The union Democrat., 1869-02-27
Thc City Election.

Will be called upon to Steot q oo"Ao ~
Trustees. a Collector and Assessor, to serve
as officers of the City for the ensuing year.
In connection with this coming election, Tor
the information, we'll as the interest of our
taxpayers, we present few facts collected
from the record. to show what an expensive
luxury, the city government has been IN the
past. This CITY was incorporated on the first
day of May, 1851 twas Immediately divided
into wards, which were, each represented by
Aldermen, in the Common Council, and con-
sisted of from eight to twelve members, there
was also, Mayor, Marshal, Recorder, Clerk,
Surveyor and City Attorney, elected annual
ly, making the city government Tor this little
town as ponderous, and expensive as that OF
some larger cities. In short time from its
organization, the debt against the municlpas-
ity, from extravagant expenditures, reached
large figure, SO far beyond the revenue,
that bankruptcy loomed up for the future.
Relief from this accumulated debt, was sought
by funding the City Scrip, which was done in
January 1858. In this manner the floating
debt was changed to bonds, payable in two
years, bearing interest at the rate Of two per
cent per month. No adequate provision hav-
ing been made for the payment OF these bonds
or the interest; and the floating debt having
subsequent to the funding, piled up to an IN
definite amount; which from the careless
and negligent manner in which the accounts
were then kept, and the peculiar way in
which scrip was then redeemed, rendered it
impossible to arrive at any correct estimate OF
the Indebtedness. The taxpayers in 1854,
saw what dilemma they were placed IN;
they saw that ruin stared them in the face ii
they did not get rid of the incubus that was
fastened to .hem in the shape OF city gov
ernmeht, with a view Of ascertaining the
amount of liabilities existing against the city,
and providing for the payment OF the same in
three years, the legislature in March. 1853,
abolished the old Charter, and re-incorporat-
cd the city under the style of the "Frustees
of the City of Sonora" 1t was then expected
that the Indebtedness would be extinguished
in three or four years, yet, il 1861, six years
after, from the policy pursued by the various
boards of trustees, the debt had not materially
decreased. In that year, one OF the creditors
procured maadamus against the board
which prepared the way for a final settlement
of all its liabilities. The city sax-rolls for the
years lS6I-2-3, show the amount Of taxes
assessed to have been S35, no 81, which cer-
tany was large sum to pay for the benefit,
that the community had enjoyed through
their Mayors, Aldermen, etc. etc.
On the tenth Of March, 1864, the Trustees
in their annual report stated, liabilities
against the city-none--cashi in General Fund
SSI3 80, and in Street Fund, ,S426 65. Thus
we find the city at that time owing nothing,
with 81, 240 in the treasury. Since that time,
the taxes assessed amount to So. $50 SO; Of
which about $4,000 have been delinquent !;
Street taxes have been collected to the amount
Of So ,600 besides some licenses. At this time
there is owing, for which the city has not the
money to pay, between five and six hundred
dollars acknowledged, besides an amount
of $3.50 claimed. Iu five years last past, our
city government has cost the tax payers, fully
SIl, 900; what have they had for this large
amount2 For the year 1868, there has been
collected of assessed taxes, about $1,000, to
assess and collect this amount, has cost fer
Assessing 5000; Collecting $50; City Attor-
aey $50; City Clerk $50; which, with other
expenses will reach fully thirty per cent of
the amount collected. If those who pay these
useless expenses are satisfied to do so, then
let them continue, we believe there is nothing
requisite for the city to do, other than to keep
the streets in order; having a board of five
Trustees, and the other necessary officers, ap-
pears to be an expensive and almost useless
appendage to the departing glory of old So
nora. A law should be enacted by which the
street tax, collected within the city limits can
not be diverted for any other purpose, but to
be expended on the streets of the city under
the direction of the Supervisors. Then let
the city government be abolished, enough
keep the public thoroughlares in good order,
if properly laid out; it will cost no more than
it does now to collect this tax, but will cost
very much less to spend it. No more assess
ed taxes should be required from our citizens,
than enough to pay the present indebted
ness, and the necessary expenses of the COM
ing year. The high rate of our County and
City taxes for some years past, has driven
capital away, if some reduction is hot soon
had, the little left will have to migrate To
cheaper latitudes, as people cannot live and
pay taxes nearly equal to legal interest forev,
er. Municipal glory has cost high; the old
city strugges in poverty. every one apparent
ly is willing to get all they can out OF 1t; 1t
has few friends, is sickly, old and decrepit,
it needs heap to keep 1t alive, therefore we
saw. dissolve and economist.
Stockton Cry HOMESTEAD ASSOCIATION
We would call attention to the advertisement
of this association. Lots are offered by them
f,r one hundred Dollars each payable IN