Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-01-25
Hard Times.
WEST Point, January goth, lSt

hear people complaining wherever we go, of
hard times and everyone has his own rea-
sons for it. Some say the weather is the
cause of it; others. who are in business
transactions. complain of the amount of bad
debts standing out; and no earthly show for
their settlement. would ask the dubious
ones the cause of these hard times. and where
the main source springs.
I, for one, will give my reasons for the
dull times in this neighborhood, and will
frankly speak from experience am one of
those fortunate, or rather unfortunate indi-
viduals, who came to this State in early
days, and have always depended on the re-
suits of my mining labors for living; and,
like many more. can plainly see the daily de-
cline of the gold resources of the State, and
also the hard and laborious way poor miner
has to make living and poor one at that
In this vicinity there need be no complaints
made concerning the times. if things were
only managed as they should be. There are
good chances here for men Of means to enter
into mining claims and do well, for there are
any amount of claims here lying idle, which
cannot be worked on account of the finances
of their owners whereas, if company of
men who had the means to open these
mines were to go to work they would realize
a rich reward for their labors. On account
of this not being done, some think this to be
the cause of dull times; but 1 say no. We
cannot blame the capitalists, for they have
been tempered with too much already. There
have been several companies formed and have
started into mining, in this section, under
these circumstances men go down to San
Francisco and try to raise company, and
perhaps succeed to a certain extent. They
return here. with small amount, of few
hundred dollars, for which they expect sew
eral thousands dollars worth of work done.
They hire men, with promises that they will
receive their pay; these men work on in
good faith ; contract debts with the mer-
chants, and after little this fine company
fails to connect. Not paying their hired
help. the employees, of course, retaliate on
the merchants the citizens of San Fran
cisco loose what little they have invested !;
the merchants here are also losers, and the
laboring and the laboring class the same.
Therefore, people who would take hold and
enter into mining operations. become dis
couraged, and that of course casts a blight
on the mining interests in this section, and
creates "Aard times" There have been to my
own certain knowledge, several companies
here that have failed to pay their hands, and
have done so on account of their inexperience
in mining operations and with but little
BRAINS for business. Now, Mr.. Editor, for
one, will feel rejoleed when the present Bill
that is before the Legislature. concerning the
interests OF laboring men, is passed; and
hope that every miner will infinitely watch
the progress of SO important document, and
consider none of the honorable body his
friend, unless he gives his full support to it.
When that has become a law we can then
look for better times. The honest man can
then pay his debts. and the rogue will be
more fully developed. A man can then de-
pend on his wages, and need not complain of
''hard times" ''INDEx.'
THE following is the Bill introduced by
Mr.. Mentzell, in regard to the duties of
Boards of Supervisors. Ithas passed the
House:
An Act to provide for obtaining correct in
formation of the financial condition of the
several counties of this State.
The People Of tie State of California, rep
resented in Senate and Assembly do enact as
follows:
Sec. l. 1t is hereby made the duty of the
Board of Supervisors Of the several counties
of this State, at their first meeting in Sep
TENDER of each year, to pass an order direct
ing the Clerk OF their respective Boards to
present to their respective Boards at, or be-
fore its first meeting in October, thereafter, a
statement as near as may be:
l. The Indebtedness of such county, fund
ed and floating, stating the amount of each
class, and the rate Of interest borne by such
indebtedness, or each part thereof.
2. description of all property owned by
such county. with an approximate estimate
of the value thereof, and the amount of cash
in the County Treasury and in its several
funds
8. The value of real estate and personal
property in such county. as shown by the
last assessment roll, stating each: separately
and the year it was so assessed.
4. The rate of taxation in said year, in
such, locality and,
5. The amount of the taxes so assessed
and stating the portion. if any, delinquent.
SEC. II. Each of said Boards of Super
visors shall Immediately upon receiving the
report provided for in the preceding section,
cause the same, or properly certified copy
thereof, to be forwarded by mail, or express
to the Secretary of the State of California.
Sec. III. 1t shall be the duty of the Sec
rotary of State to cause to be printed in Cir
culsr form, by the State Printer, sufficient
number of copies of this Act, and be sent by
mail or express, on or before the first Mon
day of July, of each year, to the Board of
Supervisors of the several counties, in this
State ten Q0) copies thereof, accompanied
by such suggestion as he may deem proper,
and the cost Of said printing shall be audited
by the Secretary of State. and allowed, and
paid in the same manner as provided by law
for other printing,
SEC. Nv. The Secretary of State shall in
close in his biennial reports to the Governor,
a digest, and synopsis. in tabular form, of all
reports received by him under the provisions
of this Act !; and shall name therein the
counties, if any, which have failed to make
the report as herein provided, and the Gov
ernor shall transmit said report of the Sec
rotary of State to the Legislature,
AN ALLITERATIvE APoLoaY.-The GALA
L.: a.