The hydraulic press., 1859-03-05
Ranches In the Mines.


provoked by the forcible letters of ssJo-
nah"-whom we take to be j. s. Hit
tel-has not been conducted with very
good temper nor with that perfect fair
ness of statement which ought to char
acterise an argument not at all personal.
So far as "Jonah" himself is concerned,
although we disagree with him in opin-
ion, it must be said that his communi-
cations are dignifed and evidently
written with sincerity; but other parties
have allowed themselves to make state
ments, pro and con, which are either
wholly untrue or else have only local
and limited application. One writer
supporting "Jonah's" position, deems it
necessary to tostigmatize the entire mining
population as, in effect, worthless vaga-
bonds; another says that were it not for
| the ranches in the mines the miners
would starve and ne is replied to by a
profound observer who remarks that
branches are perfect nuisance in the
mines :"
What course this discussion takes, or
what opinions the anonymous parties to
it express, would not be of great conse-
quence but for the fact that both have
excited universal comment. The unjust
fling at mountain agriculturalists has
been copied into several newspaper with
out any condemnatory remarks; thus
giving it tacit approval. It can be
nothing but the most selfish prejudice
that would thus assail class of citizens
so numerous and useful as the farmers
and gardeners of the mining regions.
That they occasionally seek to monopo-
lize the use of timber and water to the
exclusion of the gold-seeker may be true
enough; but is the miner always guilt
less of aggression-always governed by
strict regard to the rights of others ?
These exceptional instances of wrongare
not peculiar to any occupation or any
section. Besides, the miner is protected
as against the ranchers by special legis-
lation. The rancher can only hold what
land he actually uses, and cannot prevent
the miner from taking from that land
even what timber may be necessary for
the successful prosecution of his avoca-
tion. There need be no conflict between
the rights of the two classes if both will
be governed in their actions towards one
another by spirit of fairness and just
ice.
That the mountain agriculturalists are
not nuisances, can be better demonstra-
ted by few facts than by mere general
disclaimers. Their labors, conducted
under many discouragements-such as
uncertainty of possession and doubtful
ness ofadequate reward-have converted
the former barren regions into scenes of
attractive verdure, added largely to the
comfort and health Of the mining popu-
lation, to the permanence of mining
towns, and to the general welfare of the
State. Last year there was under cul-
tivation in the mining counties upwards
of 140, 900 acres land, which produced
623,S1S bushels of wheat, 7s9, ,422
bushels of barley, and $685. bushels
of oats; besides smaller quantities of
corn, rye, buckwheat, beans, peas, hay
and potatoes. These counties also produce
in many instances, sufficient supplies of
vegetables for their own consumption,
and considerable quantities of milk,
butter, cheese, poultry and eggs. In
the year 1857 there were about two
million fruit trees in the State, about
half million of which were growing
in the mining counties This number
has since been very largely increased,
Nevada county alone containing in 1858
three hundred and twenty two thousand
FIVE hundred. The greatest number of
these are peach trees; but it is quite
probable that the mountains will vet
abound with apple orchards, and fairly
rival Oregon in the production of this
staple fruit.
The mining counties bear also prom
inent part in the grape culture. The
number Of vines growing in them last
year was two hundred and fifty thousand,
and every reliable account represents
them as thriving well and yielding
abundantly. One acre of seven hundred
vines in Nevada county yielded over
2l,OoO pounds of luscious grapes. En-
couraged by these facts several of the
mining counties have commenced the
planting of the vine on a larper scale