Butte record., 1856-04-05
BidweH Bridge and County Seat.

nian speaks as if it b ad discovered "nlgger
in the fence, when it learned as every bodywas
bound to know, that bill had been lntrodu-
ced into the Legislature authorizing the Board
Of Supervisors TO purchase the Bridge at this
place If the law is proper and just, it should
stand upon its own merits The bridge Will
be built and completed this summer, whether
the county seat is removed or not Neither
its removal or staying viii or could affect it
as an investment, either for individuals or the
county 1t is on the main thoroughfare to
the county to Plumas, and it is the best and
most practicable route. As to what is called
the JUNCTION Route, am now convinced, at
ter more thorough examination into the
matter, that is almost impracticable, and that
from what is called Jacks Ranch to Lynch
burg or 0royille, via the Junction, is farther
route than the one by Biiwe'l, TO the Nj
ner's Ranch, and from thence in direct line
to Lyuchburg, we have been told that an ad
mirable road can be made over that route;
which, in shortness and feasibility, is far more
practical able, if the interest of Lynchburg and
that part of the country desire such road
The road via the Junction, can subserve no
interest but that of sefsbness and spite, and
if 0roville should. 10y any means, be made the
county seat, we have not the least doubt but
that same spirit which dictated the sentiment
that il would have satisfaction against "those
places which desire division, or that have
some local ambition to serve" if they were
thwarted in obtaining what they were pleased
to cali their Just right, would induce them to
put the Junction road through, for the pur-
pose of injuring Bidwell, and ali of that por-
ton of the county that is in the immediate vi
entity OF the present Marysville roads. But,
to do this, everybody knows that if done it
ba ot bA of tba
county; and we look upon it as a scheme-a
speculation, that was and is designed to en-
hance the Town Lot Speculation that is being
so boldly played in tha; town. that threatens
in its wrath to cast seven or eight hundred
votes Ii the electors can be persuaded into
this scheme of aggrandizement and specula-
tion-they footing the bills, and the 0royil-
hans gathering the fruts-let il be SO.
We again say, that the bill authorizing the
purchase Of the Bidwcll bridge. mas nothing to
do with the issue before the people That it
is mot a dodge that might have been expected
from the pressure OF the times" that it is Il
matter that, We feel conhlenf, that the stock
holders do not personally care u fig, whether
the county purchases the bridge or not, when
completed. The Californian says, admits, and
| presume the writer knows, that the ferry
proprietors have grown rich out Of the pro-
ceeds Of the ferry. Ii the ferry is profitable,
We see no reason why the bridge stock would
be bad investment. We are satisfied that
it is not. and that when that bridge is done,
as it most certainly will be this summer, that
it will be the best property in the county, and
the best investment that this county can
make, if the bill in question shall become a
law. The contract for the construction of the
bridge calls for such one, that when it is
completed, that it will be the best, strongest.
and most durable wire bridge in the State.
We cannot dismiss this subject without re-
moving the impression that the Californian
has sought to make upon the peoples mind in
regard to the bill We are advised that there
is nothing about this bill that is compulsory.
The Supervisors are not compelled to pur
chase, neither are the stockholders" obliged
to sell If the Supervisors think that the in
vestment is bad one, why there IS an end to
the purchase; and if they should think that it
would be advisable to purchase-that ii would
be to the county interest to do so--we see
no reason why they should not possess the
power. Certainly it could do no wrong. An
other feature of the bill is, that if the proper
ty should be purchased, it authorizes the Su-
pervisors to have it kept as toll bridge, un-
til there shall have been paid into the county
treasury a sum that is equal to the amount of
the purchase money, and when this purchase
money shall have been paid, they can order
it to be kept as a toll bridge, for repairing
purposes or for the purpose of raising school
fund for this county. If it is not ordered for
some one of those three purposes, it is to be a
free bridge, and used as public highway
The idea. then, that it is to be tax upon
the county is Il humbug. The bridge, from
its own tolls, that will be paid into the county
treasury, will raise n sum that will indemnify
the county for the sum paid; and when it shall
have done that, it can be made toll bridge
to raise d school fund, which wonld dispense
with the necessity of the special tax that is
now levied upon property in this county for
that purpose. SO far, then. from its being an
unproductive purchase-a dead tax--the bill
contains those features which are highly ben
eficial to the county. Yet the Californian
thinks that it is an imposition. a trick, to au-
thorize the Supervisors to make this purchase
if they think it desirable, that the bridge may
eventually become FREE as public highway
and denoRnces it as base fraud, when it
provides the means that in the course of time
will create a school fund, that will largely as
sist in diminishing property tax, and In rails
ing fund to educate the youths in the coun-
ty 1t does appear to us that, so far from this
bill being materially wrong, it is essentially
right-one that all should be glad to see be-
come law. All, everybody, the Californian
will admit, that the bridges on all the great
thoroughfares should be free, when it can be
done without prejudicing the substantial
rights of others; that it is wise and proper that
we should build up an efficient school system,
supported by ample means. If this is conce-
ded, how can it be an imposition, fraud, to
authorize the Supervisors to make this pur-
chase, and one that everybody knows, that
knows anything about it, that is the very
best investment that this county can make
No wrong can grow out of such a law; it is not
compulsory; it is a matter of free choice and
will; designing TO give the county an opportu-
nifty of doing what every body wishes was done
throu2 hout the county--to establish free
bridges and free schools wherever it can just
ly be done. And yet, to make an effort to
attain this end, it is to be called ga dodge"
san imposition, ''a speculation" We cannot
view the Californian in any other light than
as opposed to any and all systems Of legisla-
ton that will ultimately establish free bridges
and free schools in this county. These things
cannot be done without money, and we kno "
no way in which they can be better done than
that proposed by the bill. We again say,
whether this bill be right or wrong, it has
nothing to do with the county seat question,
and to make it so, is a trick to give dignity
and Importance to place that has no other
merit than that of demerit, in abusing every
body that does not think 0roTille is the only
place in the county fitted for the county seat.
The spirit which dictated the article in the
last weeks Californian, headed the "Bidwell
Bridge is the same that wrote the malignant
and cold hloode1 arlicia in that paper headed,