The record-union., 1898-08-15

Inherently, Tor we are Qulle sure sIllS
is considerable just now. We have
faith enough in the sometime latent
energies of government in this country
to believe that a thing may be possible
in Rio Pinta, Spain, that will not be
coddled by Uncle Sam in one Of the
best parts of California. Individually.
as a settler in good faith upon Gov
ernment land of the United States, as
an American citizen of the third IT
fourth generation under the Constitu-
tion of the United States / proclaim
that the Government of the United,
States made contract with mefoefore
the Mountain Copper Company Of Eng
land was conceived; and demand that
no privilege or franchise be granted
that company or any other, that shall
abrogate mine without my consent.
| And here again there are others -
! thousand or two.
! The Mountain Copper Company OF
| England, operating in Shasta County,
| u. S., are said to have capitalized IN
the sum of 81 100000, or pounds ster-
| ling, do not know which, and it does
| not matter. If they cannot operate
| their mines without destroying the pub
| lie and private property Of citizens here
| together with lives over when they
| nave 10 DOlld Iuc lASy
have made an injudicious investment
and it will keep them busy to realize
dividends upon it ultimately. 1t will
| eventually make a large draft upon
their resources to pay deferred ac-
counts. And there are a few things in
America not up for forced sale.
| Aside from the merely local effects in
which few thousand people may be
| concerned, the State Of California might
makea dollar or two by appointing a few
| commissioners to look to its common
| wealth natural resources. If it is to be,
| as some prophets already predict, the
1 nucleus and depot for a further eXpan-
| sion Of the biggest hemisphere on earth,
| it will need them all. 1t has been es
| tablished that the denudation of mount
aims of their timber, even by numbering
| operations, where the old growth IS
| quickly supplanted, results in drouth,
| forest fires. floods and change of eli
matte conditions that bring ruinous re-
| suits. To that as the main cause has
been traced the ruin and abandonment
| of large part of New England. Cali
fornia cannot afford to be made more
susceptible to such conditions than it
now is. An efficient commissioner or
two could find a great deal of business
in Northern California about this time
| If he did no more than report to the
General Government. Keswick is not
making the only waste or barren rock
pile in the mountain forests. Some Of
| the northern papers are filled, from time
TO time, with sudden burdens of timber
land claims, and there is an open Sc
quel to many of these brief booms in
locating timber lands.
State commissioners, some of whom
merely serve for glory, without COM
pensation or exertion either, it is
thought there ought to be a little genu-
inc service in northern counties during
the passing decades. If there are any
j laws or provisions that are never heard
Of they are those that relate to depre-
dations upon public domain. the OBJ
struction and pollution of public water
ways, the general determination Of fish
and game, and the common disregard Of
forestry provisions. With all Of these
matters the Mountain Copper Company
seems entirely and conspicuously unfa-
miliar If they are ever visited by any
one interested in public affairs they
never betray it, and no one else sus-
poets it-with any assurance.
With the example and precedent es-
tablished by the Keswick operations, al
ready widely advertised - being con-
Quoted by foreign stockholders and
managers, 1t is simple parody and
silly conceit to molest minor and insig
nificant yandals or depredators. If a
hundred homes may be destroyed or
devastated with impunity SO openly, why
should there be any restrictions upon
the robbery of mere stage coaches or
banks? If it is to be permitted because
a larger number Of people are given en-
ployment, let some one employ one man
more than the copper company does,
and convert the present nucleus of their
operations into a reservoir. 1t would
be much more beautiful and beneficial
piece Of property for the county, the
State and the country. There are a
vast number of enterprises that would
pay dividends to some people if other
people would go off and die. What
splendid turkey or sheep ranches some
of the old estates in England would
make! Many Of them are unproductive
and sparsely settled and could be made
to pay dividends if they were only util-
/ lied by enterprising capitalists. Adopt
ing English principles, we might pur-
chase a few acres for a base and lay
waste everything that joined it. We get
nothing from it as it is.
There is no argument that can be
advanced by intelligence or admitted
by reason that will warrant or excuse
the continuance Of a nuisance of the
magnitude the Keswick mode Of de-
struction has reached. There is not
at this time, and there has not been
for two years past, any reasonable ex-
cuse for further parley, technical in
veStigation recommenda tions, or other
red-tape triffing official or otherwise.
There is no call for fine-spun legal ad-
judication nor temporary injunction
paraphernala. There is no more Writ
in temporizing with the KeSwick de-
struction than there would be in watch
ing a house burn up to see If the fire
will go out. A glance at the results
already produced should be sufficient
for the summary action Of our author
tiles, if we have any. If there is q
national United States Marshal on the
coast, or within hailing distance, he
has enough data upon which to fulfill
some Of the obligations he is under
oath to perform. The operations Of
the Mountain Copper Company for over
two years have been conducted largely
at the expense of all the inalienahle
3 and sacred rights the traditions Of
American principles profess. For two
. years openly, knowingly and defantly
! they have condemned, appropriated and
/ 10 nC-