The Shasta courier., 1865-03-11
COURIER.
Mineral Lands.

| over the signature OF Ell Dorado, and da-
ted Georgetown, Feb. 9th, 1865, we find a
communication published in the Sacramento
Union. The writer says:
| MEssRs. EDITORS: Should the mineral
lands of Ell Dorado and the other counties on
the western slope of the Nevada Mountains
be offered for sale, the following would prob.
ably be some of the consequences of that
measure: First-A very small portion of the
land will be sold only the best mining claims
and the best ranches would be entered bv
the present occupants under the pre-emption
| law.
| Now we have been innocent enough to sup
pose that the main object in the sale of min
eral lands was revenue to the Government ,
We find by the above that but small por.
tion will be sold, "only the best mining
claims and the best ranches" and those un-
der the pre- emption law, and all, no doubt,
at 81 % per acre, all of which would probably
produce to the Government revenue of
about two per cent. on the cost of survey, to
say nothing of the cost of establishing and
maintaining land Offices.
Second -Itinerant prospectors and explor
ers will have the same chance of discovering q
new diggings that they now have, as no land
will be entered on suspicion of its containing
mineral not yet discovered.
ltinerants will no doubt feel very grateful
to Ell Dorado for the concession, but we opne
that when the itinerants strike something a
little mineral land would be entered on sus-
picion, and held too, until these itinerants
had traced their leads into it, and so proved
it that.the lazy land holder could safely hire
a band of Cinnamon and set them to work.
profitably to himself if not to the State Gov
ernment or society.
Third-The poor hut ho1est miner who
seems to fear the introduction of capital into
the mines, will have the same freedom to
roam from place to place and search for hid
den treasures that he has now. Fourth
Those who have paying claims will enter the
land and make preparations tor permanent
residence. employing their time in mining
during the Winter, when water is plenty,
and in cultivating their lands in Summer,
when water is scarce.
Yes, the poor but honest miner may roam
at will and search for that which capital has
already made it difficult to find by having en-.
tered and monopolized all the promising 10,
calities, and is having it slowly worked by
Chinese or other cheap labor under the d-
rection of head superintendent. The as
sumption in number four, that miners, with
capital too, simply because they may obtain
an additional title to their ground when none
is needed, will then work during the Winters
in their mines, and in Summer cultivate
their ground. is as refreshing as logical
just as if the paying for piece of parch-
ment with the great seal of the United States
upon it, which is of no more use to the pur-
chaser than the fifth wheel to coach. would
make him more ready and willing to work at
mining in Winter or farming in Summer.
Fifth-The present uncertainty of land IT,
ties prevents the permanent investment of
capital in the mines it drives away almost
every man who is lucky enough to make
anything by mining; and it is believed that
the sale of the lands in the mineral districts
would not only retain the capital produced
here, but attract capital from foreign sources.
Now this is just the most ridiculous as
sumption of any we have yet reached, and
all are sufficiently baseless. Our remarks on
number four apply equally to number fve
But let Us see number six and the balance
down to number twelve and last.
Sixth-A large share of the Western slope
of the Nevada is now known to be pre- -emin-
emily adapted to the cultivation of the grape,
and were the lands brought into market
would probably soon become the best and
most productive wine district on the Conti-
nent, yielding larger revenue by moder-
ate tax on wine than can possibly be obtain
ed by tax on mining. Seventh-An uufix-
ed floating population is the great evil of
mining country, which a sale of the land
would to large extent, remedy. Our peo-
pie are not not at home" but are mere
temporary residents in the country. They
have come here to make money honestly if
they can) and go elsewhere to spend it,
Eighth-There can be no great amount of
what is called "public spirit" among peo-
pie who are not at home, and the sale of the
lands by the Government. can alone enable
them to procure homes. Ninth-The liga-
ments which bind society together for the
mutual protection of person and property,
lose much of their force when the whole pop
ulation regard themselves as away from
home. Tenth-The introduction of aericul-
ture into the mining districts must make the
cost of living much less, consequently less
profitable diggings could be worked, and the
aggregate amount of gold taken out largely
increased. Eleventh-the mining canals, or
bitches: which have cost many millions of
money, are. by the gradual failure of the
placer mines, becoming every year less and
less valuable, and must, ere long, become
worthless as mining bitches. The gradual
introduction of agriculture as mining grad
ually fails, will save this vast property from
total loss. Twelfth-The fine climate and
scenery of the mountains will attract large
population as soon as the means of subsist
ence can be readily obtained Although the
lands are not rich, they produce in the great
est perfection the finest fruits of the temper
ate zone, and were they once in market, it is
quite certain that the vine growers of Europe
would soon avail themselves of the great ad.