The Nevada Democrat., 1857-04-22

ers and defining their liabilities was under con-
sderation, Mr.. Kicks, of Humboldt, offered an
amendment to the effect that all taxes collected
from foreign miners licenses should be paid into
the State Treasury. The amendment was lost
by vote of 20 ayes to 40 nays. During the
discussion on the proposed amendment, several
gentlemen from the agricultural counties ex-
hibited an objectionable ignorance of the con-
dition of the mining counties, and of the char
acter of the miners. From some cause the peo-
pie of San Francisco and of many of the agri- |
cultural counties have particular spite against
the miners, which they seem anxious to exhibit
upon every occasion that presents itself. State
ments were gravely made in the Assembly that
miners paid no taxes whatever, and that the
State government was supported entirely from
taxes levied upon the merchants and farmers.
They have an idea that miners as class are
immensely wealthy, and that they are wholly
exempt from the burden of supporting the gov
eminent
1t is very true that a large amount Of gold is
annually taken from the mines. but this gold is
not retained here. AS soon as taken out it is
sent off to pay for the provisions and goods
which are consumed by the miners. Itgoes into
the pockets of the San Francisco merchants and
to pay for the agricultural productions of the
farmers. The miners being the principal con-
sumers, the taxes are eventually paid by them.
The tax paid on goods is always added to the
original cost, and eventually comes out of the
consumer. This tax is indirect. and for that
reason seldom noticed; but like all indirect tax
es is. in reality, more oppressive than il would
be were 1t paid directly out Of the pockets Of
the consumer.
There are some miners who are doing good
business, and we hear occasionally of a man ma
king "pile." But the vast majority of them
are poor, and make no more than enough to pay
their ordinary expenses from year to year. The
wealth of the mining counties, is increasing
slowly. The principal reason for this is that
nearly all the surplus gold is Immediately taken
off to be added to the wealth of other sections
Whenever fortunate miner makes his 'pilc,"
VIC almost invariably see coupled with the an
nouncement, that he is about to return to his
home in the Atlantic States, or that he is going
to some agricultural county to buy him farm.
Hundreds of this class of miners are now en-
gagged in prosperous business in other parts of
the State, and they seem to have but little re-
gard for their more unfortunate fellows, who
are still digging in our hills, and subject to all
the hardships and dangers OF miners life.
Thus are the mines being continually drained
of all their surplus capital which is added to
the wealth and employed in developing the re-
sources of the agricultural districts. These
facts seem to be wholly ignored by the members
of the Legislature from the COW counties.
The exemption of mining claims from taxa
ton is based upon the broad principles of right
and justice. A man has the privilege Of pros
pecting until he finds mining claim that will
pay what he considers wages; so In other sec
tons OF the State man can hunt up q situation
to work. The mining claim would have a value
to one, aud the situation TO the other, with which
neither would be willing to part without con-
sideration; and 1t is just as reasonable to tax
one as the other After the gold is taken out IL
is subject to taxation; and in this county mon
ey invested in the purchase of claims has been
for the past year or two assessed and taxed and
we presume the same is the case in the other
mining counties.
The taxable property of all the mining coun-
ties is steadily increasing, and the revenue de-
rived from them is annually becoming larger.
The erection of quartz mills, and the construc-
ton of bitches, which is now being carried on
for the development of our mineral resources,
will in few years add greatly to the wealth of
the mineral districts. But as long as our more
successful business men, and more fortunate
miners, are constantly leaving us to settle in
other sections of the State, IT cannot be expect
ed that the wealth of the mining counties will
increase as rapidly as that of the agricultural
counties. The money is made in the mines, but
taken to other localities to be enjoyed.
For GOvERNoR.-The friends of Hon. j. w.