The Nevada journal., 1858-03-05
For the Neva[a Journal.
GOLD FLAT, Feb. 30, l;


pose of devising some plan to relieve the
county of its present embarrassment,
my position in regard to taxation of min
ing claims seems to have been mistaken
by yourself to some extent. 1t was not
my intention to convey the idea that
miner should pay tax of ten dollars or
any other stated sum upon leach mining
claim held by him." NY position and
views upon the subject I will endeavor
to define. 1t is general custom through
out the mining districts that the miners
have established local mining laws for
the government of the district. In such
mining laws among other provisions is
the manner in which a miner NAV ac-
qnire title to mining ground, which title
is valid so long as he conforms to the
laws under which he hold them. 1t is
my opinion that each and every miner
holding claim or claims, no matter
whether he holds one or more, so long
as he holds the same in accordance with
the laws adopted in the district ir which
such claims are situate, should, by the
payment Of ten dollars into the treasury
exempt any claim or claims then held
or any that he may acquire title to ac-
cording to the laws of his district from
being forfeited or jumped for the term
of one year from the date of his tax re-
ceipt. l would also suggest that a law
be enacted that each miner paying in
ten dollars as above set forth be exempt
from the poll tax at pres snt required by
the laws of the State, and also that it he
further provided that any person hold
ing mining claims who shall neglect or
refuse to pay the above tax of ten dol
lars shall not be entitled to recover dam
ages or sustain any action for trespass
upon the same.
1t seems that every miner in the State
should be willing to pay the small tax
of ten dollars toward the support of the
government that protects him. 1t is
but just that if the miner is protected
(Which he undoubtedly is, in his mining
interests,) he should contribute towards
the support of the government that so
nd
free to all Each and every one can
pitch in and take his chance, without let
or hirdrance. Therefore | hold that all
who engage in the business, having the
same broad fed to work upon, and re-
ceiving equal protection in Il cir search
for wealth, should pay equally for that
protection. 1t is well known fact that
the collection of the poll tax has to
great extent been neglected in this
State, the small percentage not being a
sufficient inducement Also there has
been no protection vouc hsafed by the
laws of our State to protect the poll tax
payer in his miuing interests any more
than he that paid nothing for the sup
port of government. Owing to a great ex-
tent to this, large State and county debts
have accumulated. While our State
rich in gold has been riAed of its wealth
and left bankrupt, many thousands have
IL IL ~ o1,
fornia and departed to other shores to
enjoy their wealth, who have never paid
California one dollar for the protection
extended to them hv her laws Why is
this Is it because those so making
their fortunes and leaving our State are
to blame No! 1t is because the State
Legislature has not enacted laws suited
to the country on the subject of taxa
ton. / venture the assertion that if
the mode of taxation above named had
been adopted in an early day in our
State, that at the present time the State
and counties now loaded with debt,
would not have owed one dollar even
with all the extravaganza and bad man
agement of State affairs that has here
tofore taken place. Also our mining
population would have been greatly
benefited by the proposed law. The
reason of this last is apparent when we
take into consideration. 1st, the amount
of time and money expended by miners
in keeping possession of their claims at
times when water cannot be had to
work them. I'd, the many vexations
and expensive lawsuits arising from
claims being jumped. Sd, the many as
saults, batteries and frequent shooting
ARRAYS consequent upon the same.
There is scarcely an end to the evils
and expense growing out of the unset
tied rights of miners. Let us look
what would be the result in case one-half