The Red Cloud chief., 1885-07-17

of John Parsons-that . rich COMPANY
which had expended more than one
hundred thousand dollars in erecting
water fumes and sluices for washing
down the hills and gathering gold,
would cease operations just because .
few thousand acres of vineyard and
grain lands would be DESTROYED, and
the homes OF q hundred poor men
made desolate.
And vet John Parsons saw nothing
foolish in the thought On the contrary
he felt momentarily certain that when
he should show Mr.. Jobbers how the
stones and earth washed down would
be carried through the sluice into the
gorge. and from there into the creek.
filing up its bed and causing il to seek
new channels; that with the first g.ea;
food the sand and gravel would BE-
carried over the whole valley, and set
ting a. the water receded, render ALSO
lutely ~valueless thousands and thou
sands Of acres of fine agricultural lands
worth more 10 future generations than
all the gold in the mountains: land now
covered with vineyards and orchards
and the cottages of honest people. who
had made every dollar they possessed
bv hard work-surely. he thought.
when they know this. these men will
not refuse TO cease their work oi
destruction and leave the settlers in
peace. Surely. these Ter who are al
ready rich and a provide their fami.
lies with every luxury. will not deprive
Others of their homes in order to pile
up heaps Of gold that III add nothing
10 their " comfort
mo. no." he said 10 himself. lit is
not possible that they can be so heart
less as that. They have not considered
the damage it will do TO the ranchmen
and their families or they would never
have gone on with tue work. and hs
began to blame himself that he had
not sooner called their attention Il the
fact. and so have saved these generous
men VINO We're to suffer the loss of 81
much wealth rather than wrong others,
and to devise means for raising al Least
a portion of il among his neighbors,
who would thus have escaped tn.
threatened destruction.
1t could toe arranged, he thought
and no one suffer very greatly. lie
would give five hundred or even Q
thousand dollars himself. IL was only
Just that he should. since he had al.
lowed the company to 90 10 such iieavy
expenditures without calling their at
tention 10 the damage that would bs
l.,n a,I .l..b.l.z- tn.nN a. h.rE t-n,tl,
do "a much. Yes. it could all be ar
ranged easily. and his home would be
saved after all
All this passed through John Par
soEs brain in q moment As he turned
10 follow Mr.. .Jobbers.
He did not reason it out. 1t came n,
an inspiration. In an instant thu
whole situation. the degree OF RESPONSE
bility OF each interested party. and tn,
requirements of justice. stood out n,
clearly as the clouds. when illumineC
by the liShtnings. stand out again,'
the blackness of earth and sky 1T mid
night.
Yet when he found himself in In,
office of the company, and had beei
introduced TO the representative of the
New York stockholders. he did not fee
quite So certain that they would see il
in the same | ght in which he saw it; o,
that the inspiration which had come Il
him had reached their minds also
Somehow that look of self-suificiency
and air of assured prosperity brought
back the clouds and made all dart
again.
And so, slowly and brokenly at first,
and then rapidly. and with q native elo'
guence that his ungrammaticai words
could no hide. lac poured out the story
of his hopes and fears. mingled with :
Bit of his past history; the wrongs h,
had suffered. he and his, and OF hi
Willingness TO give largely To help re
imburse the company for their expendi
lures, il they would stop the supply o.
water and so remove the danger which
threatened his home.
When he began speaking. Mr.. job
bers turned towards him with a look o
surprise upon his red face that speedil,
turned TO one of incredibly. and botl
gave place to contempt, and when John
Parsons ceased speaking the English
man turned to his partner.
We'll. Iii never he said, speaking
each word separately and with empha
sis. ''Hif e isn't a-haskin' of Us &c
give up our ~hentcrprise and let the golc
remain in the ills. where il is no use Il
hanybody, just because the earth that
composes EN- may be washed dowr
upon lis blsrsted DIT of a ranch
Mr.. Jobbers' partner smiled. A
least the muscles of his face drew bach
from the mouth slightly. He evidently
pitied the ignorance Of a man wht
could make such a request. and whc
now sat with his arm thrown about h.
boy. Johnny having crept to his side
while he had been speaking.
.'You evidently fail TO comprehend
the situation. Mr.. Parsons" he said
What would your ranch besworth i
you could not sell its products?
Cold" he continued. lis the world,
medium of exchange, and gold mu b.
had in order to carry on business. Al
trade and commerce would cease il tn
supply of gold did not keep pace will
the increased power of the production
| of the people. ? You yourself could no
exchange your grapes and other fruit
for wearing apparel-the comforts ans
necessities of life-if il were not for tn,
gold which is coined into money.
I'VE do not know" he went ON
why the gold WAS placed in snch tint
particles n to require that the hills b
washed down in order { obtain it. bu
undoubtedly il was for some wise pur
pose: and in bringing it forth we an
doing a grea. thing for civilization. ant
for the common people rs well rs tn,
rich: 70 YOU a you are acting very
selishly as well As foolishly in suggest
ing such a thing IS stopping work or
the mines"
And 10 all this John Parsons coyrix