San Andreas independent., 1857-11-14

upon by the General Government, in favor
of home manufactures ever since its organiza-
ton.
The mining interest of California, therefore,
has a right to demand from the State, the es-
tabishment of State Hospital for its exclus-
i've benefit The miner, like the sailor, as a
general rule has no home, but roves about
seeking his fortunes wherever there seems to
be prospect of success. 1t has already been
shown, that he is subject to a great variety of
casualties, in the prosecution of his calling,
and contracts very often incurable disases, by
working in damp localities, and beneath the
surface of the earth. Hence, like the sailor,
he is, or ought to be the object of peculiar fa-
vor from the government. 1t is no answer to
this argument, that occasional great strikes
are made by the fortunate; for it is but too
we'll known that as general rule, there is
more destitution in the mining regions, than
anywhere else in California Pope's verse
applies to mining, that
@Millions miss where one that Lits."
1t is equally unnecessary to argue the ques-
ton of the nsuffciency OF the county hospitals
for the accommodation of the sick and infrm
These institutions are from their very nature
incapable of affording the relief sought in most
cases. They are generally erected of tempo
rary and worthless materials, afford but slight
| accommodations and are almost always desti-
tute of high order of medical skill. And
those who have resided long in the mining
districts, know how important it oftentimes is
to the patient, that the best surgical aid should
be at once obtained.
| There remains now but single question to
dispose of, having shown the policy and neces-
sity of the establishment of Miners Home
That is, from whence shall the State derive
the means to erect such q structure as would
be at once an ornament to the Capital, and a
blessing to the country? Can such hospital
be built? 1t can, and Immediately.
! There is, fortunately, fund in California
derived from source that ought to conse-
crate it to the miners use forever. | allude to
/
TAX. Why should this fund be divided equally
between the county and the State and thus
left subject to the pecuations of county off,
cials and State Treasurers Why not devote
it, now and forever, to the exclusive use o.
the class from whom it is derived, and whose
title to it is based upon principles of even.
handed justice? At best, it seems hard thai
the miner should be taxed at the rate of ncal
fifty dollars per annum more than others who
pursue different avocations but when none
or very small portion of this fund returns tc
bless him, the tax then becomes extorton, an(
the imposition of it, tyranny.
But as it has become the settled policy of thu
State to derive revenue from this source i
ought to be the study of our statesman tc
render it as useful as possible to the peculiar
class from whom it is received.
AIIospital such as has been described could
be erected in the city of Sacramento for the
sum of three hundred thousand dollars The
income derived from the foreign miners tax
for the year ending June 30th 1855, amounted
to the sum of $l22 1923, and for the half yeal
Immediately succeeding, ran up to 500, ,754.-
| have not the statistical information at hanC
to trace down the receipts, from this source tC
the present time, but, taking the year 1885
from the lst of January to the lst December
as proper standard, it will be perceived tina
the annual income is not less than Sl55,5
This sum, it must be remembered, is onl,
one-half of the actual nett proceeds of thi.
tax, for the law appropriates the other half t.
the particular counties in which it is raised
If, therefore, the total revenue derived from
this source should be devoted but single veal
to the purpose above indicated, the Hospta
could be built and all the necessary furnitur,
supplied. So soon as this was accomplished
the tax might be reduced or carried back into
its old channels, reserving only sufficiency
to keep the establishment in active operation
1t is unnecessary at this time to enlarge upor
the benefits that would flow from such an in
stitution to the practical miner 1t is only
requisite to mention the scheme, in order tc
cover it with recommendations. 1t is. and ha
been desiderdtum, ever since the opening O
the mines of California, and the wonder il
that our patriotic politicians have not Ions
ago achieved the glory of having advocate,
and accomplished it.
But of course IL pill be opposed. The count,
officials of most of the mining counties vii
oppose it; for it will tend to lessen their re-
ceipts and diminish their fees The newspa
pers in the interest of the commercial and ag
rlcultural classes will oppose it; for they ar,
the paid stipendiaries of those classes, and ar,
mute or eloquent just as their masters desire
The twaddling correspondents of such sheets
as the Sunday Varicties and Sacramento Ag
will oppose it, for they are leagued with every
clique that seeks to rob the industrious classes
and are paid for their paragraphs just in pro
portion as they are worthless, scurilous and
infamous. twill be opposed by the schemne
political demagogue; the trickster OF the grog-
gerry and the stump-by him who is loudest in
opposition when patriots are loudest in ap-
proval +; for his talent eonsits in yociferation,
and his influence is gone the moment his
mouth Is stopped. But the enlightened men
! of all classes will advocate It, and il needs not