came waier.
3d. That all companies shall have the right to drain through claims, cuts, or flume j below them by paying damages, if any are sustained.
It was unanimously resolved that the above laws be considered as addi- tional to the former laws, passed at a previous meeting, governing Little Deer creek, and that they be published in the Nevada Journal.
The followino: characteristic letter to the Nevada Journal speaks for itself :
Red Dog, November 23, 1855, Mr Editor: Tlirtnigh the colunms of your paper I wdsh to state a few of the grievances, and disadvantages under which we, m this district, as a min- ing community, have to lal)or. It has been proven to the satisfaction of all tliat the claims here will not remunerate us, as long as the present high price of water is sustained. But when we can purchase water for two bits an inch or less, we can make good wages and occasionally have a day of grace. We do not wish to make perfect slaves of ourselves to support a few men, and pay for the keeping of their fast horses, but we wish for a decrease in the price of water, in order that we may enjoy this life, without working so hard, as well as those fortunate enough to be ditch-owners.
There were but two or three of the claims here that paid wages and water last winter, and the miners worked through all the storms. The most of us have signed an agreement not to pay over twenty -five cents an incli for water this season, and we think the ditch company will have to come to terms if they calculate to sell us any water this winter.
The Chalk Bluif ditch company built a large reservoir last season to sup- j)ly this place ; perhaps you have heard of it. Well, it cost over $2000, and that will be a dead loss if they do not accede to reasonable terms. We must have a chance to save some of our hard earnings. If the ditch companies wont come down, the merchants must. Hoping these few lines may meet the eyes of the companies or their agents, and cause them to turn from the error of their ways ere it is too late, I subscribe myself.
An Honest Miner.
Let us now see how the miners defended what they regarded as their rights. In the summer of 1851 there were two large companies at work at Coloma. One, composed of Germans, known as the Tunnel company, was sued by the other for backing up water to their injury. The Tunnel company was ordered by the court to pay $200 and lower the dam. The court allowed them ten days ; but as they refused to obey the decree, at the expiration of that time, on the 28th of July, 1851, Rogers, the sheriff, with a small posse proceeded to the dam, intending to tear it down. He found the place guarded by 150 armed men prepared to resist. The sheriff withdrew, but soon returned with 200 men. When he reached the grounds again, prepared to enforce the law, he found the Tunnel company had already learned of his movements, and
