USA > Colorado > Gilpin County > Early Records of Gilpin County, Colorado, 1859-1861 > Part 12
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Dear old News :- I have not written you for some days, from the simple fact that very little of importance in mining news has transpired in this section. The election for officers in this District for the next year took place on yesterday, and a very exciting time we had of it. We only had some four offices to fill, and at least fifty hungry applicants for them. Of course the whole strength of the district was brought out-some seven- teen hundred votes being polled. About four hundred votes was the highest received by any one candidate. D. J. Leversee, of the Quincy and Chicago Mill, received the highest number of votes for President of the District; Wm. Train Muir, for Judge of the Miners Court; R. D. Darlington re-elected Re- corder, and Jos. W. Bowles re-elected Sheriff.
This election was not altogether satisfactory. Evidently a large number of fraudulent votes were polled, and an effort is now being made for the purpose of a new election. With such a host of candidates, of course whiskey was free and as a con- sequence, there was more drunken men, and more fighting on this one day, than I have heretofore seen in the Mountains-and no one seriously hurt. -
FROM NEVADA GULCH2
Nevada City, Feb. 2d. 1861.
Dear Old News :- The idea of sitting down to write a let- ter, by a novice in letter writing, when he has nothing to write
1 Daily Rocky Mountain News, January 25, 1861, p. 2.
2 Daily Rocky Mountain News, February 6, 1861, p. 2.
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about is to say the least highly absurd, and ridiculous, in the extreme, and this I fear is the unenviable predicament in which your correspondent now finds himself. The bloody affrays in our sister eity up here in the mountains, you have already been posted on, that is of two at least, the third which transpired on last Thursday, in Central City I have seen no account of. Cen- tral City was thrown into a high state of exeitement, by the re- port of a most foul and bloody murder, the evening previous, two men and two women were seen together on the streets by some of the goodly eitizens,-an altercation took place between the men, two shots were fired, one of them was seen to fall, the other made good his escape-the women were seen to carry the man off, but such was the fear of the spectators, or from some other eause, no steps were taken either to pursue the man or follow the women. In the morning a pool of blood was seen in the fatal spot-the orderly and law-loving citizens were justly indignant. Some steps must be taken to ferret out the mur- derer. A miners' meeting was immediately called. An old friend and staunch citizen, Harrison Gray Otis, was called upon to preside, and Capt. Leavenworth, Secretary. The object of the meeting-the horrid deed which had been committed the night previous, was feelingly and foreibly stated.
A Committee of five was proposed, afterwards increased to ten of the most prompt and energetie citizens, to act as a Vigi- lant Committee, to ferret out and bring to light the gulity par- ties. In the mean time, the meeting was adjourned to meet again at the Court House, and hear the report of the Vigilant Committee-for a time various and exciting reports were rife on the streets of Central City, and from thence carried all over the mountains. By and by, the Vigilant Committee began to smell a mice, the two females were tracked, traced to their hid- ing place, and on strict examinaton and lawful information, were found to be a couple of youngsters on a lark, and the big pool of blood supposed to be human gore, came from the butch- er's shambles. The Committee have not as yet reported, and the miners' meeting has not been called.
Here in our district, the miners have again assembled on
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NEVADA DISTRICT
last Saturday, to take further action in regard to our late elec- tion, and did by a very large majority declare the previous elec- tion null and void, and our President in compliance with the wishes of the people, has ordered another election, to take place next Tuesday. Judges, Clerks and Challenging Commit- tees were appointed by the people, and if they all do their duty, we will this time have a legal election. Three out of the four officers elected were satisfied, of the illegality of the previous election, and were willing to resign, or have a new election, and take their chances before the legal voters, but the fourth, I pre- sume knowing that he had practiced "skulduggery" in his elec- tion, and desiring to hold on to the fees and emoluments of the office, for which he had so striven, was unwilling to go into a new election. Judging from the course he has pursued in this matter, and from the general opinion of our best citizens, his chances for a legal election at the hands of the citizens of this district are very slim, however time will show, and Tuesday is not far off.
FROM NEVADA GULCH1
Nevada, Feb. 18th, 1861.
Editors News :- It is now a long time since I have written you, and I suppose I owe you many apologies for my apparent neglect,-but we have had an annual election here lately, or rather two annual elections, and I have done my share of elec- tioneering. The result of the regular election, January 21st, 1861, was the election of D. J. Leversee, President ; Wmn. Train [Muir], Judge of the Miners' Court; Richard D. Darlington, Recorder, and Joseph W. Bowles, Sheriff. One thousand six hundred and thirty-nine votes were then polled; the law of the district allowing any person owning a claim to vote, although not an actual resident of our gulch. A few soreheads, abetted by some penniless individuals, who now facetiously term them- selves "mill men," got up an excitement, and got a new election. The Secessionists strove with the desperation of dying men, but they were again beaten-the result of the new election giving
1 Daily Rocky Mountain News, February 20, 1861, p. 2.
-
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. a majority to the old officers .- The enthusiasm of the people knew no bounds on the evening of the last election; bonfires were lit up on the hill above Nevada, songs and speeches were made by various prominent citizens, and a fine serenade given to the Judge elect, against whom the inalice of the secessionists was mainly directed. We noticed our old friend Ira H. Morton, although himself a former candidate for Judge, striving nobly for the right, and earning for himself "golden opinions from all sorts of people." Well, the excitement is all over now, the battle has been fought hard and fairly won. I will not make any remarks on the letters of your correspondent "Gunny Bags" regarding this election,-they are well known, and properly appreciated by the citizens of this gulch, who know the former relations of Gunny Bags and the man he has tried to slander. I pass him by in silence, leaving his own conscience and his in- gratitude to be his companions in the future.
FROM NEVADA DISTRICT1
Nevada City, April 2, 1861.
Editors News :- We had the pleasure of a short business visit from friend Goldrick to-day. He comes at a good time to get a big lot of new subscribers, for the citizens here generally are disgusted with the Mountaineer, and are daily making up their minds, like the citizens of Union district, to afford that sheet neither aid, comfort, nor support.
On Monday last the new district, comprising Central City and vicinity, was laid off by the Commissioners appointed by Nevada and the new district. The new district takes in all that part of our territory commencing at the dry sag on the Eureka side, immediately west of the Express stables, running thence a straight line south, intersecting Chapezes' cattle yard, and crossing Nevada Gulch a few feet above the old dam. The new district takes in three steam mills, namely, Lyon, Pullman & Co.'s, Scudder's and Parker's formerly in our jurisdiction. The survey was made by Mr. Charles P. Marion, the engineer of Nevada.
1 Rocky Mountain News. April 10. 1861, p. 4.
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NEVADA DISTRICT
On Friday night a meeting of the citizens was held to ap- point a committee to regulate the streets and highways of Ne- vada-A. E. Guild, Chairman, Chas. P. Marion, Secretary-at which three commissioners were appointed, Mr. Kelly. I. F. Allom and M. M. MeKeen. By a vote of the meeting, the com- missioners and the engineer were authorized to elear and grade the streets, and construet a road to Central City, the commis- sioners to act in rotation and receive for each day's actual serv- iee $3-the engineer to receive $10 a day when actually em- ployed-the necessary funds to be raised by subscription. This is a good and mueli needed work of improvement, and I hope will be liberally supported by all of our citizens who are in- terested.
As spring time returns, we are pleased to notice the return to our gulch of many prominent citizens, among whom we last week welcomed home C. L. Ely, of the Kenosha mill, and C. P. Sykes, of the LaCrosse mill, both of whom are largely interested in our gulch.
Mr. William W. Coats died in Eureka on Saturday, of congestion of the lungs. He was 22 years of age and from Irv- ing, Benton county, Iowa, a young man of fine attainments, and generally esteemed. His remains were buried here, followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of Good Templars, of which order he was a consistent member. In this connection I regret to learn that the chief officer of Good Templars' Lodge here has resigned his membership, to save himself from being expelled. I hope his conduet will not affect or interrupt the great and good work of reform going on in our district. In my whole experience I have never known so much good done in so short a time as has been done by the Good Templars of this place, and I do hope the good work will go on until many more, now held in bondage to King Alcohol, will be forever emanci- pated and redeemed.
I have been unable to gather any mining news of any great importance since I wrote last, having been hard at work on my own claim on the Kansas.
The attacks on Judge Muir in the Mountaineer having now
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simmered down to the accusations of two individuals, possess but little interest to the citizens of our gulch. The character of those individuals is now so well known in Nevada, by all those who ever knew them, or had any business transactions with either of those worthies, that no reply is deemed necessary to their wrathy and ridiculous letters. I know a dozen good citi- zens who have stopped the Mountaineer during the past week, on account of their slanders of our Judge and district, and I have heard that the carrier has given it up in disgust. No won- der, for he is a fine little fellow, and respected by all who know him.
A. E. Guild cleaned up in three mills, from quartz from his Kansas claim, this week: at Stanton & Sanford's mill, Eu- reka, $750.30, from 21/2 cords; at Whitcomb's mill, here, $575.80, from 21/2 cords, and at Col. Backus' mill, $1,036.60, from 5 cords; total $2,562.70.
Clayton's mill was robbed last night of about $300 worth of amalgam, the thieves scraping the plates.
We expect a short professional visit from Langrishe's troupe before they leave the mountains, which will be a rich treat to all our citizens. Yours truly,
Spectator.
PUBLIC MEETING IN NEVADA1
About 9 o'clock on Thursday morning, upon the arrival of the News with the latest dispatches by Pony Express, a large number of the citizens met in front of the Court House, to hear the dispatches read by our friend, Squire Morton. After read- ing the latest news, the citizens were called up stairs into the Court House and held an impromptu meeting-Squire Morton, Chairman, Mr. R. D. Darlington, Secretary. From the last named gentleman we are favored with a copy of the proceed- ings of the meeting, which we annex. Squire Morton sang, by the request of the meeting, those good old songs, "The Star
1 Daily Rocky Mountain News, April 27, 1861, p. 2.
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Spangled Banner" and the "Red, White and Blue," amid fre- quent applause.
At a meeting of the citizens of Nevada, held in the Court House, impromptu, on Thursday morning, the 24th of April, A. D. 1861, Ira H. Morton was called to the chair, and R. D. Darlington appointed Secretary.
A committee on resolutions was appointed by the meeting, consisting of Judge Muir, Col. Remine and Mr. Vanderen, who presented the following resolutions, which were passed by a unanimous vote :
Whereas, By the enterprise of the Rocky Mountain News Co. of Denver, we have been, upon several occasions, put in pos- session of the lastest telegraphic despatches, a day ahead of reg- ular time; therefore be it
Resolved, by the citizens of Nevada district, That we fully appreciate the consideration and prompt attention given us by the News Company, in the speedy transmission to the moun- tains, through the columns of their paper, of the latest tele- graphic dispatches from the States, and that we will evince our appreciation thereof, by extending to the News our undivided patronage.
Resolved, That while we deeply deplore the present lament- able condition of our beloved native land, we heartily endorse the course and position of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS with regard to the great and important issues of the day.
Resolved, That we will each individually use our best en- deavors to increase the circulation of the NEWS, and advance its interests in the mountains.
Wm. Train Muir, Jno. W. Remine, Arch. J. Vanderen,
Offered by Mr. Vanderen, and unanimously carried :
Resolved, That, as citizens of a Territory of the U. S., we will give our earnest support and encouragement to the present Administration in the honest endeavors to maintain the integ- rity of the Union.
R. D. Darlington. Sec.
6
WISCONSIN DISTRICT
LAWS ENACTED FEBRUARY 13, 18601
At a meeting of miners held upon the tributaries of North Clear Creek on the 13th day of February A D 1860 on motion E. G. Bartlett was appointed President and Alpheus Wright Secretary. Whereupon on motion the following resolutions were adopted. Resolved That inasmuch as Gold has been found in various gulches in this point of the Rocky Mountains, we therefore deem it expedient to immediately form a mining Dis- trict, elect Officers & adopt such rules and make such laws as will tend to the peace and harmony of the persons that may be engaged in mining in said district. On motion adjourned to meet at Robinson's & Wrights tent in Eagle Gulch this evening to define the Boundaries and adopt a Code of laws for said con- templated District.
E. G. Bartlett President Alpheus Wright Secretary
Feby 13th 5 O.C. P M. Met according to adjournment. On Motion it was agreed that the Summit of the Snowy Range of the Mountains should be the boundary line on the West. The main fork of North Clear Creek on the North to the mouth of the main Gulch running through the district, Thence South to Eagle District Line,2 Thence West to place of beginning. On motion it was agreed that said District should be known by the name of Wisconsin District. On Motion the Gulches in which Gold had been discovered in said District were named as follows to wit :- The main Gulch to its junction with the Middle fork "Secreta," The middle fork "Ericke" Gulch3 to North Clear Creek, The North Tributary of Ericke the "February" Gulch.
1 Wisconsin District, Book B.
" No records of Eagle District have been found.
* Later known as Errick Gulch.
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WISCONSIN DISTRICT
On motion the following articles and resolutions were adopted as Laws for the Governing of the above named District.
Art 1st The Officers of the district shall consist of a President, Secretary (who shall also be Recorder) and a Stake Master
Art 2nd It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all regular called meetings of the district, try all Suits, and give the casting vote in case of tie, and shall be allowed a fee of five Dollars for each suit tried before him, and shall attend other meetings free of charge
Art 3rd It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of all proceedings of the regular called meetings and record all claims, and deeds to claims in a suitable Book for that purpose, Said book to be kept in the District & shall also keep a deputy who shal act in his absence and keep in possession the laws thereof, and shall be allowed the sum of fifty cents for re- cording each claim and for his other services shall be free of charge
Art 4th It shall be the duty of the Stake Master to stake and measure all claims accurately, drive a stake firmly in the ground four inches square, to each claim, writing the name of the holder, and engrave the number upon it of said claim, & shall have twenty-five cents for Staking each claim for his serv- ices
Art 5th No person shall hold more than one claim upon each Gulch or Quartz Lode by preemption and but two by pur- chase of 100 feet each, the Gulch claim from bank to bankd [bank] and Lodes fifty feet wide
Art 6 Any person or company of persons being the first to discover Gold in any Gulch Lode or patch diggings shall be entitled to one claim of 100 feet in length and of usual width as a Discovery claim in addition to one by preemption
Art 7 Each person holding claims shall be required to have the same recorded within ten days after taken and the same shall hold good until the 18th day of June next, without being worked, at which time they shall be worked at least once in every ten days or forfeited. Provided however if there be
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GILPIN COUNTY RECORDS
a company they shall hold their claims by working some one of them in the District as above the same as a man
Art 8 All disturbances growing out of whatever cause upon which suit is brought shall be tried before the President, either party to the Suit having the privilege to a jury of three or six persons. Said jury to be allowed two dollars each in every suit. The person bringing suit shall also be required to give approved security before going into trial, for the costs that may accrue on said suit, the cost to be paid by the person looseing the suit. An appeal may be taken before the Miners or according to Law.
Art 9th All deeds to claims shall be given in writing and witnessed by two persons signitures. Resolved that inasmuch as the snow that now covers the ground makes it impossible for Persons taking claims to have them accurately measured and staked, therefore they shall be allowed to take them by number, commencing at the Discovery claim which shall be plainly marked, and commence by numbering up and down from said claim, and record in same way until such time as will admit of them being measured and staked
Art 10 These laws may be amended or altered at any meeting of the miners by due notice, by a two third vote of the claim holders in said district and no one shall be entitled to vote unless he is a claim holder in said district
Art 11 A Petition must be given to the President and shall contain the object of the meeting & signed by twelve claim holders and then the President is authorized to inform the Sec- retary whose duty shall be to post them up in at least three con- spicuous places. The Meeting then went into an Election for permanent Officers, whereupon E G. Bartlett was chosen Presi- dent, Alpheus Wright Secretary and W. P. Graves Stake Master It was also agreed that the above officers should hold their offices for six months unless a majority of the claim Holders at a regular meeting should determine otherwise
Alpheus Wright Secretary
E. G. Bartlett President
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WISCONSIN DISTRICT
MEETING OF MARCH 9, 1860
At a Meeting called for the election of President of Wis. District, E. G. Bartlett having resigned, L. L. Robinson was duly elected to said office.
AMENDMENTS ADOPTED MAY 19, 1860
At a meeting duly called according to notice on file, the following resolutions were adopted as amendments to our laws.
Art 1st Resolved that all Lode claims either by purchase discovery or by location that any person or persons are entitled by law to hold shall hold good till the first day of July 1861 without labor, if recorded within ten days of location or pur- chase, and said claim or claims shall be described as accurately as possible in its bearing and locality
2nd That a Notice to try any suit before the President or in case of an appeal to the miners shall be given in writing at least five days previous to trial naming time and place and a copy of said Notice produced in Court
3rd that people slaughtering beef or cattle shall be com- pelled to bury the offalls of sufficient depth to prevent stench, at least 200 yards from water or running stream, under penalty of twenty five dollars for breach thereof
The President then resigned as also the Stake master, and the Secretary was appointed as committee of one to draft sched- ule of fees for Constable, to be elected next Saturday in con- junction with other business to be transacted and Sec instructed to post up notices accordingly.
4th The line of the Wisconsin district was then made to be the continuation of the western line of White Quail District1 keeping the ridge between the waters of Boulder & Ericke Gulch, the meeting then adjourned after electing E. G. Bartlett Stake Master to fill vacancy of W. P. Graves.
JOINT MEETING OF MAY 19, 1860
At a meeting of the two districts of White Quail & Wis.
1 No records of White Quail District have been found.
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GILPIN COUNTY RECORDS
L. L. Robinson chairman, Alpheus Wright Sec. It was resolved that the White Quail District be attached to Wisconsin district & afterwards be known as Wis District and governed by the same laws as far as applicable. The meeting then adjourned.
MINUTES AND RESOLUTIONS OF MAY 26, 1860
Meeting met according to call. E.G.Bartlett called to the chair as President Pro tem, and proceeded to vote for Presi- dent & Thomas Rockhill was duly elected & M.J. Bolan, Con- table. & then the following resolutions were adopted.
1st That being important to have a proper person to serve papers, notices & various processes according to [law] therefore, to elect a constable, whose duty is to serve all papers put into his hands, to serve by any party to a suit of any nature arising in the district, That all processes shall be served by copy if the person can be found in the district; if not, by posting a copy of the same at two conspicious places in the district and one also at the Recorders office, & for each mile of travel he shall be enti- tled to ten cents each way for serving summons, notice or other paper, 50 cents & 25 cents for copy, $3.00 for attending court, per day & one dollar for summoning jury.
2nd That in case of an appeal it shall be taken within five [days] after first, or second trial and neither party shall work the claim during the pending of the appeal, & a bond for the security of costs shall be filed for costs before the appeal shall be valid, and all appeals of suits to be appeald, heretofore tried, shall be appeald within five days from next monday the 28" day of May
Resolved that claims lying in a place that is necessary to have a drain ditch that person or persons owning claims shall be allowed to dig the same through the adjoining claims below, & the party owning the same, or any other person, shall not fill said tail race or drain, but it shall be kept open.
Meeting then Adjourned "Sine Die"
LAWS OF JULY 12, 1860
At a regular called meeting according to notice & Petition
WISCONSIN DISTRICT
PERŁA LIBRARY OF THE
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CITY OF DENVER
according to law, the miners of Wisconsin District assembled at 5 00 P.M. Meeting called to order by the President, and the following laws were enacted and passed.
1st Resolved that all Lode claims in Wisconsin district discovered now or hereafter discovered, shall hold as real Es- tate, & not Jumpable
2nd Resolved that all water claims shall be held as real estate & not jumpable.
3rd That no one shall be entitled to vote on subjects per- taining to Lode, Gulch, or water claims respectively unless, an owner of said claims, & to vote on Lode questions must own a Lode claim & the same in regard to water & Gulch claims.
4" Resolved any person is entitled to one water claim on each Gulch of 250 feet long, by preemption & all he or they purchase and that all Gulch claims hold good till the 1st of June 1861.
5" Resolved that all claims taken hereafter shall be staked or the name of the owners written on the Discovery stake or tree, & the Nos. thereon.
6" The President then resigned and the meeting then went into an election and Israel Janney was elected President of Wisconsin District. The Recorder then resigned & on an in- formal Ballot being taken was declared by the President, to result in no election there being no majority, and on another Ballot Alpheus Wright was duly declared elected recorder of Wisconsin District for the term of six months from the 13" of next month.
7" & 8" Resolved that the officers elected to day shall hold their office six months from the 13" day of August next. Re- solved that the Miners are the highest tribunal & from whom no appeal shall be had or granted
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