The record-union., 1891-05-23
FIGHTING HYDRAULICKERS.
Special Counsel Employed for Two
Years by the County.
The Squabble at Oak Park is
Aired Again-Lftfgation is
Looked For.

AT its last regular session the Board of
supervisors seriously considered a prop
osltlon TO break away from the compact
with other river counties which has been
IN existence for some time, and by which
all contributed to general fund for the
prosecution of miners violating the law
against hydraulic mining. AT that time
the board agreed to this plan, and also
decided to ''go it' alone in the future,
doing their own prosecuting.
But when it came down to naming an
attorney to do the prosecuting for the
county there was hitch
All hands at first agreed to retain Robt.
L. Devlin, but when it came to vote two
Of the members, Jenkins and Miller,
were not ready, They said they wanted
further time, so as to consult their con-
stituents.
SOME FUNNY WORK.
Chairman Greer asserted that if the
two members were not ready to vote,
they certainly should be allowed further
time, and on his vote delay of three
weeks was allowed.
Rumor has it, however, that it was not
their constituents whom Jenkins and
Miller wanted to consult. They-or
rather Jenkins did, and he induced Mil
Ter to stand in'-wanted another law
firm engaged, and they proposed to hold
out for their choice.
The three weeks were I'D Yesterday
and Chairman Greer called the board to-
gether. Jenkins and Miller were notready
70 vote. They wanted still further time.
The other members, however, were de-
Uermined that there should be no further
delay, and resolution was offered to the
hot Nj 10
prosecute the hydraulickers, at monthly
salary Of $500 for two years.
ADVICE WANTED.
Jenkins said he wanted to be advised
by the District Attorney before he voted.
Mr.. Ryan was called before the board,
out had nothing in particular to say ex-
cept that the venture would entail a
heavy expense upon the county. He
thought that Mr.. Devlin would be a good
man to take hold of the matter. 1t was a
subject that he (NIr. Ryan was not very
familiar with.
Mr.. Devlin, who was present, called the
attention of the board to the fact that he
nad already gone ahead, under the
boards instructions, and instituted sew
erai suits against the hydraulickers. He
was DESTROYS that, before doing any more,
The matter Of retaining him should be
settled.
After some further talk the board went
into executive session and discussed the
whole matter over again. Bates finally
called for vote on his resolution
Jenkins offered an amendment to the
effect that Mr.. Devlin be employed one
year instead of two, but this was voted
down. The resolution was then adopted,
Jenkins and Miller voting in the neg
alive.
On motion of Mr.. Black. a recess was
ordered until the afternoon.
NO RECESS.
The members held a short consultation.
after this order had been made, and as
several of them stated that they had bus
mess to attend to in the afternoon and il
was learned that an Oak Park road mat
ter was the only matter that was coming
up, 1t was agreed to reconvene immedi-
ately and thus do away with the after
noon session.
NJ. J. Dillman, who is interested in the
road matter referred to, was present, for
tunately for the board, so the matter was
taken up right away. Mr.. Dillman ex-
planned that since the Supervisors had
decided to make county road of the new
highway which connects the upper and
lower Stockton roads near Oak Park
there had been considerable squabbling
among those who owned land in that
vicinity. He declared that the original
Oak Park Association had sold tracts Of
land out there and given buyers to UNI
Il public road. The existence of this road
or avenue was a great advantage to the
buyers. But since then. he said. there
had been a split-up in the association,
and while one faction was willing to
stand by their promises, the other wanted
10 repudiate them. Those who
HAD PURCHASED LAND
From the association were the sufferers.
When the county had ordered Magnolia
avenue to be opened, and to be hereafter
considered county road, said Mr. Dill
man, he removed a fence which OBJ
structed the road at the line dividing his
land from his neighbours. He was i'm
mediately served with notice that if the
fence was not replaced there would he
some business for his attorneys, so he put
it back to avoid trouble. But it was a
public road, and the fence should be re-
moved, and Mr.. Dillman said his object
in appearing before the board was to see
what should be done.
why, go and kick the darn fence
down again, and let 'em sue" said Mr..
Bates.
Mr.. Dillman said he did not mind suit.
but be did not care about being arrested
for malicious mischief, or on some other
petty and humiliating charge, as he un-
derstood was projected by his unfriendly
neighbor.
NOT GOOD ADVICE.
Chairman Greer did not think Mr..
Bates advice was very good There was
{ proper way of doing all things, he said.
and in this case it was the duty of the
board TO take hold of the matter-now
that the road belonged TO the county
and have the Road Overseer of that dis
trict remove the obstruction.
All right" assented Mr.. Bates, ''that
suits me. Wen kick the fence down
and give 'em chance TO sue us, if they
want 20. We haven't had a good suit on
our hands for some time"
again the Chairman thought Mr.. Bates
was too enthusiastic. He commenced to
tell the board that there was bound to be
trouble over those Oak Park sub
divisions, and that he thought that the
board should have proceeded more
cautiously, but he was interrupted by
the others, who were evidently of Mr..
Bates mind, and wanted the fence
kicked down. The matter was put TO a
vote, and the majority ruled that the
Road Overseer should remove the fence
without further ado.