The Placer herald., 1860-06-23
The Railroad and Wagon Road Appro.
nriatiOns

of a lasting prosperity, OF whether. in a feeling
of Indifference or opposition they will damp the
ardor Of a growing public spirit, and place
check upon enterprises now appalling to their
counenance and support. The issue is plain
it is whether the people will have low freights
cheap travelling, better facilities of communica-
tion, increased value of all kinds of landed pro-
perty, greater demand for labor, retention of
home capital, an encoura cement to the invest
ment Of foreign capital, and to the permanent
settlement of the population now here and to
come, and the infusicn of life and animation
into every branch of business, or forego all these
advantages and labor under the manifold disad
vantages of the present. This is simply the issue
divested of all the surplusage of discussion, side
issues defamation and prejudice by which it is
surrounded, and ask of voters to decide be-
tween these in determining their action
The bill, under the provisions of which the
election is to be held has been attacked, as well
as its advocates. with virulence eldom seen in
any contest; in itself an unwilling admission on
the part of the opposition of weak cause. They
have charged fraud and corruption with mn aston
ishing volubiiity, and we have patiently read
every word they have given to the world, for the
purpose of finding the proofs Of these extreme
declarations but have failed to discover from first
by single fact. And now. if the reader will fol-
low us, we will give history OF this matter, and
the reasons that entitle it to public support. The
Sacramento. Placer & Nevada Railroad Company
was organized by the citizens of Auburn and vi
cinity last year. AT that time the public spirit
manifested in the enterprise was commended, and
eXpressio' of favor were volunteered every
hand. The Company vtry properly determined
that. before they could hope for large subscrip-
lions to the stock they must be enabled to de-
munsrate the existence of favorable line, the
cost of construction and gather reliable statistics
of the business of the road. They proceeded
with this work and finally through the Report Of
the Engineer. early this Spring, gave the facts to
the world. That report was favorable, aud placed
the enterprise on Il footing second to no other
proposed Railroad in the State. 1t was matter
Of public notorety, that the Company would. ii
n favorable route WAS found ask assistance from
the County. The proposition WIS not then re-
ceived rs a fraud and swndle. A bill was
drawn providing for the subscription by the oun-
ty to Sl50 900 of the stock. About the same time
another bill was drawn authorizing the corpora
ton of Auburn to subscribe S500O0-the latter
bill passed the legislature. The former bill was
introduced in the legislature; at the same time
tn: "Omnihns Wagon Road Bll'' was pending.
which provided appropriations for the Secret
Springs and Dutch Flat Wagon Roads in this
county. This bill passed both Houses. and it
was supposed would become law but
toed by the Governor. Thereupon necessity
arose for providing for these wagon roads in some
other manner, rs the Washoe trade was assuming
an Importance that caused 1t general activity in
favor Of mountain wagon roads in the central
ning counties. and the County Railroad Bill
was accordingly altered by cutting down the
o, iginal amount from Sl500O0 to 100000,
and giving Sl2.500 to each Of the above
named wagon roads; and upon The wish of parties
Il provision was made of $25 900 for
the Eastern Extension Railroad,-thu making
the whole appropriations equal to Sl50.000. the
amount first asked for the S. p. u Nevada Rail
road. Upon each Of these propositions votes can
be cast seperately, so that one is compelled to
vote all in order to get the one he may like Cor
tanly nothing coul be ttirer than this. In this
shape the bill became law, and then for the first
time, was heard the potent argument that the bill
was a swindle, and the S p. y Nevada Company
a band Of scheming and heartless SPECTATORS
and this style Of discussion has been kept up to
the present time.
These are the facts regarding the passage of the
bill. and the opponents ure welcome to all the
capital they can make ont of it, But they have
the sections OF the bill line by line.
and sentence by sentcuce, finding startling fraud
at every step. Let Is examine the monster
Sections one two and three provide for holding
the election; section four the manner in which
ballots shall be prepared; ana if the propositions
are carried by majority of the votes cast the
board of Superv sors shall subscribe the respec-
tive amuuuts to the capital stock of the Rail-
roads. and appropriate to the Wagon Roads their
several Subscriptions. Section five authorizes the
President of the Board to make the Railroad
subscrip ions in behalf OF the county. condition
ed that the Railroad companies shall receive the
county bonds for stock at par. Section six con-
silutes the President Of the Board, the Trcas =
rer. and the Auditor, Commissioners to issue the
bonds which shall be payable in twenty years,
and draw per cent interest payable semi annu-
ally; and it further provides that no more than
$50 900 shall be issued to the Sacramento, Placer
and Nevada Railroad until that company "shall
have completed and placed in running order thir-
teen consecutive miles of said road 1t must
strike the candid reader that the county is pretty
well protected in this last provso OF the inqui-
tous scheme Section seven designates the man
ner Of signing the interest coupons of the bonds,
and to be Cancelled by Clerk OF Supervisors. Sec
ton eight provides Tor the delivery OF the bonds
of the companies, the taking of receipts for the
same and the manner OF their registry by Super
viSors. Sectien nine is as folloWs: Upon the re.
ceipt Of said bonds the sAid railroad companies
respectively shall execute and deliver to said
Commissioners shares of stock at par value equal
to the amount Of bonds received hy them. and
shall indorse the same as fully paid for; and in
no epent shall said county or any IF its officers
| or agents, be held t0 n greater liability und6,'
this .4ct or any ldV noio eristing, than 10 pay
said bonds and The lntoea thereon as herein
provided for"
The read will not fail to observe the latter
part OF this section. The Railroad Company must
build and put in running order thirteen consccu-
tive miles Of road before being entitled to more
| than $50 900 from the county-the second $4,000
! TO he applied TO the Auburn eUd OF the road
Does TINT look like swindle? Section ten + :
oures all dividends, arising from the stock own
ed by the county. 30 be used in paying the in
terest and redeemng the bonds. Section eleven,
| the manner Of eAnceling the bonds when redeem
ed. Section twelve requires the chairman of the
! Supervisors 10 vote the stock at all the meetings
of the company, and to have all the rights, privi-
leges power and authority Of other stockholders. .
Can there he any objection to the county protect
| ina ri irhIS In this mnnnnr9 SnctiNn thirteen