Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-03-28
senator sreGee,s Road RiII.

McGee had given notice Of his intention to
introduce a bill authorizing the Supervisors
of Butte and Plumas counties to issue bonds
for the construction of wagon road thro'
these two counties, and raised some objec
lions to that manner of proceeding with the
work. The road cannot be constructed by
issuing bonds, without an immense outlay,
and the system once adopted, and the coun-
ties of Butte and Plumas will be plunged
irretrievably in debt, for no man would ad
vance cash upon those bonds except at a
runous discount. The counties would be
burdened with taxation for the payment of
interest unon the bonds, when they have
received no just equivalent therefor Both
counties are now, we may say, out Of debt,
and this road can be constructed by them
without issuing bonds, to be sold at dis
count
1t is generally understood what interest
has set this monstrous scheme in motion,
and that it is for the purpose of building up
the Bidwell Bridge Company, at the expense
of the tax payers of the county. and to ena-
BILE spectators to dabble in county bonds,
and scheming officials to become rich upon
starving salaries. Judge Lewis makes pill
grimage to the capital, and shortly thereaf
tee, Mr. Niece introduces bill plunging
Butte and Plumas $4,000 dollars in debt,
for the purpose of constructing road lead
ing to Judge Lewis bridge Gentlemen it
wont do We would caution Mr.. McGee
against introducing measure so unpopular
as he will fn1 this specializing scheme, for
the advancement Of private interests at the
expense of the public, upon due examination.
We are not opposed to the construction of
the road, by the counties, even to the bridge
owned by the power that now seems to hold
not only our board of Supervisors, but even
the State Legislature. in the hollow Of its
hand The county is, doubtless, willing to
construct this road but we should also
have the privilege of extending the road, by
nearest practicable route, from the northern
boundary of the county, to the center Of its
pose this bill should become law, without
a provision permitting its construction from
Jacks Ranch. via the junction to Oroyille.
Is not nine tenths of the taxable property
of Butte county, miles from the line of the
road through Bidwell, and via the Miners
Ranch and will the Legislature have the
injustice to compel this property to build a
road to the Bdwell bridge, without the
privilege Of constructing it where i would
enhance the value of the property taxed
We trust the Legislature will not perpetrate
this wrong upon the taxpayers of Butte
county.
Did Mr.. MeGees bill authorize the levy
ing and collection of tax for the construc-
ton of the road from the northern line Of the
county, both to Bidwell, and via the june
ton, to Oroville, it would, doubtless, meet
the approval of the people Of the county
Otherwise, it Is monstrous scheme to tax
the public for the benefit of private interests,
and inflcts q wrong upon community,
against which it is the solemn duty of the
Legislature to guard.
In advocating this road to the junction,
we have been actuated only by what we felt
to be the public interest-to be that which
wo I'D confer ''the greatest good upon the
greatest number All interested in the
road through Bidwell, we were proud to
number among our personal friends, and
nought in Gods world, but what We deemed
our duty to the interest Of the county could
have induced US to sacrifice those friendly
relations. Those who have prescribed the
Record for its course upon this snbject, are
evidently too sordid and grasping to be
friendly with those who conceive public in
terests to be tantamount to that of individ-
uals, and their loss has occasioned US no I'M
easiness.