Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-08-24
THE ONE LEDGE THEORY.

The voluminous decision of the Referee
in the case Of the Gould & Curry vs.. the
Potosi. which was published in fun in the
Enterprise of yesterday morning, and
which decision was affirmed by Judge
North prior to his resignation, is based
upon the so-called "One Ledge Theory"
and in the opinion of the Union mashes
out totally the MANY Ledge Theory" and
all the hopes and prospects of those rely
ing thereon. That paper, after reviewing
all the scientific lore and guess-work
which tells US how the world was made
in the beginning and all that has happened
to it since it was started rolling, says:
"Here we have the whole argument in sup
port of the one-ledge theory, and we are con-
strained to say, It is very plausible. Of
course, the Referee could only apply the facts
and theories given by the witnesses produced
before him on the trial, to the condition,
character, position, extent, ETC., Of the differ
ent masses or separate veins Of quartz, the
horses, clay seams, etc., as developed by the
works of the two parties htigant, and form
his decision accordingly. Whether these are
sufficient to convince people generally Is an
other thing At all events, it will stand as
the guide in determining such suits IN the
future, until different theory Is established
upon equally plausible reasoning.
This decision, though tending to strengthen
or establish the one ledge theory, will not be
accepted by opposing litigants, as final, and
hence much expensive litigation IS yet pend
ing. We would suggest that as the one
ledge claimants have now got the advantage,
and are generally wealthy, they buy up the
opposing titles and stop the litigation which
is retarding our progress so much. This can
now be done, we believe, cheaper than to
continue the litigation, from the fact that the
decision will depress the value Of all opposing
titles"
If this theory is true, or whether it is
true or not, if it be held as the correct one
by the Courts, and made the groundwork
of future decisions, we cannot look upon
it in any other light than the most disas-
trous decision that could have been made
for the interests of the country There
seems to be no limit, much short of the
width of the continent, to the breadth of
the great "fissure," which was at one
time filed with " semi-huid quartz" and
horses" and which got hard just in time
to be all gobbled up by the locators of
the Comstock Ledge. All but the orig
inal locators of that ledge, and their as
signs, are out in the wet to a degree that
it is horrible to contemplate. The results
of such decision to this Territory must
be so disastrous that we shrink from its
contemplation. The " buying up of the
opposing titles and thus putting stop to
litigation" suggested by our contemporary,
would perhaps be wise course for the
few individuals interested, but it would
not assist the progress Of the country
much. To throw all the vast number of
rich mines of the Territory into the hands
of the limited number of companies whose
locations cover the Comstock Ledge,
would stop the working of innumerable
mines, and bring the whole mining bust
ness of the country down to the working
capacity or policy of those few companies,
and there it would remain at perpetual
stand-still. 1t is to be earnestly hoped
that another bench of Judges, who will
ere long compose our Supreme Court, will
view the matter in light more in conso-
nance with substantial justice and public
policy.