San Andreas independent., 1857-03-14
Ditch Property.

1nc mOSC Valustple property III Siic iniiAeo
is Ditch Stock This species of proper
ty has heretofore attracted but little atten-
ton, on account of the investment being
of such disintegrated nature as to be be-
yond the control of individual effort, and
correct financial operation. This evil is
now being gradually corrected most of the
larger bitches have-through a series of
misfortunes, caused by local dissentions-
been much injured in importance and de-
prcciated in value, SO that of necessity the
stockholders were driven to centralise their
investment and property in the hands. of
controlling influence, governed by one
will and the action of one mind. In the
Northern Mines, several years ago, such a
result was sought after and accomplished !;
the effect has been to make Ditch stock, in
that region, most desirable property
The Table Mountain Ditch, one of the
largest and most valuable in the State, has
recently perfected an arrangement bywhich
the same happy results may be accom-
plishcd. Some time since, the entire pro-
perty was leased for period of five years,
to Mr. A. B. Laforge, for the purpose OF
perfecting the ends for which the Ditch
was built; making it a source OF wealth and
prosperity to the miners of this county, as
well as profitable investment to its own
ers Our readers will bear us out in say
ing that it could not have fallen into ADLER
hands We speak this in all the spirit of
an honest belief, well knowing that the
Ditch, which can alone be conducted sue
cessfully through series of years, in able
hands, might fail, if a less capable man had
the control of it. Mining is our prevail
ing interest-in fact, the ruling interest of
the State. Without water, the miners are
helpless-can do nothing consequently
ditch property IS the mines, as much SO as
bread is the staff Of life. Grant this, and
it behooves every one to assist and sus-
tain ditch owners i'll the many grievances
with which they have to contend. The
larger bitches are more peculiarly liable to
these petty annoyances than the smaller
ones-yet it is to the former that we look
for the greatest benefits in greater and
more continued supply of water. The
Table Mountain Ditch is one of the largest
in the State, furnishing over one hund-
red and eightyJour first sluice-heads of
water, without including the Cave City
branch, which will, in a few days, distrib-
ute water over the Old Gulch, French
Gulch, Buckeye and other districts. We
had intended to give, in detail, the re-
turns, receipts, &C., of this ditch, but
failed to get the data by which to make
reliable statement. We expected to pub
lish it in connection with similar state
ment of the other bitches (the Union ditch
and Capt. Pope's). In order to give an
outline of the modus operondi by which
ditch property is controlled, we shall refer
to few facts, collected, in reference to
the Union Water Ditch, (having its source
in Murray Greek.
This company was formed by union of
miners, late in 1851. In February, 1852,
the work was commenced, each miner con-
tributing his labor-twenty days work
making share In this manner the en-
terprise was completed The ditch cost
1900 days work, which is consolidated
into one hundred and ten shares (twenty
days work making full share), valued at
five dollars per day for the labor, or one
hundred dollars per share.
The ditch is controlled by a Board of
three Directors, who manage the concern,
hire watermea, and determine all changes,
regulations and privileges, appertaining to
the ditch. The Company is organized
with President, Treasurer and Secretary,
the two latter receive one-half of one per
cent. for their services The ditch is en-
tirely out of debt, and now yields on an
average, from FIVE to six hundred dollars
per week, clear of all expenses. The
property is increasing in value every day,
and the incidental expenses, taxes, &C., in
all furture time, will not be, all told, more
than fifteen hundred dollars per year
mostofthe expense will be for new fuming,
and where the nature of the ground will
admit, to replace the fume with ditch
ditch channel being safer and more eco
nomical than fluming. The ditch supplies
about thirty first slnica-baads of uotor Of