The weekly Columbian., 1857-03-28
The T. Go. w. Co. against the Cas-. h. w.
Co. and the People Of Tuolumnc CO.--.No. 2.
"Iet the hawk stoop,
His prey has flown.n

Co. ana the People OF Tu0Iunlnc COs...NO. 2.
Let the hawk stoop,
His prey has flown.'
1t is selfevident, and well established
fact, that the growth and prosperity of
every community must necessarily depend
upon the price, and supply of the princi-
pal articles or material for consumption
and operation the former of which, in
this country are provisions, clothing, lum-
ber &C., and by the enterprise of our citi-
zens, are supplied in abundance; and the
price by fair and honorable competition
is reduced to level with labor and the
circumstances of the community. Upon
the other hand the latter, the great materi-
al for operation, water, upon which all the
other interests Of the community, in pc
culiar degree depend, has not only been
extremely scarce, the supply meagre and
scant at all times, and at others entirely
wanting, but the want of proper and fail
competition has kept the price altogether
above the circumstances of the commu-
nifty, and the price of labor and every
other article of trade. The consequence
of this state of things has been, what
might naturally have been expected; bu-
sincss not only languished, but at certain
seasons of the year, when it should have
been most lively and brisk, has been al
most entirely suspended. The demand
for an abundant and constant supply of
water, and competition in the market,
imperious and positive and the necessity
for the same not only absolute but press
ing. To supply this demand and relieve
the actual necessities of the community,
the corporation known as the c. & S. r.
Water Co. was formed; for these objects
have they persevered in the prosecution
of their work, and these have been
the beacon lights that have encouraged
and sustained them in every emergency.
All opposition or hostility then to this Co.
is opposition and hostility to the true in
terests of the country, and the blow that
would effect its destruction, would at the
same time, and with the same stroke,
again paralyze the whole community
In my former communication upon this
subject, l dwelt upon the hostility OF the
T. Co. Water Co. to this enterprise gen.
orally, and merely alluded to their great
efforts and anxiety to possess themselves
of certain mortgage against the Co.,
with the avowed purpose of effecting its
speedy and certain destruction.
I purpose at this time, to give brief
review Of their proceedings in this par
ticular case, in order that the eyes of the
people may be open to their true inter-
ests, and that they may know and appre-
ciate their friends, and understand their
enemies.
At an early day the c.. 4 S. r. Water
Co., in order to enable them to prosecute
their works, were compelled to MOI tgage
the same for the sum of nineteen thousand
dollars. This mortgage was taken and
is now held by Tareton Caldwell, a
member of the Board of Trustees of the
Co. The Co. also became indebted to
him in addition to this, about ten thous-
and dollars. The T. Co. Water Co
having in vain exhausted every other ex-
pedient to demolish the object of their
animosity, and thereby secure to them
selves once more a complete monopoly
in water power, and reduce the people to
their former depsndence-conceived the
sublime idea of taking the last desperate
chances of trying to obtain possession of
the above mentioned liabilities fatter-
ing themselves that by SO doing, they
would then be able to hold their victim
entirely at their mercy, until it would
suit their convenience to crush him. In
order to sound the pulse of this honest
hearted man they first make him an indi-
rect proposition through the agency OF
Caleb Dorsey of Sonora. This PROPOSE
ton was treated with the contempt it
justly merited. But they were by no
means disposed to yield the victory so
easy; the last chance to destroy their
hated rival must not be waived for triAes.
After some delay, they determined upon
bolder and more direct course. Accor-
dinghy deputation or committee com
posed of the Secretary and two members
Of the Board of Trustees of the Co.. one
disciple of Blackstone, learned in all
the winding intricacies of the law; the
other young and accomplished clerk
who had lately been elevated to his post
of honor, and felt anxious no doubt, by
distinguished services, to prove himself
worthy of his distinction, waited in per-
son upon Mr.. Caldwell, the young clerk
taking upon himself the office OF master
of ceremonies, the duties of which he dis
charged satisfactorily to his associates and
creditably to himself.
The ceremony of introduction over
and the object Of their visit being fully
explained, all the powers of skill and elo-
quence which this worthy trio could com
mand were exhausted to convince the
unsophisticated Mr. Caldwell that the