Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-03-29
LINCOLN COUNTY.

the counties 10 the Eastern portion of
the State. The county is bankrupt.
Its debt has accumulated until 1t has
reached nearly halt million OF dollars.
II has no longer county government
worthy OF the name. Its prison doors
have been thrown open, and the prison.
ers permitted to enjoy the fresh air. Its
INDECENT sick and county paupers are
now supported from money contributed
by private philanthropists. It's county
officers are legislated out OF Office by the
force of circumstances. The Board Of
Commissioners have decided not to levy
any State or county taxes this year and
will soon retire from office. Until with
In day or two We have pitied Lincoln
county people. II half Of what has been
related to us is trus the county is no
object OF compassion. We have been
told that in the administration of affairs
out there highway robbery has been per-
petrated for years. For instance in the
building Of their court house the contract
price was about $4,000. The CON-
missioners allowed extras to the amount
of over $4,000. For two small desks,
$500; portico, 81, 500; clerks desk. ! 81 900,
and SO on in proportion. To such rob-
berry can be attributed the present con.
dition Of that county. We doubt If
more reckless waste was ever permitted.
A people who would permit such off,
Gals to live have no right to ask relief OF
any kind or from auybody.-[ Rsno
journal.
II is IN old saying that you must go
away from home to hear news. The
dolorous intelligence contained in the
above extract we Hnd in the Reno Journal
and affords the unwelcome tidings, that
the financial condition Of Lincoln
county is much worse than We thought
It was. Since the spring OF 1873, we
have endeavored to keep pretty well
acquainted with the condition of county
affairs, but il the statement of the Reno
Journal is correct. VIC have signally
failed. In the first place then, since tho
commencement OF 1873. the affairs Of
this county have been administered by
two boards OF County Commissioners,
who We believe, have tried to do their
duty SO far as they knew how. Doubt
less they may have and did make mis-
takes. bat when they fell into error IL
was without any intention of wrong
doing. We further believe that tho
m members OF both boards, never acted
with any corrupt motive, or desired any
personal or pecuniary benefit from their
official proceedings. So much for the
fraud and corruption part of the bust
ness. As to the county being bankrupt.
If being unable to pay its debts implies
condition of bankruptcy, then we ex-
pect that Lincoln county as mu-
nicipal corporation, is in that undesir-
able situation. 1t must however be re-
membered, that this county is u very
extensive one, is extremely rich In lis
mineral and agricultural resources and
only needs breathing spsll to
come out all right. Since the COM
mencement Of 1873. the mining in
terests OF this county have suffered from
great depression. which was entirely
abnormal and unjustifed by the develop.
ments of the metallic wealth that is
stored within the mountains of this dis.
trict and county. This check was caused
first by litigation, next by the panic OF
1873. which injured the business Of all
characters throughout the country.
From the effects of that monetary revul-
sion the country at large is yet suffering,
and Lincoln county mining operations
had to take their share as vel! as the
rest. Next we find that the glamour,
glare and glitter which surround the
great Comstock bonanza mines, have
worked seriously to the detriment OF the
mines situate in other parts Of the State.
When men read daily of the hundreds OF
thousands, the millions of dollars being
produced from those mines. OF fine bull
lion being exported by the ton and score
of tons, they turn a cold ear to modest
tale Of few hundreds or thousands per
week or month. They want bonanzas
as we'll as Mackey and Fair, consequently
any location situate within the region Of
the Comstock will command greater at
tention than the mines of this district
though the latter have produced many
millions and are still exporting bullion
in large quantities. Again the tempo
rary stoppage OF the Bank Of California
and the Virginia fire have operated most
disastrously for Phoebe. The principa
owners in our mines have suffered Sc
verely by those calamities, which thus
react upon this community. The debt
Of this county, all told, is not nearly
half million OF dollars, but $3.50. 000
Whoever told the Reno Journal that in
the administration of the affairs of this
county highway robbery has been perpe-
trated for years knew nothing about it
1t is true courthouse was built at ex.
travagant rates, but that was in the flush
times Of 1871 and 1872, when the rev.
enue from the mining tax was very large
and appeared to be permanent. Since
then the administration which took office
in 1873 we believe has done what its
members thought was best for the
county's interests. There have been two
Boards of County Commissioners in
Office since that date. the members Of
which we believe have all been actuated
by the best motives and only sought &c
promote the best interests OF the county
The present trouble is caused by th,
owners of the bonds issued in 1873 desir
ing to appropriate the proceeds Of the In
terest Fund and also the General Count,
e. & A. T..