The Shasta courier., 1861-03-23
Division of the County.

living on the east side of the river are anxious
to accomplish division of the county. 1ney
propose to establish new county out OF the
segregated portion, of which Millvllle is to be
the county seat Indeed, a meeting OF dis
satisfied citizens was held at Millville on Sat
urday last, and the initiatory steps for the
proposed division were taken.
The reasons urged for division are these:
First, that the county is too large second,
that the taxes, now oppressive, will be great
ly lessened by the establishment of a new
county; third, that the merchants of Shasta
refuse to purchase their produce, preferring
to make their purchases of the farmers of
Tehama and Colusa The first reason is Just
exactly no reason at all. No one has suffered
any great inconvenience by reason of the size
Of the county. Certainly the people Of Mill
vile and surrounding country have suffered
no such hardship. The people of the Cotton
wood country, Pit River Valley and Dog
Greek may have thus suffered, but they donot
complain. Besides, the establishment of a
county seat at Millville would rot relieve
them, for the simple reason that Millville is
no nearer to them than Shasta.
The second reason is based in error. Hav
ing no foundation in truth, it must fall to the
ground. Any man who will take the trouble
to make the calculation, will see that the
taxes of the new county would reach at least
four dollars ON the 500 worth of property
During the last year the county debt was re-
duced over five thousand dollars. In few
years our county debt will be nearly nominal,
when of course our taxes will be light In
the face of these facts, we don't perceive how
our citizens east of the river can, as wise men,
favor the establishment of a separate county
government for themselves. Surely taco
county governments will cost more than one !
A new county would prove good thing for
aspirants for County Judge, Sheriff, Clerk,
&C., but it cannot but increase enormously the
taxes of its citizens. If those persons who
favor new county for the purpose of lessen
mate the taxable property lying within the
proposed county, we are under the impression
that they will at once see that a tax of at
least four dollars on the hundred dollars
worth of property would have to be levied in
order to sustain their county government.
The other reason-that our merchants re-
fuse to purchase their produce, and purchase
from the farmers of Tehama and COlusa in
preference-is, we must admit, of great
weight. if true. But is it true? Can it be
possible that our merchants have been pur-
suing a course so short-sighted so suicidal !?
so destructive of the interests of our town ?
The question seems preposterous. Such ac-
ton would be unnatural. Every man has
some county pride. Surely our merchants
would patronize our own farmers, rather
than strangers. And yet we have been in
formed by Millville friend that the course
pursued toward Shasta farmers by some of
our merchants is precisely such as has been
alleged. If so, then who can blame the
Shasta county farmers for nursing hostile
feelings toward our town.
Our merchants, then, should at once COM
mence making their purchases of our own
farmers, if their prices are no more than
those of strangers. And our east Sacramento
farmers should promptly cease hostility to
our town, from which every one of them, in
days gone by, have reaped great benefit
Bet both sides forget their small causes of
antagonism. Let us all determine that, in
stead of dividing up into two insignificant
counties, we will remain together, and build
up one great and fourishing county. In
few years we can do this, and boast of having
the smallest county debt, and being the
lightest taxed community in the State.
To CoRREsPoNDENTs.-On our first page
we print letter fom the Pineries, one from
Dog Greek, and two from Texas Springs
Two old Bachelors will appear next week.