MINERS & BUSINESS MENS

DIRECTORY 1856

 

 

 

SPRINGFIELD.

 

      This Camp, situated at the head of Mormon creek, receives its name from the fine spring that breaks out from that point, affording sufficient water to give employment to several hundred men, who in the dry season haul the dirt from their claims to the springs to wash.

      There has been rich claims around Springfield, and late discoveries show that the ground immediately around the Springs is very valuable.

      Indian antiquities, such as pestles and mortars, are often found deep in the alluvial soil, as also the remains of the mastodon or animals of that class.

      The town is well laid out, with a large Plaza in the centre.  The Methodist Episcopal Society have a Church at this place, and there is also a large and flourishing Division of the Sons of Temperance.  There are quite a number of Stores, Hotels, &c., &c.  Springfield has always been noted for the quiet, good order and sobriety that distinguish its inhabitants.

      It is one of the few, and has been said the first place in the mines that erected a church before it did a gambling house.  The latter can hardly be said ever to have existed there.  The upper part of Table Mountain is in the immediate vicinity of Springfield, and many of the inhabitants of the place are engaged in exploring its centre for the precious ore.  Many of whom have already penetrated to the subterranean deposit, the existence of which as a continuous lead is rendered more certain every day.

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MINING LAWS OF SPRINGIELD DISTRICT.

      Adopted at a Mass Meeting, April 13th, 1852; revised, August 11th, 1852, by a Mass Meeting; and again revised Dec. 22d, 1854, by a Mass Meeting of the Miners of Springfield Mining District.

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BOUNDS OF SPRINGFIELD MINING DISTRICT.

      Commencing at a Spring, above and year Yaney’s Steam Saw Mill, the line running from thence, in a westerly direction, to the north side of McKennie’s Old Store, thence to Wm. Cox & Co.’s Cabin, on French Gulch; thence to a Spring, at the head of Dead Man’s Gulch; thence following said Gulch, to the Stanislaus river; thence down the river to Horse Shoe Bend; thence in an easterly direction, to Mormon Creek, intersecting it one hundred feet below the Illinois House; thence up the Creek to Saw Pit Gulch; thence up Saw Pit Gulch to the Sullivan Creek Water Company’s Reservoir; thence  in a straight line to the Spring, the place of commencement.

      Resolved, That California is, and shall be, governed by American principles; and as Congress has made no Rules and Regulations for the government of the Mining Districts of the same, and as the State Legislature of California has provided by statute, and accorded to the Miners of the United States, the right of making all laws, rules and regulations, that do not conflict with the constitution and laws of California, “In all actions respecting Mining Claims:”

 

      Resolved, therefore. That we, the Miners of Springfield Mining District, do ordain and establish the following

Rules and Regulations

      ARTICLE 1.  A claim for Minine purposes within this district, shall not exceed one hundred feet square, to each man; nor be more than one hundred feet in length.

 

      ART. 2.  That no man within the bounds of this District shall hole more than one workable claim.

 

      ART. 3.  That each and every man within the bounds of this district shall perform actual labor upon said claim one day out of every three, or employ a substitute; otherwise, such claim shall be forfeited: Provided, that claims on dry gulches, or other places, that can be worked advantageously, only by water brought by water companies, &c., shall be good till water is brought in: Provided, also, that wet claims and carting claims, not workable in the rainy season, shall be good, also, without working, from the 15th of November to the 15th of May.

 

      ART.4. The bounds of claims shall be established and defined by putting up good and substancial stakes at each corner, and recording the description of the lot in the books of the precinct registry; and by putting up one notice at each and of a claim, signed by each person or individual of a company; and the names of the several persons holding such claim, shall be signed in their own hand writing, in the book of registry.

 

      ART. 5.  When two or more claims join together, and are worked by companies, such companies can work any portion of such claims as they may deem edpedient, complying with Article 3.

 

      ART. 6.  Disputes concerning claims shall be settled by referring the same to a Standing Committee of five, or by arbitrations, or by jury.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolved, therefore.  That we, the Miners of Springfield Mining District, do ordain and establish the following

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

ARTICLE 1.  A claim for Mining purposes, within this district, shall not exceed one hundred feet square, to each man; nor be more than one hundred feet in length.

 

ART. 2.  That no man within the bounds of this District shall hold more than one workable claim.

 

ART.  3.  That each and every man within the bounds of this District shall perform actual labor upon said claim one day out of every three, or employ a substitute; otherwise, such claim shall be forfeited:  Provided, that claims on dry gulches, or other places, that can be worked advantageously, only by water brought by water companies, &c., shall be good till water is brought in:  Provided, also, that wet claims and carting claims, not workable in the rainy season, shall be good, also, without working, from the 15th of November to the 15th of May.

 

ART.  4.  The bounds of claims shall be established and defined by putting up good and substancial stakes at each corner, and recording the description of the lot in the books of the precinct registry; and by putting up one notice at each end of a claim, signed by each person or individual of a company; and the names of the several persons holding such claim, shall be signed in their own hand writing, in the book of the registry.

 

ART.  5.  When two or more claims join together, and are worked by companies, such companies can work any portion of such claims as they deem expedient, complying with Article 3.

 

ART.  6.  Disputes concerning claims shall be settled by referring the same to a Standing Committee of five, or by arbitration, or by jury.

 

The Standing Committee shall each member, who may arbitrate on any case, be paid two dollars for such service.

 

      ART.  7.  That the foreman of any jury, or Committee of arbitration, shall be sworn to do his duty faithfully and impartially, by some Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, or other qualified officer to do the same; Provided, such officer be hereafter appointed in this mining district.  And shall thereafter administer a like oath to each of his associates in each and every case tried; and an oath to the witnesses, who shall be offered to give evidence in such case; under the proviso, of such qualified officer being appointed.

 

      ART.  8.  That the decision in all such cases shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties thereto: and be deemed and considered final in all such cases.  And either party may compel the other to come to trial, by giving a notice to the other, of the time and place of trial, three days previous to the same.

 

      ART.  9.  That costs in all such cases, (so far as they are taxed) shall be paid in the same manner as in magistrates’ courts.

 

      ART.  10.  That all water claims or privileges for washing, in dispute, shall be settled according to the above mining rules, and be considered good as long as the apparatus and furniture of the same are kept in good repair:  Provided, however, that if such claims be deserted in the working season of carting claims for 30 days, they shall be forfeited.

 

      ART.  11.  That no law passed by the miners of this district shall be considered retro-active.

 

      ART.  12.  That in case of sickness, no miner shall forfeit his claim.

 

      ART. 13.  That no person not an American citizen, or where there is a reasonable doubt of his being entitled to the privileges of an American citizen, shall be competent to act on any arbitration, or trial by jury.

 

      ART.  14.  That all companies going to great expense, in running tunnels, in order to prospect the hills, shall be entitled to two claims, each person of a company.

 

      ART.  15.  That a Recorder of this mining district shall be chosen, and shall be paid 50 cents for recording the title of each mining claim.--The Recorder shall have the custody of the books, laws, and proceedings of this mining district.

 

      ART.  16.  That all foreigners subject to pay a foreign miner’s tax, when called upon to show their license, and cannot or will not do the same, shall not be permitted to hold a claim in this mining district; and any such claim purporting to be held by him or them, shall be forfeited.

JUBAL HARRINGTON, Pres.

J. W. GLASS, Sec’y.

 

      At a meeting of the Miners of this District, held Jan. 20th, 1855, the following laws respecting TUNNELLING CLAIMS were adopted:

 

      ART.  17. One hundred feet along the base, and running from base to base through the mountain, shall constitute a tunneling claim in this mining district, and no miner shall hold more than one tunnelling (sic) claim,  in addition to the other claims already provided for by the mining laws of this district.

 

      ART.  18.  And each tunnelling (sic) company may work its claim by employing such number of persons to work upon the same as it may deem expedient.

 

      ART.  19.  And no such claim shall be considered forfeited until thirty days after its abandonment.

JUBAL HARRINGTON,  Pres.

E. Day,  Sec’y.

 

 

 

Transcribed by Sue Wood.

Proofread by Betty Vickroy.

© 2008 Sue Wood.

 

 

 

MINERS & BUSINESS MEN'S DIRECTORY

 

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