THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1870.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 56, 25 February 1870, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1870.

As the time will shortly arrive when the protection of claims for one month, so unwisely given for so short a time by the Superintendent, at? the request of the miners, expires, it now becomes a question ; of great moment with all classes residing here as to what are the best means to be adopted to assist at this critical juncture in bringing the present unsatisfactory state of things between two classes of our community—viz., .the water companies and .miners—to a just : and' amicable issue; Shall the present captious questioning and warm retorts give place to a clear, consistent, and liberal doncession on both sides ; or, at the expiration of the month (unless further protection be granted), shall jumping and misrule be the result? Some of the peculiarities of this strike are ; worthy of special attention. Instead of receiving consideration as a question of capital and labor only, it has been considered more as a personal matter between the miners and the water companies. The large sums of money expended by the. latter in the construction of races to bring in water for the miner, has not been looked upon as a great amount of capital laid out by men anxious to reap as substantial a reward as they possibly can as the result of their savings, and who adopt this means of so doing; but rather it has been viewed'as one class of our communitv that is monopolising an article of general utility and commerce which,; but for the capital and energy of these men, the water, instead of being so utilised, would have been gracefully meandering through its original creeks. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that .such' a monopoly being granted to any cpmpany, the miners, as that part of the public most interested, have an undoubted right : and all reasonable grounds for supposing that they will use their privilege with consistency and moderation, and not by collusion or other means dictate a uniform price, when it is well known. that the water is. of greater or lesser value according to its position, ground,, or fall. It is an undisputed fact that on many parts of this field, where a good fall and a fair yield of metal is obtainable, the

present price of water is not too high; while on other parts, from scanty returns and the level nature of the ground, water is dear at half that price. Some of the companies tacitly acknowledge this fact; for, while two companies respectfully decline to lower their price, others have reduced; and the remainder, knowing the value of the ground commanded by their respective races, will place an equivalent t value on their water. As an attempt has been made by several of the water companies to conciliate the miners, we sincerely hope this concession will b& appreciated and heartily responded to.