Wadsworth semi-weekly dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-07-26
An OPEN LETTER.
To the Taxpayers of Churchill
County.
My DEAR SIR:

q movement on foot to remove the
county seat OF this county from Still
water to Fallon. You, as a taxpayer
Of the county, will probably be presented
with a petition drawn up by some at
torney, for your signature, by which the
authority for and your legal consent 10
such removal will be obtained.
This letter is written and addressed
to you with the intention Of making you
familiar with the facts in the case. that
you realize the Importance and serious
consequences Of the step you are taking
in signing said petition.
In the first place the county buildings
and public property at Saltwater were
never in as fine order as they are at
present, and are ample to accommo-
date all the public business. The
court house has recently been painted
throughout and renovated at a cost OF
about $3.50 to the taxpayers. The
public business is honestly conducted
and at a very low expense. For in
stance, the County Recorder paid in
fees to the county treasury on Jan. l..
Sl59.6o and his salary was $50 for
the corresponding period.
Now. my dear sir. it has always
been the pride and boast Of the older
residents Of our county that Its affairs
have been economically administered.
that the taxes we're low. and, above all.
that II always paid cash and was with
out Indebtedness. To secure and re-
tain these advantages. many good citi-
zens will now bear witness. has been
owing to the unselfish policy pursued
by those in authority. regardless OF po-
litical creed or principle.
should like to ask you In alexander.
what has occurred to change all these
time honored customsp Has the vol
ume OF business increased. or any
boom of prosperity struck us that would
make It necessary to incur this ex-
pense1 Such Is not the case and |
urge you to investigate the truth Of
these matters before signing said petit
ton. E
Let US look into the matter In detail.
This county has an annual revenue for
county purposes Of about $4,000 per
year. Gin 1900 $8,l77.47.) The
yearly salaries Of county officers
amount to $500. leaving about S4.-
200 available for county purposes. BY
signing this petition we propose to in
cur an additional expense which a
easily be reckoned in the thousands
and must be met with cash payment
or its equivalent.
1t the first place the petition asks
fer a special election. Now the special
election held in 1889 on the lottery
law cost the county $3.50 and a special
election would cost more at the pres
eDt day.
think any candid citizen will agree
with me that $4,000 is a very moder-
ate estimate Of the cost Of a suitable
court house and buildings. 1t GER
family would not equal the cost Of the
present property at Saltwater. The
funds for this additional expense the
taxpayer must furnish and by him only
can ii legally be paid, as money given
IN such a cause. in the way Of yolun-
tary contributions or otherwise to be
applied 10 this purpose are in the ma
tire Of a bribe, expressly forbidden by
the statute. and no county commission
err or other public officer would ever
dare accept them and apply them to
this purpose, for iesr Of being prose
cuied under the law OF the State.
Now, my dear sir, | would like to
1nfgrm you Of another reason why the