The union Democrat., 1869-07-03
Mining Cesasy Debts.


preme Court, for a peremptory Mani niamas, to
compel the Board of Supervisors of Calaveras
County to levy q special tax, for the pay
ment of interest due on bonds Of that County
held by him. several papers of the State have
given the Indebtedness of the Mining Coun-
ties more than passing notice. The fnan-
cial condition of these counties is Of such
character, that measures for their relief must
be devised. and that soon, or bankruptcy
and repudiation must follow with some of
them, which unfortunate result will have the
effect to destroy confidence in all California
County securities.
1t may appear unjust to the people of the
agricultural portions of the State, that they
should be called upon to assist their poor
neigkbors in the matter of paying their debts
Desperate cases require desperate remedies
Preservation of future prosperity for the
whole State demands, that from their abun-
dant store, they shall help those who have
furnished the foundation from which their
prosperity and wealth has become what it is.
For years these mining counties yielded the
precious metal to such extent as to be felt
throughout the world. The people of every
nation and chime were here while the "pla-
GERS" continued to yield. using every effort
to enrich themselves, at the expense of these
now unfortunate counties. Fortunate miners
many of whom are now of the capitalists and
land owners Of the State, were here a few
years ago helping to impoversh US. These
counties have furnished the means that has
improved and made valuable, the vast acres
of our valleys. They have been the cause of
making this State great. In their days of
prosperity they furnished the essential that
has converted arid plains, and desert spots
into vast fields of grain, and luxuriaut gar
dens. To them the State is indebted for the
prosperous position that it occupies at this
time.
Now they are falling 70 decay, in conse-
quence of their generosity while prosperous;
will it be more than gratitude to help them
in their poverty and distress. There is scarce
ed with debt contracted for opening commu-
nicatious which were benefit to tho people
of the whole State. They have built roads
over mountains at an immense expense, there
by developing their energy and showing a
desire to advance the public welfare. By the
oarelesuess and extravaganza of officials in
years gone by, their debts have accumulated,
and with the working out of the mines, comes
poverty and uncomfortable taxes Taxation
has assumed such fearful proportions, that
capital cannot afford to pay the tribute de-
manded, therefore improvements of all de-
scriptions, and development of resources have
come to q stand still, the value of taxable pro-
per.y is rapidly diminishing, employment for
the working man is gradually growing less,
the populations are leaving; unless relief
from this onerous taxation is shortly had,
these mountains must 60 back to their orig
inal solitude. If these counties are allowed
by the other portions of the State to 60 down
to bankruptcy and reputation, and to be-
come depopulated, Us to great extent they
must, the general prosperity of the whole
State will be affected by such decentralization,
which will result in greater pecuniary loss,
than to liquidate their present Indebtedness
So large portion of the State cannot suffer
from decay and hopeless ruin without affect
ing all the other portions.
These mining counties possess some of the
finest lands within the borders of the State,
they present every requisite for horticulture
and viniculture, the climate is superior and
they have natural resources almost beyond
description. II is but question of time for
it to be the most desirable and valuable por-
tion of the State, but if it is to be ground
down through generations with unbearable
taxation, in place of being blessing, it will
be a curse to the balance of the State Being
unable to sustain ITSELF it must add largely to
the expense of the other portions which can
not escape in a measure from helping to sup
port it. The necessity for legislative action
is being recognized already to considerable
extent, and when fully understood by the peo-
ing that attention, that matter of such mag
nitude is entitled to, when becoming satisfied
that the necessity exists, the agricultural and
more fortunate portions, seeing that their own
interests are so intimately connected with the
prosperity of these counties, cannot deny them
relief to reasonable extent. 1t cannot be
possible that the whole people will allow
portion to repudiate their legal debts, we
agree with the Sacramento Cnion when it
says: "To say nothing of the baseness of
such a remedy, we don't believe it practical
BILE for county to repudiate and leave its
creditors without recourse upon the State.
The counties are q part of the State-its mi
nor children-and if they repudiate. the State
will have to pay their liabilities or share in
the disgrace"
PuRE BLoop is essential to sound health
and long life. No chronic disease, sores,
nlcarS shin rlanJrlo,s