Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-02-06
Indian Creek.

EplroR JOURNAL Through the indefatigable
exertions of our worthy Expressman, Mr.. D. K
Woodward we are in the constant and punctusl
almost as warm a welcome by its patroEs here,
as a letter from the old folks at home
Like most of the mining districts in this portion
of the country, we have suffered much of late
from the want of water, but the recent storms OF
snow and rain by which we have been visited,
have brightered up the solemn faces of miners
and traders generally, and hopes are now freely
entertained of very plentiful supply of the
great desideratum in mining operations. If we
should be blessed with suilicency of water the
coming season, very profitable summers work
is anticipated by the miners now located hereof
whom there are a considerable number-and
whose confidence in the wealth of these diggings
is increased by every days developments.
Considerable interest is manifested ia this vi
cinity, more especially by the miners, in the pro.
ceedings of the Legislature now in session at the
State Capital As an evidence OF this, may
mention the fact that there are nine copies of
the Sacramento Weekly Union regularly ordered
of the Expressman, besides transient numbers in
this immediate neigLborhcod, mainly for the pur-
pose of securing full reports o. tie Legislative
proceedings. Thus tar those proceedings have
given entire satisfaction, and the hope is freely
expressed that the present may be a model Leg
islature in every sense of the word. God knows
there is abundance of room for Improvement up
on past assemblages Of this Character and il the
members Of the body now in session would shine
in the eyes of thei" constituents, they will do more
and talk less than their predecessors have been
guilty of doing heretofore The last Message of
the ex- Governor is much admired, as is also the
Inaugural of Gov. Weller, with the exception of
so much as relates to the taxing of certain
species of property, which looks rayther suspicious
TO the propretors Of the diggin9s in this vicinity.
With all due reverence for the majesty of The
law, and believing, as 1 do, that there is not in
the State of California more peaceable orderly
or law abiding community than the residents of
Trinity county, yet will venture the assertion
that should tax be imposed upon mining claims
its collection never could be enforced within the
limits of this county. The extremely uncertain
nature of the property renders it matter of ut
ter impossibility to fix its value. A claim might
be assessed to day by the proper officer at one
thousand dollars but before the day came for the
payment of the taxes, it might be exhausted, or
from some other cause rendered completely val
ueless The worth of a claim is also affected to
a greater or lesser extent by variety of circum
stances such as the facilities enjoyed for obtain
ing water, also for obtaining egress or ingress
without interfering with the rights of others, aud
other like contingencies. For these and other
reasons it is evident law taxing mining claims
would work manifest injustice, and the on y way
in which the miner could be reached would be to
lay tax per capita but before this is done, it
would be well to inquire whether the foreign mi
ners license is properly collected, before tax is
imposed on those who are to the manor born
IANH0E.