San Andreas independent., 1857-04-11
The Big Tree Road Convention.


No concert of action, or basis of repre-
sentation, has yet been adopted in refer
ence to the Big Tree Road Convention
II is time our citizens shake off their leth-
argy and act in this matter. On Satur-
day, the second of May, the Convention
will meet at Mokelumne Hill, and we
have but little time to mature all the ar
rangements necessary to make the Con-
vention subservient to the best interests of
Calaveras county. Those who issued the
call should have stated whether the con-
vention was to be mass convention with
limited powers, or convention of dele
gates, with absolute powers. If the lat
ter, they should have directed how to act,
and settled a basis of representation, so
that delegates could go there accredited,
and protected against the influences of
Sacramento, which will unless over
powered out vote and overbalance the
advocates of the Big Tree Road. We
hope Mokelumne Hill will lead off in de-
Gliding what plan to adopt. We Intend to
cooperate with the Hill in this conyen-
ton, SO long as all goes fair and square !;
so does San Joaquin county, and especi-
ally the city of Stockton; but we assure
them Sacramento influences will meet our
most fervent opposition, and no other road
than the Big Tree Road, will get one dol
lar of support, or an iota of sympathy,
West or South of Mokelumne Hill. Sac
ramento has proffered, so we are Informed,
(but we do not vouch for it, having forgot
the author) S25, 900 to open the road north
east from Mokelumne Hill, provided the
people along the Moklumne river divert
the travel in by the West Point route
If the convention is called to facilitate
that object, and get the 81 800 appropria-
ted by our county Supervisors, to open the
road to the county line expended on the
West Point road, we shall oppose it, and
we know, in this opposition, a large pro-
portion of the citizens South and west of
Mokelumne Hill, will join. This West
Point cutoff makes the route twelve miles
nearer to Sacramento than does the Big
Tree road, and hence the call emanates
from that city. Had they headed the
call "West Point Road Conventions" it
would have been all right; but no, it has
different heading, very subtilely worded
to prerent what the call purports they IN
tend to do, which are as follows
lst-That fund be raised by subscription
for the repairing and improvement of the best
practicable road to Carson Valley.
2d-That a committee be appointed to take
charge and disburse such fund as in the opinion
of the Convention may be deemed advisable
3d-That Agents be appointed by said Con-
vention to take position on the main thorough
fares, and to be empowered to use all fair means
to induce the emgrants to travel the Southern
route.
4th-That in view of appropriations having
already been made by Congress for the opening
of Wagon Roads to our State, we, as represen-
tatives and citizens of the Southern mining and
agricultural counties notice with regret that
our claims to part of such appropriations are
entirely overlooked, offering do, one of
the most feasible and practicable roads, to
populous district lying, geographically, in the
centre of the State, and must depend entirely
upon our own enterprise, to bring our road fa-
vorably before the travelling public.