The union Democrat., 1871-07-29
Another Reason Why the Lower Part 81
the ceansy Wants Lexisiatsr.

Mr.. EDIIoK :-In your issue of three weeks
ago We alluded to the dissatisfaction felt in
the lower partcf the county at the construc-
ton of the tickets by the recent political con-
ventions held in our county. That dissatis-
factions, so far as we can judge, arises
chiefly from that part of those tickets known
as our Legislative ticket" And why
One chief reason is this. A large number of
the people of this county living along the line
of the route to the Yosemite Valley. have
expended their time and money in building
road to the boundary of the Yosemite Grant
and have succeeded in obtaining a respecsa-
bic amount of Eastern travel over it. In
supplying the wants of the tourists" while
passing through the county and over the
road, they find a good market for all the pro-
ducts Of the farm, dairy, orchard and vine
yard right at home. They naturally desire
that tina. travel should increase and as it has
been obtained by great effort and against
strong opposition from rival routes, by the
construction of better route than any other
to the valley, so they know, that to get that
increased travel, they SO much desire, much
more money must be laid out in widening and
improving the road, reducing some of its
heaviest grades &c. &c.
But this is not all. A grant Of the valley
having been made by the United States Gov
eminent to the State of California and the
State having accepted the gift and assumed
control over it, it now becomes the duty of
the State to commence where private enter
prise is commanded to stop, and build good
roads OF trails down the mountain and into
the valley. And further, we believe the
State should make a suitable and sufficient
appropriation for the construction of roads or
trails through the valley, to the different wa
terfalls and all points of interest, both in
the valley and upon the mountains around it.
That the valley should be improved by clear
ing out underhrush and trees in places, where
they obstruct the view of the more important
points and that some plan should be devised,
whereby good hotel accommodations could be
provided for visitors. Capital is required to
do all this, and private individuals will not
risk it in such speculations, so long as the
valley is so difficult of access, the number of
visitors limited, and especially upon short
leases from the State We say then, it is the
duty of the State to make liberal appropria-
ton toward converting the Yosemite Valley
from "howling wilderness" into beauti-
full place of Summer resort. 1t is the chief
attraction that brings people nowadays to
our State from all parts Of the civilized world
And without further argument to prove, what
is evident to the minds of all, we say as an
Investment, it will pay the State of California
iccll, to appropriate twenty thousand dollars
on that Valley. To get such an appropria-
ton through the Legislature will depend
first upon the efforts CT the numbers from
Tuolumne and Mariposa counties. They re-
side nearest the valley and ought to know
best what and how much is needed for the
purpose, and ought to be better able, than
any one else in the Legislature to advocate
the business, necessity and wisdom of such on
appropriation. In so large State as ours,
it cannot be expected that every member of
the Legislature shall know the wants of
every county in the State, and members from
other counties rely upon what the advocates
of a measure have to say in its favor and the
arguments they adduce in its support as
basis upon which to act and vote upon it.
Hence the people of the lower portion of
the county and along this Yosemite road
felt an interest in having a man on the Lee
gislative ticket, from their end of the county,
who knew the feeling and wishes of the peo-
pie in this respect and upon whom they rely
to cork in this matter. Both political con-
ventions utterly disregarded their desire and
paid no attention whatever to any of the con-
siderations we have mentioned. In the Re-
publican Convention one vote outside of Town
ships three and four were given to Mr.. Good
win, and in the Democratic Convention Mr..
Summers Jared but little better. We re-
spectfully submit therefore that when people
feel they are interested as community in
public matter of great consequence to them,
and that they are in danger of losing such
legislation as they desire from ignorance,
want of ability to advocate any measure, or
may be unwillingness to do SO upon the part
of those presenting themselves for Office,
there is but one course left for that people to
pursue. And that is, to select their own
man or men, irrespective CT and independent
of party altogether, and rote for them to act
as their servants and to Go their bidding and
not to carry out any mere party purpose.
And suppose upon such an issue to-day in
this county. such men as John App Esq. of
jamestown were running for Senator and
James a. Goodwin and Geo. F. Culbertson
for the Legislature, do you not suppose they
would get almost an unanimous vote in Town
ships three and four and q respectable sup
port all over the county from honest, fair
minded men? The mines and the farms
would each have representative and credita-
BILE ones too at that. 1t remains to be seen