Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1903-01-24
BELMONT TO TONOPAH.

There is an imperative call Tor
timely action on the part of the legis-
lative power of Nevada in the matter
of placing the seat of government of
Nye county where, in obedience to
the law of the greatest good to the
greatest number, it unquestionably
belongs. The public necessity for
transferring official business from
Belmont to Tonopah is fully recog-
nized and the demand for such change
is practically unanimous.
There is neither sentiment or poll
ties in the proposition. 1t is a purely
business transaction, arising from
the vast increase of property inter-
ests and population of the county.
The population of Tonopah is closely
calculated to be 1000; that of Bel
mont one-half of one hundred. Out
side of both, the number of people in
the county does not exceed 800 For
long years about the latter number
of citizens titfully struggled to main
tain county government in quag-
mire of debt. The revenue sources
of Tonopah in two tax levies, and
practically within the term of one
fiscal year-from July to July--have
nearly liquidatnd the old Indebtedness
of about $4,000, so that auditors
warrants have risen from nothing to
their face value. This fact of itself
tells the story. Here is where the
values lie, the place of production,
the center of population and where
official business must be conducted
The principal county officers must,
and do remain here in pursuance of
official duty, while they are compelled
to maintain deputies at the isolated
and distant locality where the law
now places the courts, archives and
records. 1t is, of course, well under
stood that Tonopah is long ways
from the geographical center of Nye
county--a domain comprising 20, 900
square miles of territory. Neither
is the capital of the United States
placed in the middle of Missouri on
account of that point being central.
lu time there may be found and
developed an agricultural center
classed as permanent" if so, there
will be no hindrance to its becoming
the seat of new county, leaving the
farming interests to pay their own
expenses. At present, in many local
tiles OF Nye, 100 acres of land is
worth for taxation purposes exactly
sl6O; lots 30x100 in Tonopah are set
down at $500. The largest outside
mercantile establishment in the out
side districts pays no more license
than Tonopah cigar stand.
Financially, it is certain that seven
tenths of the future ltigants and
Jurymen of the whole county are resi-
dent here; that the time and money
needlessly lost in travelling to and
IRON the present county seat will in
two or three years aggregate more
than the cost of removal and estab-
llshment. On the score of the exas-
perating but unavoidable DELAYS Incl
dent to the maintenance of legal i
Titles, execution and record of con-
veyances, procurement of abstracts,
court orders and all that, the next !
years needless expense to business !
men and corporate interests will be i
ncalculable unless the change is
made. Tonopah is mining camp.
20 was Belmont, but Tonopah offers
nduhltable proof Of enormous and
asting wealth. 1t is the present 7
strenuous generation that must be t.
conserved "
On Wednesday next, in both houses y
u the current state assembly, will f
Ne introduced brief bill that covers N
he measure desired. Every posi-. 7
'le encouragement aud support must a. u
'e accorded to onr representatives ~ =,
ND all members of the legislature. W