The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-12-17
THE SILVER QUESTION.

the single standard and opposes the
reconciliation of silver, condescends to
give its reasons for advocating meas
ure that would injure the great indus
try Of Nevada. 1t draws it's inspira-
ton from John Sherman and Eastern
journals, which take the money lend
er's view of the silver question, and
wants as much silver put into dollar
as can be bought with gold dollar in
tho London market. 1t forgets that
there is more silver In United States
coins to-day, in proportion to their cur
rent value, than in English or German
coins. 1t also overlooks the fact that
before the passage. of the Act of Con-
gress of 1873, demonetizing silver,
silver bullion. sold in the San Francisco
market at from one to three per cent.
premium. Would the Gazette, had it
been in existence at that time, demand
that several more grains of gold be put
into eagles and double eagles, to make
them equal to their nominal value in
silver? Ii the Gazette's suggestions to-
increase the weight of the silver dollar,
by putting as many grains of silver into
the coin as could be purchased with
gold dollar in Ls.ndon, should be car
'ried' into effect, there would have to be-
new. dies used, in. the. Mint weekly, to,
make che dollar conforrr in weight to,
the fluctuations in the price of bullion.
Then dollars coined one month when
bullion was low, would command pre-
MUM the next month, when the price
advanced, and instead of dollar with.
a standard value, the coin would be
like piece of metal, worth. 90 cents
one day and perhaps los cents the day
following. The Gazette does not seem
to understand that silver for ages
throughout the civilized world
had a fixed value, aud that
the people of Nevada, whose pros
perity is almost wholly dependent on
silver mining, should, be the last in the
world to urge that it be placed in the.
same category as lead and iron, and,
have. its value regulated by metal
dealers. The Gazette, is probably aware
that, the iron, coal and nickel mines of
the United States are protected by
high tariff, yet it makes no complaint.
on that account, though continually
grumbling, because silver dollar, made.
from the product of the mines, whose,
success makes its existence possible,
does not contain more silver than, Euro
pean coins of similar value.
But, the Gazette says it has never
been accused of treachery to the hay
interest, though it never recommended
farmers to sell eighteed hundred pounds.
Of hay for ton. That may be the,
fact, but if it should denounce the
alfalfa raisers of Truckee Meadows and.
Washoe Valley, as thieves and cheats,
because they do not sell hay at San,
Jose prices. in accordance with the,
wishes of California cattle buyers, its
course would be no more inconsistent
than it is now OH, the, silver question.
Let the Gazette. attempt to depreciate'
the'value of the agricultural products
of Washoe Valley. as it now does the
product of the mines of the Washoe,
Mountains, and sea- if the hay makers
will not accuse it Of treachery to their
interests, if they do not do so at pres,
cnt, as every intelligent farmer must,
know that the mines furnish him with,
d market for his products. Nevada,
farmers must find home market for,
their products or abandon the business,
rs they cannot make a. living if com.
PEELED to compete with California in the
West, nor with Utah in the East, and
their only hope for that market is in
the mines, tits therefore. the duty of
the Gazette, in the intereat of its pa
irons, many of whom, it says, are farm
or, to encourage the development of
the mines and increase the value of sill.
yer by every meaas.in its power.
a