The weekly Butte record., 1867-02-02

State of the Federal Union It's wheat and HOUR
have been pronounced the best in the New YORK
and Philadelphia markets. The productions OF Us
placer and river mines, have always commanded
the highest price paid for gold dust. The quartz
mines of the county have not been developed 10 the
extent Of those Of some other exclusively mining
counties but there are innumerable rich lodes IN
the mountain portion, that must some day, sup
port busy aud thriving population. Sonumerous
are the quartz veins, that, was the requisite ma
chinery for working placed upon them, the rever-
berations of their stamps could be heard from one
end of the county to the other. The great draw
back to the development of these quartz odes, has
been the lack of facilities for the transportation Of
machinery, and the high price of labor kept up by
| the productiveness of our placer mines. With
river navigable to the very mines of Butte county,
legislation has yielded to local demands elsewhere,
and the river was declared not navigable above
mudhole in the valley, where some enterprising
muses. were endeavoring to erect city, and who
succeeded in erecting brick hotels to fall down up
on its occupants, and in negotiating its city bonds
| in New York, secured by liens upon their mud
and their mules. That Feather river is naviga-
| bic to Oroville, was demonstrated in the spring
of 1857, when the Sam Soule ran regularly to this
! point for period Of two months, when the Cltl-
zens' Navigation Company. of Marysville surren-
| dered their boats to the combination, If they
would no longer run their boats to this point, but
land all freight for Oroville, and the northeastern
mines of the State, in the mud of the Yuba. For
ten years, what was once the proud city OF Marys-
vile has been content to exc out miserable and
contemptible-a squalid-existence. afforded by
stopping travellers long enough to compel them 10
buy meal and cohabit with bedbugs and
mosquitoes; by boarding mules, and carting
freight through their accumulation Of mud and
filth But they succeeded in stopping the boats
from running into the mining regions Of the State,
and the miner no longer pausedin his labor to see
the steamer rush by his claim and rock his cradle
by the waves created by its paddle wheels. Butte
county, with the hope of providing means for the
development of her vast mineral and agricultural
resources, built railroad from Oroville to what
the Partially of foolish legislation had declared
the head of navigation on Feather river. 1t was
refused recognition by Marysville, and ultimately
denounced by the press of Marysville as the des
troyer of that useful city's prosperity. Finally.
permission was granted by the Mayor and Council
for the railroad builders to lay temporary
track to the steamer landing, for the purpose of
procuring their own machinery and iron. Then,
by the railroad granting privileges to the citizens
of Marysvie which, in justice to itself, have to be
denied to citizens of Butte county whose efforts
built the road, it was permitted to become
permanent. No blame attaches to ;lle conduct or
the railroad in this particular, for it was dealing
with selfish hogs, wallowing in the mud of the
Yuba, and recognizing nothing but their own
tiness. If we speak with some feeling It's because
we would arouse the people Of Butte, Plumus, 81
ezra. and Lassen counties and northern California
to the seshness that is retarding the development
of their mineral and agricultural resources, and
their advancement and prosperity. They may
have machinery for their mines, but must pay
Marysyille a subsidy before they can get it. They
can ship their products to the commercial empor:-
um of the State, but Marysville must have subs
dy therefron. 1t is probable that the impetus re-
Gently given to railroad interests in California, will
overcome this particular sellishness aud accomplish
railroad connections that will enable the miners of
Butte, Plumas, Lassen, and Black Rock, to procure
machinery for working their mines, and shipping
their copper ore, pitch, rosin lumber and agricul-
tural products without the imposition of senseess
and unnecessary cost. Northern California has
too long been the victim of special legislation for
local interests The mania has reached the halls
of the national capitol. Marysville having attain
ed greatness by it, another ranch becomes her mi
tator Northern California may have mail route
to the rich mineral territories of Idaho and Monta
ma; but il must no. extend to railroad communion
ton in California. for if so it would not immedi-
ately benefit the Congressman from this district.
Whatever benefit Northern California may derive
from mail routes, must be drawn through the Con
gressional ranch. tits probable that such selfish
legislation may tire the patience of the people after
awhile, that they will demand that public inter
ests shall longer be the secondary consideration.
The contemplated improvements at Cherokee Flat,
will open a large extent of deep placer diggings,
uneScelled in extent and depth of pay dirt by any
locality in the State and will call thither a numer-
Gus and prosperous population. 1t will impart
fresh energy in every branch of business in the
county. Oroville must be prepared to accommo-
date itself to the demands that will be brought mp
on her. With the promised railroad connection
with San Francisco, it must soon become the cen
tire of greatly increased commercial Importance.
Liberality and fair and honorable dealing will not
fail to call il hiher La Porte and other localities
in Plumas and Lassen Counties are disguised with
the selfish exactions that have retarded their ad
vancement, and will seek that locality that will
best accommodate their demands. Railroad con-
nection below will enable Orove to do this. 1t
is only at sacrifice, by other places biting their
own noses of in spite, that has heretofore carried
that trade around Oroville. Its natural centre is
here, and hence the legislation and efforts to divert
it elsewhere. They must miserably fail with the
completion of the railroad system of the State.
And when the great national railroad shall find its
natural pass down Feather river into California,
Oroville must become of the finest business
points in the State. The Congressional Sheep
ranch. instead of endeavoring 10 cut loose from
Butte county. will stick to it like tick, and make
more promises for the business advantages the con-
nection eonfers. than they did for the privilege of
furnishing a representative in Congress. The To-
cation of 0roville is happy one. Its streets are
always neat and passable. Its climate genial and
every variety of table fruit, that finds ready mar
ket in the surrounding mines. aud even in those
gardens Of the State, Marysvile and Chico tn which
points regular shipments of fruit and vegetables
are made by our gardeners. Ii is true that our
sarr oundings have had their surfaces pretty well