The record-union., 1899-11-03

the complete business prostrat!on which
occurred in Placerville when the build
ing of the railroad was abandoned ana
the traffic to the Comstock mines ceas-
ed. The railroad had been completed
to Shingle Springs before the collapse,
and a freight depot about hundred
yards long was constructed to accom-
modate the heavy shipments. After
the withdrawal of the traffic, one little
corner of the great shed was sufficient
for the Frustrated local demand. The
station mile apart on the great stage
road were condensed to stations ten
miles apart. Brick buildings in Plac-
in erection were sold for as many hum
dreds.
The most active promoters Of the de-
funct railroad project left the county
for Dew fields of activity, and others
who could not do so made The best CT
deplorable condition and remained.
The City Government struggled on
for while, and tried to meet the pay
inents of interest on the bonded debt
which was the legacy of the injudicious
venture in railroading in opposition to
that master of the art, c. P. Hunting
ton. The people of the city mostly
unfam miliar with business methods and
the theory of corporations and stocks,
could not realize that they were real
ly insolvent owners in the railroad, but
claimed that they had been grievously
deceived and mistreated because the
railroad was never completed to Plac-
erville, that being the prime object
which they hoped to accomplish by the
subscription of the city to the capital
stock of the railroad company. The
value of property was low IN the town,
taxes were high, and under the circum-
stances this resentful feeling made the
people unwilling to attempt whar then
seemed like an almost impossible un-
dertaking-the redemption Of their out
standing bonds. 1t must be remembered
that Placerville was then considered ex-
clusively a mining town, and Califor-
mans of that day did not Look for
any rermanency in the existence of
mountain towns. They Wire not sure
hut what the town might be worth
ultimately much less than the princi-
pal OF the debt
At any rate the taxes ceased to be
levied for payment of interest on the
debt, and the bondholders ultimately
attempted to bring suit and enforce col
lection. 1t would have been better for
all # in those days a wise compro-
mise had been effected by reducing the
interest and extending the time :sll
the city could recover from its prostra-
ton Wisdom is not a distinguishing
characteristic of debtors and creditors,
however, and the latter in this case
pressed for payment. They tried TO
serve summons on the Mayor and
Council of the city. These officers
evaded service and for while they
held. but one meeting after their cleo
tion, in some secluded apartment safe
from the heartless minions of the law,
and then they Immediately re-
signed, to repeat the process after the
next yearly election. Their brief Of
fetal careers were haunted by the sus-
picion that every man they met was
liable to "serve papers on them. Fin
ally this unique method of conducting
a city government became too irksome
or hazardous for longer continuance.
and the city officers resigned permanent
ly in 1872 with an officer at their heels
with papers to serve, and the munich
ories of Sam Ensminger the famous
City Marshal, ceased to exist In the
language Of Drury Melone, who after
wards became the city's principal bond
holder and prosecutor, "The city Of
fcials took to the woods.
1t seems funny enough now to some
who participated in the esca pade, but 1t
was quite serious then under the dis
heartening conditions of the place.
With large debt, no revenues, and no
disposition among thepeople to establish
permanent residence or Improvement.
The men who officially lodged the serv-
ice were entirely honest as individuals
and have before and since maineained
characters of strict integrity. There
was no ability to pay at the time, no
compromise was offered, and they sim
ply took the shortest cut out CT a very
dangerous predicament.
Time passed and the debt grew. The
bondholders finally served a summons
on Philip Teare, the last Mayor Of the
city, after he had resigned and left
it. Thus getting into cour. they OBJ
tanned Judgment which was renewed
from time to time, till finally in a re-
cent judgment upon the Old debt, 1t lad
amounted to more than S2SO,00O Since
the hiatus of city officials twenty-seveu
years ago, efforts have from time to
time been made to compromise the debt,
but it has until 1899 been prevented,
scnie times by litigation among the
bcndholders, sometimes by dissensions
among the citizens of Placervilla
| During this period of nearly thirty
years the citizens of Placerville pursued
the anarchistic tenor of their way
without any policeman, poundmaster
or other government, while the bond
holders occasionally fired at long range
a few volleys of invective or introduced
mysterious legislation supposed to be
aimed at the city, which persisted in
maintaining a comfortable existence
without anything that smacked of San
F'rancisco's reign of the boss political
During this interesting period the peo-
pie of the mountain town have become
so firmly attached to the liberty and
safety which arise out of the non-ex-
istence of toll levying policemen, bribe
taking aldermen and other municipal
curses which give the worst anarchist
the best excuse for bowling, that they
are averse to reorganizing the city and
intend to do SO only because they
could get rid of the old bonded indebt-
edness in no other way
The bonds were purchased in San
Francisco a short time ago by a COM
mittee of citizens appointed for that
purpose and are now owned by resi-
dents Of Placerville. Although the
a 5aI t%aH 11~