necessity
praeticablity and profit of mining bitches. Isl
The necessity Of water End. The practcabilit
of digging canal through winch abundance 0
water can be brought, and Sd. The mines to jus
tify the large or small expenditure necessary Il
consummate the work. Every citizen can wei
satisfy himself upon these three points, who pos
eesfes any public spirit, or ability to make invest
ments in the mines. Now where can we find q
more striking proof Of the necessity of water
bitches, than right in our midst Dggngs at
rich, and gold fields as extensive as any in Cali
fornia, are now laying waste and deserted for the
want of water to work them.
The consideration of this matter is of the mos
vital importance to our miners, merchants ant
farmers.
Let the practical miner who has means laying
idle, or who can command money or labor, calm
ly reflect Hpon the profit aud inevitable fortunes
10 he mad de in the construction of water ditche
when properly managed.
A survey is now being made from Rush Creel
IL 5trart's Fork 1f the North Fork of Trinity riv
or bv Mr. Garland aud others, to intersect the
old Ditch tha. has remained so long in statu qtto
We hope to bG able to lay the report and al
the particulars Of TIE engineer before our read
ers in a week or two, showing the distance, the
practicability, and full estimate of the cost
Mr. Garland j. a man Of sterling worth, and thor
ough practical knowledge. We have known him
for years. and have seen sufficient proof In his
~ nfbou flra rio in nra.