Mariposa Democrat., 1857-10-15
THE PROsPECT.

u
of the Mariposa and Merced South Fork Cana
Company in the projected Canal from the Soutl
Fork of the Merced river the commencement
of operations on which has been looked 70
with much anxiety and interest by the citizen
of this vicinity and the county generally, 70
some time, was, two weeks ago, disposed of t
Col. Fremont The sale, however, will not b.
finally concluded until May next The ar
rangement between the parties, negotiation
for which have been in progress for severa
weeks, has given rise to considerable surmis
and speculation among the people, as to wha
the real object of this apparent purchase maj
be-the ostensible purpose, of course, is to pro
ceed with the Canal, Immediately upon the re
turn of Col. Fremont which, ifit is done, will
meet the wishes of our citizens exactly.
1t is the opinion of some, that the Canal hai
fallen into the hands of persons who, having in
hucnce among capitalists, if not in possession
of the funds themselves, possess superior facil
tiles for pushing the work to a speedy compile
ton, and therefore, irrespective of all Other
considerations, they are pleased with the pro
posed change. We hope their expectations
will be realized.
Others, again, taking the past as guide
looking at the whole matter with the eye O.
experience, express their fears that it is bu
another chimera founded on promises destined
to vanish into g Thin air." Still, however, they
have the consolation. that when sinister efforts
blighted, the object will be effected without the
assistance of pretenders
With this last view of the matter we cannot
hut coincide. Ever since the first location oi
the Fremont grant in this county, the course
Of certain parties, therein interested, has been
one continued unvsrying train of exactions,
broken faith and attempted usurpation, with
out regard to rights of property or for the
feelings Of the people, either poor or rich
Promises made by apparent agents have been
repudiated by the apparent principal, and bad
faith has been SO plainly shown, and right so
tramplcd on, that it is no wonder the people
are disguised. This state of feeling must be
known TO the owners Of the grant, and if so,
is it at all probable that six hundred thou
sand dollars will ever be expended by them
upon a canal among those whose good will
they have not, and seemingly have never cared
to obtain? Is it at all likely that financier
land such an one is largely interested in the
grant, whose money is of so much more i'm
mediate value piled up in his banking house,
will consent to forego the use Of his funds for so
long time as will be necessary (say eighteen
months, at least,) to complete the canal? is
it not apparent to all, that the principal parties
interested in the grant want money, and short
ly, too, to be used in an entirely different way
in another quarter? Is It not more likely that
they would like to quiet all feeling, until, by
exhibiting the pretended resources of the grant
they will be better enabled to dispose of it,
entire, or large portion of it, and thus get
cleverly rid ofall responsibility provided they
succeed in convincing the capitalists abroad
that the quartz they exhibit is their OWN
And another point, which we deem conclu-
sivc in support of our position, is, that not
only have they promised to purchase the canal
of the Mariposa and Mcrced South Fork Canal
Company, but they have also promised to en-
courage and take stock in another canal the
preliminary survey for which has been made.
Now, is it likely they will buy an interest in
two canals, especially when the one last men
toned must be preudicial to the other? And
if not, then have they made promises never to
be fulfilled, and they stand unmasked before
the people.
Let US hope for the best, however, until the
time arrives when, one way or the other we
will be convinced; and should the result show
US to be in error, we viii cheerfully give credit
where it is due.