Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-10-23
GOVERNOR BOOTH AND THE GRAN.
GERS

GERS.
Following are extracts from the ad-
dress of Governor Booth before the State
Grange, at San Jose. on the 18th inst:
GENERALIZATION
Whoever has studied the growth of our
population must have observed an in
creasng tendency towards concentration
in towns and cities, and that in the
large cities--the centers of capital. COM
merce and manufactures-the increase is
in greater ratio than in the smaller.
which depend upon local trade for sup
port. 1t is noticeable. too, that cities
where population and capital are concen-
trated have year by year greater rela-
tive influence in shaping the general pol
icy of government. In them public
opinion is massed, and can be thrown
Immediately upon any given point.
They support the great newspapers, at
tract the leading men and surplus capi-
tai. The great moneyed interests, and
schemes which have in cities their cen.
ters, are never without special and
plausible advocates. They organize lob
bies, and have agents and attorneys be-
fore every important legislative and con-
gressional committee. Their influence
is thus felt directly and specifically at
the time and place where it is wanted.
TO illustrate: No capital of the same
amount in this country, perhaps none in
the world, has in the same time averaged
as large profits upon the investment az
that Of the national banks. The securi-
ty for their bills is Government bonds,
on which tile banks receive interest
The medium by which they redeem is
Government notes. The number of
banks is limited, 80 they have a monopo-
ly of the privileges they enjoy. Is it
credible that but for the influence of the
banks themselves and the public opinion
they have been able to create, the Gov
ernment, handling as it does, annually,
from one hundred and fifty to two hund.
red million dollars in gold, and collect
ing and discussing in gold and currency
every year an amount equal to more than
hllt the entire circulating medium re-
quired by the business of the country,
with credit based upon coRtinent,
and supported by the patriotism and in
terest of the whole population, would |
not long since have furnished the cur
rency direct, making the profit on circu- |
lation n common benefit, and have made |
its exchangeable value equal to gold? |
The people themselves are entitled to |
whatever profit there is from the circu-
lation of bills or money, which could
have no value but for the credit given by
them, and for whose redemption their
own bonds are pledged. The problem is
not a difficult one, but its practical solu-
tion has never been earnestly attempted.
Ii any banking house enjoyed the. credit,
commanded the resources and handled
the money the Government does, it
would find no difficulty in making its
bills of par value with gold. Whenever
any financial policy is proposed, it is
Wall street that is heard. First, be-
cause Wall street, having special inter-
est, will speak; second, because we are
apt to concede that Wall street, having
made this subject speciality, has right |
to determine. In truth, the Wall street |
interests should bear about the same re- |
lation to the industrial pursuits of the !
country that the hands on the dial do to |
the machinery Of a watch. If the main |
spring and wheels are right, you can |
easily adjust the hands to register the |
movement. Our tariff represents no |
general principal or policy. either OF
protection incidental protection"
or revenue only" but is a patchwork |
clearly disclosing just how far each spe-
elal interest seeking protection was able
to make itself heard.
POWER OF SPECIAL FRANCHISE.
In some districts where irrigation is
now regarded as the only assurance of a
good crop of grain, deep plowing and
summer-fallowing might prove cheaper,
more healthful, and about as successful.
This can be determined by careful exper-
iments and collection of facts. 1t will
certainly be public calamity if, under
The operation of State laws, the sources
OF the supply OF water necessary for irri-
CATION should pass into the possession of
private parties. The mere statement of
the possibility of water monopoly is a
stigma upon our law. Whoever has lived
IN the mines must have observed that the
ditch owners could own the mines if thew
desiredto The unrestricted control of the |
waters necessary for irrigation would
confer the same power over lands.
Ii general system of irrigation should
be projected, the work to be constructed
and managed by the State. it is possible |
that great deal of work would be done
which would prove unnecessary and un.
profitable; some portions of the State
would be taxed for improvements in |
which they had no interest, and the min |
ing districts, to which water is as essen. |
tial as to the farming, would have IA right
10 demand that the system should be ex-
tended to them.
Is it not possible to divide the State
INTO irrigation districts, allowing each to
determine the question for itself. and |
giving to each acre vested right to its
pro rata OF the water supply, aud confer
ring upon each district the power to con-
uemn the water rights which are neces.
sary for its own irrigation?
:, another question in connection with |
TINS subject, will be the practicability of
using the same canals for purposes of
irrigation and transportation.
EIGHTEEN BILLroNs OF DEBT.
have referred to the comparative
overgrowth of cities. One of the OBJ
Jects, | observe, of the Oranges is to
simplify the machinery of exchange, to
dispense with the middle-men as far as
practicable, and bring producers and
consumers more nearly together. In
me degree in which they shall proceed
III TINS, they will check one of the tend
-; n1'es towards the concentration of cap |
itai and population. This increase Of
Guy population and the aggregation OF
SSapitai Is not confined to the United !
states, but is common to the civilized
world. London is growing more rapidly
,han ever before, and the growth OF Ber-
IN IN the past few years is as great
marvel as that of Chicago. The causes
must be sought in principles Of universal
operation. At one period of the worlds
history men gathered in cities, walled
towns, Tor mutual protection. At an
other, cities were great political capitals.
iaw-Rivers, in fact, making vast provin-
ces and distant countries tributaries to
snelr wealth and power by conquest.
NOW cities attain their importance US the
centers and capitals Of money, manufac.
lures and commerce. Think for one
mo ,nolnent how vastly their importance as
mere money centers has been increased
ny the lntrOduCtiou ~ ,,ok;noot f,,uIol