Year: 1859

SACRAMENTO, February 9th, 1859.


Editor Placer Herald:-A division Of the
State is now one of the most prominent
themes of discourse among members OF the
Legislature, though as yet this discussion is
confined to the lobby. Resolution were offered
on Saturday last by Mr.. Pico, expressing the
consent of the Legislature of the State to
the separation of several southern counties
to form the territory of colorado" The
preamble states that the present limits OF
California "enclose an area of such extent
and so diversified in physical and other fea-
tures as to preclude to an unwholesome de-
gree, the possibility of uniform legislation,
and render cumbersome and expensive the
operations of government" At present the
matter is in the hands cf a Select Commit
tee." This subject ought to enlist the atten-
ton of the mining counties, as it is of vital
Importance to their interests as taxpayers.


We are having another of the annual at
tempts to get rid of the Chinese again this
session. These almond eyed individuals
cause our law makers peck Of trouble, and
the sentiment from the mining region is al
most unanimous in favor of excluding them
from the diggngs. The memory of the fire
in Auburn alone-by the carelessness of some
Chinese washmen and others, the fair pro-
portions of your town were laid low in ashes,
is enough to make every member from
Placer eagerly vote for their removal from
the mining districts. Their disgusting habits
are too bad for American nostrils and there
fore we hail with pleasure the introduction
of an act by Mr.. Street, of Shasta, to pro-
hibit their working in the mines. You may
well believe that the miners do not intend
to allow Cinnamon to come into competition
with their labor simply because the Ameri-
cans are allowed to have three or four con-
suls in the Chinese Empire.


The great evil Of special legislation is not
so prevalent at the present session as here
tofore. I was surprised to observe few
days ago, however, that member from
COW county proposed bill allowing one
VIM. Pursegove the right to peddle in the
State of California without license-a bold
proposal to relieve one pedlar Of the expense
of license to the cost of all other pedlers.
Another special "pet" was introduced by Mr..
Mount, of Calayeras, in the Assembly, pray
ing to allow Richard L. Ogden and others
tIlc plINlIt0o vi IuuiiIuS q otCdili WoSOiI oNSi
the roads of this State. Various special
bridge and ferry schemes have been pro-
posed, but taken all in all, there is less special
legislation sought to be engrafted upon our
law books than for any session for several
years.


The San Francisco bulkhead question has
come before the Senate in tangible shape
the Committee on Commerce and Naviga-
tion having reported in favor of what is
called the Parsons bill. 1t proposes to give
the right to build a buikhead along the line
of the present water front of San Francisco
to the San Francisco Dock and Wharf Co,
wharves and piers, and at least five per cent
of the nett proceeds are to 90 to the State
The bill was reported upon by the Commit
tee on Commerce and Navigation, which
Committee is of the opinion that the parties
named are the on ones who can build the
bulkhead. Such appears to be the fact
There is no knowing however, what will he
its fate. The arguments are all in its favor,
but legislation is ticklish thing. If it is
expected that bukhead will he built the
best way to accomplish that result is to pass
the BILL


The odious monopoly Of the California
Steam Navigation Company, will soon find
itself without a charter. Mr.. Holman, of
Stockton, has introduced an amendment to
the Corporation Law, providing that all
companies incorporated for the purpose of
navigating the waters of this State shall not
be allowed to charge more than three cents
per mile tor cabin passage, or two cents per
deck passenger or more than three cents
per pound for each ton of two thousand
pounds. Notice has been given of bill to
repeal the section authorizing the formation
of companies for steamboat purposes


Speaker Stratton is doing we'll as Speaker,
and his tirmness and uniform urbanitv is
commended by all-even his political oppo-
nens. SILEX.


GOLD AUTOMATICALLY had an oppor-
tunity of examining, yesterday, an invention
for saving fine gold in the rifles of sluices
1t is in the shape of blocks, which are fitted
in sluices of the same width, and over which
all the dirt, rock and water pass. The
quicksilver is contained in the blocks, having
been forced into them by atmospheric pres
sure through the means of faucet and is
invisible to the eye, although it pervades the
entire surface of the block, and amalgamates
readily with the gold. The invention has
been practically tested at Michigan Bluff,
and has obtained much favor there among
the miners. The Inventor is J. S. Briggs,
who has applied for patent at Washington
and has had the specification entered. We
are informed that as largo an amount as IS
pounds of quicksilver per day can be in