Columbia weekly news., 1859-02-24

Great Meeting Of tho Stockholders and
Creditors of the Columbia and Sfanis-
laus River Water Company
Pursuant to notice, published by placards,
a Mass Meeting of the Stockholders and
Creditors of the Company, was held at the
Tennis Court, on Main Street at l O'Clock
P. NJ, on Monday Feb, 2lst. When there
must have been from fifteen hundred to two
thousand persons present.
The meeting was called to order by Col.
J. D. Patterson. A. C. Goodrich Esq, was
unanimously elected Chairman. Messrs.
Fielder and Wales, Secretaries. The Chair.
they had conferred upon him, in electing him
their Chairman, and said that he should on
that, as we'll as on every other occasion, use
all his abilities, TO perform the duties of the
Office to which they had elected him, to their
satisfaction. They could ask no more, ,and he
was determined to do no less.
The meeting then elected tho following
gentlemen as Vice Presidents: Col. Harrinc.
ton, Capt. Smart, E. s. Jarvis, Esq, Col. J.
ID. Patterson.
A. c. Goodrich, Chairman, Then proceeded
to explain the object of the meeting,
and stated that although not one of the prime
movers in getting it up, still he heartily
approved OF the object for which it was called.
10 cooperate. TO consult, and reason to-
gesher, to compare notes. to try to arrange
some plan TO extricate the Company from their
present embarrassments. caused in a great
measure by circumstances, which no human
wisdom OF foresight could avert, and to de-
vise some means to pay their just debts The
honor and interest Of all connected with the
undertaking demanded it, but at the present
high rate Of interest, which the Company had
to pay on that Indebtedness, the income of
the Company could not by any ingenuity be
made to meet the necessary expenses and
mere must consequently be a constantly in>
crcasiDg deficiency.
The facts connected with our enterprise are
too well known to need any comment from
me, tho works of the Company, the bitches,
fumes, and reservoirs, forming a complete
net work. over an immense extent of country,
and form a noble monument to the
energy and self sacrifice of the Iaboring men
OF Tuolumne county. And although to such
men every praise was due, still he could not
refrain from noticing the enormous sacrifices,
some OF the merchants and other classes of the
trends OF the enterprise have made in behalf
OF the undertaking; formost amongst whom
was Mr.. Alberdine, who when the work was
almost at stand still for want of means.
nobly stepped forward and opened his store
and furnished the much needed supplies, and
after e1hausiing his own funds, in our behalf
ne used the credit gained by years in the
hohest pursuit of business, to aid in gaining
funds to carry on the work, gratitude for such
valuable assistance demanded that he should
notice them.
Then there is my friend Capt. Smart
never called upon him for help and called in
vain. and when he had exhausted his treasury
ne sacrificed his ranch and everything he had
gained by years Of dilligens labor, and stopped
NOT even there, but used his own credit for
he benefit OF the Company. He said ihatit
gave him pleasure to thus speak of his friends
ana The friends Of the Company. so that the
stockholders might know how to appreciate
them
lie stated that he must not forget to paw
just tribute Of praise to their friend Tarton
Caldwell Esq, as he considered that the Com.
pany were much under obligation to that
gentleman as to any one connected with the
enterprise. That gentleman after he had en-
tirely exhausted almost everything of his own,
he had known him 10 go out among his
friends on the Flat and borrow money on his
own credit for the use Of the Company, when
they were in great peril for want of money. :.
With reference to the action of that gentleman
in connection with certain other parties, in
respect TO their foreclosing their mortgages,
(he the chairman) did not believe that either
Mr.. Caldwell or the other gentlemen con-
cerned ;intended to ihjure the company, they
merely Intended to protect their own Interests,
which they had an undoubtsd right to do.
Then there were Messrs. Fitch and Poor,
and Henry Allen, who have embarrassed them
selves greatly, to aid the Company. We owe
to these gentlemen a debt of gratitude for
their noble efforts in our cause which never
can he fully paid, as money can never pay
such debts as these. Then there is the Black
smith, Towlc Of Gold Spring can scarcely
tell you the great assistance he has at all times
been ready to render to the Company.
1t were impossible for me to remember all
the many friends of the enterprise who have
30 nobly come forward to aid US in our great
work who have sacrificed the proceeds of
years of honest labor. Such men as Bulger,
Reed, Roman, Hickmount. Lohrcns, Bodey