Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-12-13
10 LOCAL NINE TAX.

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EDrroR NBws-Sir.-I, for one, feel
obliged to you for the candor with which
yop have editoriilly placed the matter ]
frat agitatsd through your columns-the
question Of local taxation on mines. I
was not unaware Of the class Of objec-
tons to this proposition which you re-
ferred to and in part %recounted, nor am I
insensible Of their plausible force. You
have suggested some additional reasons in
favor Of the proposition, which in my
judgment more than counterbalancs the
weight Of the noted objections, and which,
I believe, will ultimately become more
popular" than the prejudice points that
can be raised against the plan I favor. I
ar not q mine owner myself; l view the
subject Of local taxation Of mines from q
real-estate owners platform Of observa-
ton. In sanctioning and urging such a
bill as is to be offered for mine exemption
from taxation, I am entirely indifferent Of
what mine officers may wish Indeed,
they have never, to. my knowledge, made
q plea on their own behalf, OF on behalf
Of their corporations, for this exemption.
Undoubtedly il would be seconded by
their favor. But, the question is: Is not
the plan one that every man who has a
real interest in the community should ad-
vocates Not the benefit of mine owners,
not even the greatest good of the greatest
number; but the greatest good OF the
whole number, is the thought that COM
mands our attention in making up our
minds on the subject. II the world OF
capital shall be given 10 understand that
there is no local tax on our mines, will
there not be q great attraction for invest
ments? II, on the contrary, it is under
stood that q great burden of tax is yearly
imposed onsthe mines by the county and
the several incorporated towns and cities
within the same, will there not be an in
quiry into the amount Of this tax, likely
to be a preventive of investment? The
greater number Of dividend-paying mines
we have, the better, Of course. Now l
understand that there are no less than forty
mines in these districts, in Gold Hill and
Virginia Districts, which would pay a
small dividend, Jthe local tax were re-
moved. A dividend of one dollar q foot
on forty mines which never before yielded
anything to the stockholders would, obvi-
ously, enhance the value of these mines
one hundred per cent. And forty mines
paying a regular income would give a
general advance to the prosperity Of the
community that could hardly be overesti-
mated. While this exemption would be
put in operation, necessarily perhaps, un-
der a general law, the beneficial effects
would be peculiarly felt in this county.
The truth is, while Lander county and
adjacent parts are receiving capital invest
ments of 800 to each fo'pence ha'ppenny
spent here, from like source, we have far
richer mines, undeveloped, or partially
developed, which would come into note
and secure generous aid, for complete de-
yelopment, il the local tax were removed,
and the consequent revenue to ~stockhold-
ers wal realized for a limited number oil
months. ''
There is another view to be taken OF
this case. The ad palortm tax-the only
character of mine tax that can be levied,
under our Constitution-is essentially an
income tax. In no other instance does the
State tax incomes. The General Govern
ment does and I say it is right that the
Nation adopt and retain this source OIL
revenue. Not so, I protest, with the
mines. II we could tax the incomes Of
any private individual, Of every character
of corporation, for local purposes, there
would be, at least, some consistency in
the measure that exacts toll On the bullion
from q mine. II seems to me that we are,
by our present practice, putting a peculiar
hardship upon our chief interest-burden-
ing it as we burden nj other interest.
Remember that the existence Of mining
is the only foundation Of our
life as q community. We have no enter
prises that are not merely cooperative,
aud that in a strictly subordinate sense
Whatever checks the development Of the
mines. binders the growth and dwarfs the
prosperity Of the town, the city, the
county, in every respect.
There is reason to spprehend that a
local tax on interpretations may abso-
lutely prevent the taking out Of so much
of the rich paying ore as would otherwise
be extracted. Mine owners may by-and-
by come to the conclusion (f they are not
now concerning with this idea and for this
%purpose) that It will be better for them,
perhaps demanded for their financial
safety, that they depreciate-by systematic
refusal or neglect to extract ore from rich
deposits-the value of the mines to such q
figure, and so hold them for such a time,
as to altogether bankrupt and nearly de-
populate the tax-imposing city or county.
Could not the mines on the Comstock and
adjacent lodges unite to procure this state
Of affairs Is it quite improbable tina,
they be induced or compelled to adopt
such a line Of conduct, for their protec-
ton ; y
Virginia City, Dec. IL, 1855.