The Georgetown news., 1856-05-15
For the Georgetown News.
VoLcANovILLE, Ell Dorado Co.,
Nav 7th, 1856.


May 7th, 1856.
MEssRs. EDIToRs:-The rains of winter
are over, the summer heat is about setting
in, and verify believe we would die of en-
nua if it were not for that exciting topic,
the removal of our county seat.
The Placervillians and Colomaites are
about to meet in battle array; and the COM
batants are supposed to be so equally
matched in numbers that the encounter will
be desperate and obstinate, but, we trust,
bloodless. 'Tis not the first quarrel of the
kind; they are old enemies; and they watch
each others strength before sounding the
bugle of war. So far, Coloma has had TIE
advantage; but her adversaries, taking ad-
vantage of the temporary increase of popu-
lation on their side, (accounted for by the
desertion of the rivers, and the supposed
weakness of opinion arising from the desire
Of some to divide the county, buckle on
their armor, and throw the gauntlet.
Now, however interesting this agitation
is to Hangtown, Il beg pardon, 1 mean
Placerville,) and however fortunate the
spectators of that town may be if they
succeed in attaining their object, I must
beg to remind the Ell Dorado readers of
your journal that this change cannot be
made without incurring very heavy ex-
pense; and this expense will come upon
them in the shape of direct tax of at least
three per cent, take it. If some laudable
Object was to be achieved, some national
work to be accomplished, this outlay would
be met readily.
And supposing Placerville succeeds in
procuring the county seat, what advantage
will accrue to the citizens of FL Dorado
generally. 1t must be confessed that it
will be decided acquisition to the remote
southern portion, but we on the northern
boundary must travel almost through the
entire county to reach the district courts.
1t is certainly desirable that the county
seat should approximate as near as possible
to the centre of the county, and thus give
aD equal chance to the inhabitants general
ly to attend there.
l do not conceive that it is a patriotic
feeling that prompts the people of Placer
vile to agitate this question over and over
again, for they are aware that there are in
Ccloma the necessary public buildings and
among them a Jail, nearly completed, at an
expense OF $4,000, and admitted by all to
be substantial and necessary building
Now, if the county seat is removed these
buildings will be sacrificed, land the con-
tractors must receive satisfaction for their
work. further expenses will be incurred,
and an increased annual tax will have to
be levied for the erection of the necessary
buildings, &c.
Examining the subject in another light.
it is undesirable to sustain travelling coun-
ty seat; it is undesirable to recklesslv souan-
der the public money; it is undesirable to
have more than one costly county jail; and
it is undesirable to tax the citizens more
than they are already taxed. Furthermore,
we see in Coloma our oldest mining town.
There stood the old Sutter Mill. There
was found the very first piece of gold that
made California what it is, and there is as
near as is convenient, the central point of
the county of Ell Dorado, surrounded as it
is by dense population of Industrious peo-
pie, whe are able to separate right from
wrong, justice from injustice, and who have
twice already voted against the removal of
the county seat. If the southern portion of
the county wish SO particularly to secure
the county seat. it should be their privilege
at least to defray the expenses of its reno
val, &c.
AS my stay here will be brief, personally
it interests me but little; but venture to
express my view of the matter through the
columns of your journal.
Yours, 4. HIS.