The Nevada journal., 1857-02-27
Repeal Of the Town Charter.

neslru Iof tnlS movement is the expense
of the present town government. Our
recent calamities'by ireland food, while
they have impoverished our citizens, and
thus rendered taxation more than usu-
ally burthensome, have at the same
time rendered an increase of town tax
alton absolutely necessary. The prin-
cipal expense of the town government
during the past year, was incurred for
the repairing of the bridges destroyed
by the fire of July. No one could have
anticipated the quick recurrence of ca
lamity which has just destroyed the i'm
provements lately made at so large an
expense. 1t is not strange perhaps,
that the prospect of new and consid-
erable outlay, to be added to the sums
already expended for the uses of the
town, should create feeling of discour-
agement among our tax-paying citizens
in these hard times. We hope that this
feeling, however, will not cause any
hasty or i'll advised action to be taken
in matter of so great Importance as the
dissolution of our town government.
The benefits of the town organization
are as great now, as at the time when
so much pains was taken by our citizens,
to obtain the charter under which we
are now acting. Those who were then
residents of Nevada, will readily recall
the scenes which were enacted in our
streets during the interregnum caused
by the decision of our Supreme Court,
declaring the old town corporation un-
constitutional. The streets were night
ly thronged with drunl en- rowdies, and
a quiet citizen could hardly sleep for the
yelling, and shouting, andreports of fire.
arms almost continually ringing in his
ears. We had to record during that
brief interval, more fights and drunken
brawls, than had occurred within the
limits of the town for a long period pre-
viously. We remember distinctly, that
many of our most substantial citizens ex-
pressed unusual fears of both fire and
robbery, and used extra precautions
against these dangers. We remember
too, the general expression of feeling
Of renewed security and safety, at the
passage of the bill, restoring the author
ity of the Marshal and his Assistants.
We have no reason to doubt a recur
renee of the scenes that were witnessed
then, if the town government should be
again broken up. Both experience and
common sense teach us that the county
officers, with their pressing official duties
and limited powers, cannot afford that
security to life and property, which a
town like Nevada requires
We doubt if the public works which
the common necessities of our people
demand, can be accomplished otherwise
than by a municipal government. Git
izens may be willing to contribute private
means for the grading of streets and the
building of bridges, but with so many
private interests to consult, they would
never be able to agree upon plans and
locations. 1t needs power with author
ity to direct, to accomplish any work of
this kind properly.
Though we are decidedly opposed to
the Reorganization ofthe town, we think
it is question that should be left to our
tax-paying citizens to decide. They
are the parties chiefly interested. We
are convinced that majority of the
property holding citizens are not in ia
vor of the measure. 1t must be remem-
bered, that the debt which has already
accrued against the town, must at all
events be paid. If we were willing to
adopt so dishonorable course as repu-
diation, the Legislature would not grant
arepeal of our charter, until provision
is made for the payment of debts already
incurred. When these debts are once
paid, and provision made for the repair
of the recent damages, we may expect
to be comparatively free from town tax
alton for some time to come. Our mis-
fortunes must come to an end at some
time. Let us not add to them by any
hasty act of our own.
THE WEATHER.-This institution has
been out-doing itself for the last few
days. On Monday night it commenced
raining, and if it has held up for one
single moment since, it must have done
it, when every body was asleep. And
it hasn't been softly coming down with
any of your gentle, effeminate, easy
going drieeling but it has been pour
ing down in regular flood, as if the