Amador weekly ledger., 1858-02-27

Dnasta, Sierra, SiSklyOu, Stanslaus Trinity,
and Tuolnmne, paid into the treasury during
the last six months, from the lst of July,
1851, to Jan. LIST, 1928, the sum of 1929, 1870;
that The agricultural counties of Alameda,
Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Los Angeles,
Marin, Monterey, Napa San Bernardino,
San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara,
Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma,
Yolo and San Diego, eighteen in number,
paid in the sum of Sl5T, ,669-leaving bal
ancc in favor of the mining counties of $780,
300. During the last fiscal year the amount
paid in by the mining counties have men
toned, was $233, 3S9, whilst bv the agricul-
tural counties that | have just named, there
was paid in the sum Of $l40, 7l5, leaving a
balance of $92, 664 in favor of the Pilgrims
of the mountains. But, sir, let us not stop
here, let us go back and see the comparative
amounts paid in during the nine fiscal years
of our State Government We find, sir, that
the seventeen mining counties have paid in
the nice little sum Of $l,Sl3,S04! Oh, mo-!
ye indignant yeomanry Of the COW counties,
your hard listed brothers of the mountains do
not pay any funds into the State Treasury
The eighteen agricultural counties that | have
mentioned have paid in the sum of 81 ,09l,- :
517, leaving balance in favor of the mining
counties of 1922, ,287 But says the honora-
BILE Senator: Your taxes are derived from
vice and crime Now, sir, to the facts and
figures, for there we have them on the hip
The property tax of the mining counties
amounts, for the last fiscal year, to the sum
of 1921, ,2S2; the reported amount from thir-
teen of the agricultural counties-four coun-
ties not being greported-amountt to 1854, 459,
leaving balance in favor of the mining
counties of $52,S22. Mr.. Chairman, | have
left ont the countless from this computation,
that had mixed interests. have left out
the county of San Francisco; for since the
county of San Mateo has been cut off from
her, she is almost exclusively commercial
With much more propriety could we have
added in the fund paid by Sacramento than
the agriculturist San Francisco; for Sacra-
mento is more of mining county than San
Francisco is agricultural Also, the great
county of Yuba, which is decidedly mining
county. But, sir, have left out the coun-
ties having commercial interests. San Fran
cisco is the great commercial depot of all the
counties But, sir, if the funds she pays into
the State Treasury should be added to either
of the great nterests-agrcultural or mining
it most assuredly should be added to the mi
ming, for the mines furnish her markets for
her commercial products. The mining coun-
ties made and sustained her; is it not so? Is
it not so? Let me ask Senators what would
become of the great city of San francisco,
if the gold fields should suddenly give out?
Wouldey had the eloquence of the gentleman
from Alameda, to depict the ruin. What
would become Of the lordly aristocrat and
capitalist of yon desecrated city, who now
affect to despise the hardy miner who made
him wealthy Street after street of deserted
mansions; the ivy and wild vine growing in
her now populous thoroughfares; the owl and
bat the sole occupants of the now princely
mansion of the scheming bulkhead protector
her shipping rottng at their moorings, and
their tattered sails tapping a mournful re-
QUEEN over her once magnificent commerce.
say that the mining counties, by furnishing q
market for her commercial products, have
built her up to her present magnifcence.
Aye, we built her up, and we would have
been proud of her; we would have pointed
with pride to the great commercial city of
California--of nine years. growth-riyaing
in trade and commerce, old cities, established
by the compact growth of ages had she not
sunk herself in infamy, and covered herself
with pollution But, sir, | have spoken only
of direct taxation. | wish to refer to the
source of revenue derived from the mining
counties by indirect taxation. Now, sir, how
is it? The importing merchant of San Fran
cisco adds to the importing price his expenses,
taxes included, and q small profit" besides.
The Sacramento merchant, he purchases; and
he, too, adds to the purchase price his expen-
ses, taxes included-not only State tax, but
county and municipal, to the purchase price
aud 'small profit besides Then, sir, it is
purchased by the merchant in the mountains;
and he, too, adds his expenses, taxes included,
aud small profit" besides. Then, sir it is
purchased and consumed by the miner. Now,
sir, if the miner could add his expenses, tax
es included and "small profit" besides, to
his commodity, he would not pay taxes indi-
rectly. But, sir, this is not the case. Owing
to the peculiarity of his situation, he very
seldom gets even the intrinsic value Of his
product Thus, sir, directly and indirectly,
he pays by far the greater proportion of tax
es paid in this State But. sir, l will not
detain the Senate longer. In conclusion,
permit me to say to the honorable gentlemen
who hail from the agricultural districts, that
if they will get away from the plains--away
from the contaminated air of these cities, and
come up among our mountains, they will find
there the most hospitable, intelligent, ener-
getic and enterprising people with whom God
and circumstances ever settled country
They will find them doing, what they ever
have been doing. developing, by their hardy