The Nevada journal., 1858-07-23
The InundatiOR

miners located on one of the rayines
above town, IN utter disregard of the
rights and property of others, have
flooded the lower part of the town with
water and tailings. Knowing well their
rights but impoverished by fire and food
and fearing the verdict of miners Jury,
our outraged citizens have forborne re-
sorting to the law to redress their griev-
ances. Instead of obtaining from the
Courts an injunction to put stop 20 the
intolerable nuisance, they have been
constantly spending time and money to
turn aside the muddy torrent from their
houses. They have endeavored. to in
duce the miners committing the depre-
dations to contribute something towards
what was the miners duty to do wholly,
but not dollar could be obtained from
that source
The idea was held out for time that
the wise men who sit in grave conclave
and watch over the interests Of the
town, as soon as the property Of the
corporation became injured would thrust
forth their potent arm to save and pro-
tect. The mud and dirty water have
filled Deer Greek level with the bridges
and Is now pouring over them, and vet
the nuisance is unabated The city
dads have purchased ground on which
to build another bridge close by, have
proceeded to plank other bridges farther
out of town. and have made appropria
tions out Of an empty treasury to pay
for the same. The lots they have
bought for bridge purposes are adioin-
ing one of the aforesaid bridges now
made almost valueless from the muddy
flood, and when bridge is put upon
the lots ten teams would pass one of the
old bridges to one on the new Yet the
old are allowed to 60 to rack and ruin
though valuable to the town and abso-
iutely necessary to procure any travel
at all to the contemplated new bridge
and no effort is made for their preser.
yation.
We do not offer an objection to the
purchase of grounds by the city for i'm
provements But obviously the power
to acquire carries with it the power to
protect. 1t is disgrace to the Council
10 call upon these men suffering the
wrongful destruction of their property
for taxes to build more bridges when
others thousand times more valuable
TO them are made impossible and are
endangered.
A heavy fall of rain would carry
away the two bridges in the lower par,
of the town if allowed to remain ehok ed
up with tailings to the pianking as they
now ere.
One house of business has been aban
doned in consequence of the inundatior
aud the trade of others seriously lessen
ed ln view of these things it seem.
strange that temporizing policy shoult
be pursued. Any American citizer
knowing his rights should dare maintain
them. There is spirit in the patriot,
declaration Of olden time-"Millions fol
defense not cent for tribute" which
should be breathed into our long suf
fering neighbors.
II a gang of miners are to run ovel
and ruin every other class of community
it is time their right to do SO should b.
established If the city authorities car
take the money of the citizens to built
bridges to be destroyed with impunity
it is time we knew that too.
Every man in the town has a right t.
as much land not claimed by others al
is necessary to carry on his business
He can hold and occupy it by virtue o.
the highest authority-an act of Con
gress. That act was one of the las
signed by President Fillmore. The mi
ners have no rights granted them by tn,
general government but the right of suf
ferance. In this regard citizen of
town has better title than miner, ant
yet in another regard there can be n,
valid excuse for the miners committin,
depredations upon our property. The
injustice Of one set of men aooding anoth
er with tailings is apparent. No homes
man but can see it. A very recent de
cision of the Supreme Court settled th'
wrong forever. The Court holds, in ef
feet. that the miners above the town nov
covering us with tailings, must hold tn
ground they are flooding for mining pur
poses and give some substantial evidence
they do own it. Such being the estab
iished Law of the State it follows the mi