San Andreas independent., 1857-03-28
LETTER FROM vALLEcITC.
VALLEcITo, March 81, 1857.

AIT. Edtt0r: - Believing few items
from this locality may interest some of your
numerous readers, | take the present op-
portunity OF posting you up, with the latest
mining intelligence; and also the on dts
of the day. Having copious supply of
water from the Union Water Comnanv and
French Camp, bitches, the mining season
is now fairly opened. Vallecito Flat,
which has heretofore been almost entirely
deserted on account of the peculiar forma-
tion and pitch of the ledge, is now suc-
cessfully worked by Derrick and Hydraulic
machlnery-paying the operators excellent
wages The claims on this Flat offer sune-
rlor inducements to miners who are fortu-
nate enough to have small cash capital to
invest in purchasing the necessary machi-
merry to work them. Several of the TIM
nels In the vicinity of the Camp, have met
with some success, but the majority have
only served to keep the owners poor this
has nearly cured the tunnel mania, SO prev
alent here some twelve months ago. Min
ing companies are operating successfully
on Murderer's Gulch, Humbug Hill and
Coyote Greek. Dust is getting more plenty
and our traders resume once more their
cheerful faces in place of the dubious
phizes worn heretofore, occasioned by the
unprecedented dull times. Mr.. Carter, the
celebrated Temperance Lecturer gave two
Lectures here last week in the commodious
Hall, belonging to the Sons of Temper
ance, which were numerously attended,
though the worthy lecturer did not fulfil
their expectations, and failed to give the
satisfaction that many of our California
Lecturers do. Our little town has been
surfeited with humbug shows, so much
lately, that the citizens have posted up
large placard in conspicuous position,
with the following lines inscribed thereon
=" One Horse Theatres and Infant Pro-
dtgtes are requested to pass Mrouqh
CampP In good sooth they are great
swindle.
The working class of our population are
becoming seriously alarmed by the con-
stant Infringement on their mining ground.
by the Ranching interest. With two
hundred yards of fencing to close up the
different lanes, leading to and from our
Camp, any ambitious homJre miehtcorroI
us all. In fact would advise our Tax
Collectors to do so. Many of the old and
established diggings, have been fenced in
and cultlvated-and as | believe, in many
cases, merel y to speculate on the Miners
rights, protected by the Ranching Law
have at all times been in favor of pro-
tecting the Ranchman, when he located
his land In good faith, and | do believe
a strict Interpretation of the Law makes it
incumbent on the farmer to locate ON
ground supposed to be fit only for that
purpose, and not on old and established
mining and gold-bearing ground. At the
present time the settler locates on all our
best mining grounds; thus in great
measure preventing prospecting, to the
great injury OF the miner, and serious det-
ument to our towns. Many, with the as
slstance of little old brush, enclose 4
large mining section. Miners who for
merly worked the claims, wandered around
the country, (miner like, to seek better
dlgglngs, eventually conclude to return to
their old quarters, and work their old
claims 10 and behold they must
give Bonds to some Ranchero for the priv
llege Of trying to earn living, in claim,
located long before said Farmer ever saw
California. Depend upon it there is some
thing defective in the present working of
the Ranch Law, which will create bound
less trouble, and source of endless liti-
CATION in this vicinity, unless our wise Leg
isiators make the Law so plain that our
Magistrates cannot disagreed in Interpreting
1t. At present they all entertain different
views, owing as they say, to there being
no decisions in our Supreme Court,
touching said Law. How this may be
know not; but 1t appears strange to me
that Law of such vital Importance, to a
large majority of our population, should
be SO often misconstrued and meet with
SO little notice from the sovereigns in Sac
ramento 1t is notorious fact that miners
never have any trouble in construing
what is known as Miners Laws" framed
by themselves, though they differ in every
Camp in the country. Why cannot the
Ranch Law be made as plain, and l do
hope they 1.-THE miners will take the earli
est opportunity to have a law passed by
their Representatives fully as plain and
simple as their own Mining Laws, SO that
less time and money will be lost attending
to the numerous quibbles raised by the
present Law.
We shall always look anxiously for any
information you may be pleased to publish,
on this subject, and in conclusion, | would
state, if you find the above worthy of pub
licatlon, you may depend in future on
hearing occasionally from Vox.
AcTs.-ln to-days paper we publish three
Acts, (which have each become law,) passed
by the present Legislature for the benefit of CAL