Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-04-25

on the privileges granted. 1t will be neces-
sary also to allow the miner to cut and use
snch TIMBER and other building materials as
his business requires; and, also, those who
work under permits the privilege of erect
ing cabins for shelter through the Winter.
Authorize the commissioner to lay out sites
for towns IN convenient situations to the
mines, and offer the lots for sale, reserving
the metals and minerals, so that those who
make mining permanent pursuit may ac-
cumulate around them the comforts and en-
Joymen,s of civilized life. Let those who
desire to cultivate gardens or farm-lots be
accommodated. 1t will be necessary also
to authorize the sale of timber and other
materials, for building and other purposes.
There may be other suggestions which do
not now occur to me, but no doubt will, to
those who may be charged with the prepare
ton of any measure which may be brought
forward on this subject.
| have suggested one ounce or SIG as the
price of a permit or license to dig or collect
gold for one year. This | regard as about
the average value of one days labor in the
mines. This tax on $4,000 miners, the
probable number next summer, will give
revenue of $500, 900. On 100, 900 miners
the probable number of IS5l-it will give
81 500, 900, besides the per centum on the
vein-mines, and the sum received for town
lots timbers, &c &C., which would proba-
bly, swell the amount to at least 81, 900, 900.
Any variation in the tax imposed will, of
course, increase or diminish this estimate.
A suitable amount of money thus collect
ed should be expended in constructing roads
and bridges, to facilitate communication to
and through the mining districts.
These facilities will so reduce the cost of
living in the mines, that the miners will
gam instead of lose by paying the tax
These are accommodations which the min
ers themselves will never provide, because of
the want of concert of action among them
sufficient to accomplish such objects, but
for which they will willingly pay any mod
crate contribution. A liberal per centum
should be allowed out of this sum, as
school fund, and for the establishment of
university to educate the youth of Callior-
MIA. Let it not be considered that this will
be doing injustice to the older States of the
Union. They will reap harvest sufficient
ly rich in their intercourse with their young
er sister on the Pacific to justify the most
ilOCi di uicC VI POiOl INV u hCi.
have given g, 000, 900 as the probable
revenue for 1851, under the proposed sys-
TEN. This would discharge the interest on
the amount stipulated in the treaty to he
paid to Mexico for California and New-Mex-
leo, provide 100000 per annum for
school fund, and the necessary improve
ments in the mining districts, and create a
sinking fund of half a million per annum,
to pay the principal of the indemnity to
Mexico.
An increase of the number of miners, or
of lie price of permits, would of course In
crease the Revenue. If the veIn-mInes
shall be found as extensive and productive
as the best informed persons suppose, the
right to work them, properly secured by
law, and the opportunity thus offered Of Us
ing machinery to advantage, will justify the
collection of a much larger per cent. on
their gross product than it is proposed to re-
quire from those who labor with their own
hands in the use of the simple means now
employed in the collection of gold. The
amount, therefore, collected from this source
.--y ultimately be as large, perhaps larger,
than that Tor pcr.....S
If revenue is all object, there no lit
tie doubt that, by the adoption of this sys-
TEN, the amount collected in few years
will be larger than the entire district would
command in ready money, if offered for
sale; and the interests and privileges OF
those employed in the mines will! be secur-
ed from the grasping and monopollzing spir-
it of individual proprietors; California and
the whole Union preserved from scenes OF
anarchy and confusion, if not bloodshed,
which must result from a sale Of the mining
region to spectators, and an attempt to
protect them in the enjoyment OF their pur-
chases.
The salaries of the Commissioner and
his assistants may easily be paid out of the
amount received, in fixed sums, or in tho
form of per centum.
I have proposed to exclude foreigners
from the privilege of purchasing permits.
aud from working as discoveries or purchas-
ers in the vein-mines. My reasons for rec
ommending this policy are: That these
mines belong to, and in my judgment should
be preserved for, the use aud bench: Of the
American people. mean. Of course, all
citizens, native and adopted.
During the mining season of 1649, more
than Is, 900 foreigners, mostly Mexicans
and Chilenos, came in armed bands into the
mining district. bidding defiance 70 all op-
y sssition. and finally carrying on. Of the
coantsy -eme $40 900 900 worth Of gold
which Belongs - pxycAase to the people
OF the United States. If not excluded BY
law, they will return and recommence the
work Of plumber. They may. with Is much
! right, gather the harvest in the Waller Of the
j Connections, the Ohio, o. Mississippi. No