Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-06-16
The Mine. in GsnRrs,,.

Hon.. JRO. Era,as, Governor of Colorado
Territory Dear Sir-Your letter upon the
subject Of our Mining Interests is before me.
With much ofits contents / cordially agree
but with portions do not concur. That it
should be the policy the General Govern
ment to encourage and foster the develop
ment Of the public domain, and especially the
mineral lands, admits no doubt or question.
Such would be best for the general Govern
ment, best for its citizens at large, and but
just towards that hardy class who deny them
selves all the comforts Of life, and venture so
much IN time and money, prospecting and
opening to the world that which was before
unknown, undeyeloped and valueless to So
ciety. In this view Of the case we both agree,
but neither of us are original or new.
The President and different members Of
his Cabinet have preceded US.
The President, in very liberal spirit, allu-
ded to this subject in his late annual Mes
sage; and so has the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, and of the Interior also. With view
to obtain some revenue in their reports to
Congress, they have referred to the occupa-
tion ofthe mineral lands OF the Government,
and expressed themselves, not at least in the
present emergency, illiberal to their oceu-
pants.
Congress, also, by laying upon the table
the resolutions OF Hon. Fernando Wood,
which were to expel the occupants, and for
the Government to take possession Of the
mines, has shown that there was no DISPOSE
ton on its part to attempt any act ofinjustice
toward this class of citizens.
The Revenue Bill which lately passed the
House, requiring license Of a miner who is
able TO employ more than one hand, and who
has reached ''pay quartz" or "pay dirt" and
is taking out "pay," and also taxing the gold,
silver, and quicksilver product, cannot be
cited as contradicting disposition Of fair
ness on the part of Congress.
By this same Revenue Bill, no one in any
business, professional or industrial occupa-
ton whatever, in any part of the United
States escapes the license, nor escapes being
also otherwise heavily taxed.
Direct taxes are very onerous upon a peo-
pie like ours, who have never until lately
been required to contribute to the support Of
the General Government. But now that our
beloved country is in its extremity, its patri-
otto citizens all over the land. and without
exception, are daily called upon to make
grester sacrifices in blood and treasure to
maintain its existence-without which there
is but little safety or certainty TO either life
or property.
PrecedPnts, therefore, of mining popula-
tionS heretofore refusing TO pay taxes, will
not govern patriots of the present day; when
everybody is required to contribute Of his
means, the miner will not be claiming ex-
emption from the burdens.
The need of a fixed policy on the part Of
the General Government for its mineral lands
has long been felt. Long ago, the Govern
mcnt, BY Congressional enactment, should
have recognized and encouraged their occu-
patton by citizens who desired to work them
for minerals.
In my opinion, it was the absence of such
legal recognition of the rights OF persons go
ing upon these lands that has prere nted any
considerable amount Of capital being invested
in their development. Capital is timid, and
not until the risks of commerce were greatly
enhanced, since the outbreak Of the war, and
the currency Of the country greatly inflated,
thereby increasing the relative value Of the
gold product, has or could any considerable
amount OF capital be obtained to invest in our
mines. You say that
AT the present time the attention Of capt.
talists is being largely directed to these in
vestments, and under the assurance Of the
established policy Of the Government in al
lowing mining districts to enact their own
laws regulating such matters, large invest
ments have already been made. The usage
of government, continued for long years and
well established since the acquisition Of Cali
fornia, has thus acquired the force Of COM
mon law"
"Should this policy be essentially chang
co, Ut shouiu LUG So'etunienS nv" I...s
the proPrietorshlp Oh the inines' anu ie@re
them subject to change by future legislation,
1t Will seriously discourage sucn in'estlnehts
IN the future, as well as comPronlse Tue Sooo
taitn Oh the government 70 worn! lnu ue-
serving class OF her SitlZens. oluee tIe pio-
posed law cannot IAN 70 uIet' capt." rum
the MINES anu alSo 10 VOTE serious mus
tice 10 !noSe why na'e aiteaTy ny .n =.
means IN tnen' uess " WIN not p~s'' iot
certalniy Is not the in'eiess' :.Ln VI
SIRE VI Tue sV ., I " w StSH
~ esaSe saen % !ou S Iiat Nt ~ oo narno
Gu 'ne totee VI . rnr',1o.;a,'
you we" IT. couiu noI Hut m'is ~ TIn,.a5
as wen Is our PeoP.e an osI ~: 80.
S:ateS, ser up IHe u et for1S ,S f"-
a" rec s'1eS, suu WI 49, '''- 'O
/" T Tue ioe y. I Urnnno;,;on hsfors cororass n
10 away Inc hins laws ~ ro ene ~ mHaa,
TICS anu ~ ms ps A.. The GorarrN
hlSaPPreuensIon' WI N $500 - :.
ment IN any way P6oPGSe - tor - = NC sue
PropfietotSp y. 'n S.n !. novor hos n,rtod
maps, ueeuiess ~ s ~" g.. $500 80.
WIN tnat proP, aEOI inIas ~ bar. sIvars hen
ANY, anu su =. :. nse.sd bv Connrsssonai action
, roS N The n,s+ =. tbey viii no in tbs
s- S o'n - ZIG P''
i" TLs.5 ,.rn,, b,y. Oh. .E.c,
.. IJ potV oon;,aI y banarss ,sJ.aS;no ID,
" - 49,. nan;,,I ;nrss,sd mon tbese
80 49, ,ou, Il bos no protection bv anv
anus, Tono,oSs " Its d.t,iIs Tecoon;os ,bs
40" Us - arorr, D;str;c, ~ can h. go
nand;Ss5 md ,msndad .S nor n .ct n tSe
Ss,r;men, n the actnaI miner h. he a
naaitbv c,n;t,l;s, ~ lone g nro.nector "
Nc % ,rH,, Csp W. ;ntnrsS,s nf hofh S veil
LIZ IS the trne ;Ttnrsoto or The Goyernm.nt
: So, nc .o ass,,ra 20, ,b,t co far Ne an ~.
S ~ ;nSr;nr' ST[ dn 'nas iii nn, ,ot ho.
pEo'e VI Juuss' GE 1910 W." .ha 10
Iily, 3i ;,1 u n;.;N No. nino s ,,n5.
rest ol lts eiSiIens uPon 'ne M nt .ha anus
nor impose any e SuruehS upon 'n emu =! way
Oh tsSa'ioh' 1has tney uo ny III equSi Iao-
portion pace uPon Pe'iiItic eI't 1e. eise-
WHEY l" ""''Aet part Vi 'out Ae''ei '0u
say T 1nas h. ~ ;na,o,.o o,.hl-,
ineIe haS! oy some NuHIeuc, Pooso!
rom sne siomS tepot t " tne I itsa utScose-