The Nevada journal., 1857-06-12
WATER DIPCHES.

w WAIER DlICHES.
In the trial Of causes in the District
Courts of the various counties, between
ditch proprietors and other mining inter
ests, it has been fashionable for lawyers
engaged against the bitches, to declaim
against the appropriation of water by
the ditch owners, and argue that these
enterprises are antagonistic to mining
operations. If ever this idea should
become popular in the minds of juries,
and have its designed effect to excite
their preiudices, so as to cause them to
give verdicts, right or wrong, against
the ditch interests, and drive the ditch
men from their property, serious blow
will be struck to the best interests of
the whole community. 1t requires but
a glance to satisfy any reasonable man
that the prosperity Of the great mass of
miners, and derivatiyely, Of all the rest
of the public, is dependent on tie sup
ply of water furnished by the bitches.
We might instance this region as a
marked illustration. Before water was
brought on the Cayote hills, the dirt
was hauled to Deer Greek and washed,
an expensive operation, and after the
very rich dirt was washed, mining ceas-
ed. In all the ravines, and on the hill
sides, for eight months in year, min
ing was PROSTATE. The town wasnearly
deserted, stores vacant, the miners left
in debt for their board, and the most
dismal predictions were uttered of our
future. On the introduction of water
by the Deer Greek and Cayote bitches,
tie Cayote range sprang into instant
lEe Piles of abandoned dirt were
w he'd, paying richly. The whole
range was sluiced down to the bed rock
and thousands Of miners found constant
employment, and have continued and
extended their work to the present day,
in localities that would never have teen
prospected without the facilities afford
ed by these bitches. The water es-
capped from hills down the ravines, and
was used over and over, everywhere do
ing incalculable good. This is an illus
tration that applies to every part of the
mining region. Without the bitches
there could be little mining; without
the mining business would stagnate. and
the country rapidly go to ruin. An in
terest of such value should be cherish
cd by miners, and no petty quarrel that
may be settled in a court Of justice,
by strict reference to the righteous rule
Of priority, should be made the pretence
for assaults upon a great branch of en-
terprise and industry. Speaking of
these enterprises, the author of the
"Sketch of Nevada county" published
in 1856, justly remarks:
zone of the most important agents in
developing the resources of the county
has been the water introduced from nat
ural streams by means of bitches. Du-
ring a large part of the year the busi-
ness of the region must utterly fail were
it not for these artificial streams that
compensate, in a great measure, for the
drought of the summer season, and en-
able the miner to pursue his calling.
The ditching operations have been gen
orally so profitable to the projectors,
and SO indispensable to the mining inter
ests, that they now net nearly the
whole county. Wherever good dig
gings are opened. some enterprising men
cast about for supply of water, and
spare no labor to conquer the many OBJ
stacles which are presented by rough,
thinly settled country"