Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-21

FRIDAY. MARCH Il. 1879
rmE TOWN GOVERNMENT Law.
We publish In the local columns Of this
issue Of the SENTINEL q certified copy Of
the Act for the government Of unincor-
porsted towns. The law was framed in
the hurry and confusion Of the last days
Of the session. and may not, therefore, be
perfect in all respects; but we imagine that
the general idea Of the bill will DO sp-
proved a. correct. After trial. it can be
amended by future Legislatures.
There arc towns In this State which are too
large to take care Of themselves, without
some recognised head, and too small to
stand the expenses Of a regularly organized
municipal government. Eureka, in u
Judgment, comes within this category.
A city government, no matter how well
guarded, or cheaply constructed, must
necessarily entail . cost approximating
ts,O0O per annum for official salaries alone.
Under the usual form Of city government,
this sum must be raised from the tax
payers, for the payment Of town officials.
before one dime can be expended on the
streets, or for other beneficial purposes.
All Of this is avoided. under the law TO
which We are calling attention. The $4,000
required to pay officers, under a city gov
eminent. may now b expended. when
raised, for the direct benefit Of the town.
The police regulations are left where they
formerly belonged-with the county and
township authorities.
1t will be observed that the chief powers
conferred upon the Commissioners by the
Act, are those relating to streets and side
walks, the sanitary condition Of the town,
the abatement Of nuisances, and q more
thorough and efficient organization OF the
hrs department. More than this could
not we'll have been accomplish
cd, even though we had taken
upon ourselves the most expensive
style Of city government in ex-
istence anywhere. Hence, we. feel war;
ranted in saying that the objects sought to
be attained through the medium Of this
unpretending town bill are ~commendable
and good, and deserve to be given . fair
trial by the people Of Eureka.
A petition comprising a majority Of the
taxpayers representing . majority of the
taxable property is necessary to put the
law in force. Fifteen days notice Of inten-
ton to present such petition to the Board
must be filed with the County Clerk, and
published at least once in some newspaper,
signed by Ave responsible tax payers. This
provision Of the law was inserted to place
everybody on notice, and thereby prevent
any kind or character Of snap judgment.
A tax levy Of one-quarter Of n per cent.
IL provided for. The Commissioners meet
on the seventh day Of next month to levy
al taxes for the current year. 1t is there
fore apparent that if the Town Government
law Is to be given . trial in Eureka the
present year, steps should be taken at once
10 put it in operation. The filing Of the
notice with the Clerk is the first thing in
order, to be followed by the taxpayers
petition. There 10 Just about time enough,
and none to spare. to complete the whole
matter by the meeting Of the Board in
April. Who is there that takes sufficient
interest in the welfare of the town to move
in the premises at to-day? The
SENTINEL stands ready to cooperate in
n way it can in the undertaking. Let us
give the new law q fair test, and see il we
cannot get rid Of some Of the filth which
disgraces our otherwise attractive town.
THE RUSSIAN PLAGUE.
Notwithstanding the reports to the con-
trary, it ia evident, from the extraordinary
taken by the Russian Govern
ment, that the plague is more virulent,
snd Is gaining ground more rapidly than
the Official reports demonstrate. A mill
tary Gordon equal in strength to the army
Of the United States surrounds the infected
districts, cutting of all intercourse with
the rest Of the Empire. Unfortunately,
the Cossacks, among whom it first broke
cut, panic struck by the suddenness Of the
invasion, and its great fatality, fed into
the steppes, carrying with them the seeds
Of the disease. In all probability they
have infected the nomadic tribes with the
oontagion. Should the epidemic reach
Odessa, or any other Black Sea port. it
may be carried into every port of Europe.
The extensive m Of Russia in grain
with Western Europe increases the chances
u : general dissemination Of the scourge.
The cattle trade Of Russia, Is well as the
general internal trade, has come to q stand
still.
Both Austria and Germany are isolating
from inland intercourse with
the Russian cities. The cessation Of the
grain trade would be . calamity Of no ordi-
nary magnitude. for Russia Is mi Of the
chief sources Of supply for the west Of
Europe, as it is the region whence
is the largest export Of beeves
to tho heart Of the Continent. The
uenctoucy An tuoso two imPofsahs
Of subsistence will have TO be
made up from this country. Our ability
10 meet this extra demand depends on
Dur own exemption from the scourge that
now threatens to sweep all over Europe. No
time is to be lost in taking the necessary
precautions. The health Of the nation, as
- our commercial interests, are at
stake. Thus far nothing has been done,
from the belief that the ocean
IOrms an in~surmountable obstacle 10 the
extension Of the epidemic to this side Of
he globe. This may be q fatal mistake.
rhe great plague Of London Of 1865 was
,aused by wooden stufs imported fr'm