Year: 1860

| HOPE FARM, TP. No 8. PLACER COUNTY,
June 18th, 1860. (
| Friend Steele: AS my name has been intro
duced to the public by an anonymous correspon-
dent. through the columns of your paper, in con-
necton with those whom you allege are guilty OF
fraud and corruption, trust you will grant me
the favor of defining my position through the
same channel


plead guilty to the impeachment of being in
favor Of the County of Placer rendering all the
assistance to the Railroads and Wagon Roads
which the enabling Act provides she mny do; and
that with my present convictions of its general
utility shall vote for it; because l believe will
be benefited thereby, and because believe that
every property holder. rs we'll as each producer
and consumer will be benefited. For by the
construction of two Railroads through this coun-
ty, and a good wagon rad over the mountains,
the price of ghts will be dimin shed, travelling
expenses decreased, and the general facilities OF
market greatly enhanced By the construction OF
n Railroad to Auburn freights to Forest Hill will
be reduced nearly one hal and the travelling fare
from Forest Hill to Sacramento at least one third
so every inhabtant of this Divide would reap
some small advantage. Now, sir. what great evil
have you shown to result from this measure TO
Offset against this benefit to all the consumers as
wei rs property holders. You say, an increase
of taxation must necessarily follow. Sir, can
two Railroads, be built throu the entire breadth
Of this county, and good Wagon Road over the
mountains to Washoe, without bringing in their





ut the rates we are now paying so on the SlOO
vuluaton) will yield revenue to the county of
100000. while the interest on the Sl50,000 Of
Bonds will only he $4,000. Thus at the present
rate of taxation, $4,000 of surplus revenue would
find its way into the County Treasury from Rail-
road property alone-this is plain proposition


Say we are paying two per cent. taxes on GER
tain amount of property this year for the support
of government and in n year or two by an influx
of capital for internal improvement, commercial
mechanical or agricultural purposes, subject to
taxation the same as that which was previously
here, it necessarily must decrease the per cent Of
taxation on what was here one-halt.


And the stock held by the county will draw the
same dividends as that of any other stock holder,
say one per cent. per month. which would be an
additional source of revenue, and would further
tend to the reduction of taxes


If the enterprise will warrant capitalists in
investing their money to large amount, it is
apparent that the county Of Placer will incur no
great risk by exchanging County Bonds at their
face for stock in the said roads to the amount OF
Sl25, 900, while the other stockholders will have
| to expend several millions of cash capital to en-
trely complete the roads.


The only object Of the measure is to satisfy cap.
italists that the people Of Placer county have con.
fidence in the stock Of the roadsfor the Sl25 600
is not drop in the bucket towards the completion
of the roads; aud it is an unheurd thing for cupi
talists to build II Railroad unless the people along
the line, Individually or by counties will take
some portion OF the stock. Therefore, should the
voters of Placer county say No, to this PROPOSE.
tian, they will efectually stop the progress OF
Railroads in this county as they would nuns
rcath if they were to hang him him eight and
forty hours; for capitalists would rebuff the solic
tol for aid by saying that the people of Pacer
county have but little confidence in the roads
when they declare 10y their votes that they are not
willing to exchange county bonds for stock not
withs.anding the expenditure of millions upon
the roads. The argument that th' appropriation
will increase taxation is equivalent to telling cap
italists that all the money they invest |" Rel-
roads in Placer county is sunk beyond recovery.


do not believe that the working men of Pin.
Ger county can be induced to cast vote that will
shut out millions of capital--the most OF which
will be paiu Tor labor, and greatly increase the
demand tor laborers,--unless you can show that 1t
will bring with it some great evil, which up to
this time you have utterly failed to do. In fact
you have not attempted to show that any man
will be injured save by taxation to meet the pay
ment OF the bonds, which the facts show to be
untenable


Again you say the appropriation is not equit-
ably apportoned; for it gives $l25.OOO to the
lower end of the county, for Railroads and to the
upper end of the county, for Wagon Roads, only
S25 900. Now, it is IL sefevident fact that
S25 600 will go further toward the completion Of
two wagon roads ov the mountains, than Sl25,-
900 will toward the completion Of two Railroads
through the lower end of the county; 20, if there
| Is CAUSE Vi COupialHL, ~ Is VIII 'uSui, uuu NV
with you. think, that with your notions Of
equity if you had framed the bill it would have
been far more one-sided than it is now


The only remaining argument which you use
against the appropriation is that it was attained
by fraud, trckery, and corruption. In reply to
this. | say it makes no difference what means were
used in obtaining the passage of the bill, for tbs
now a law, and the only inquiry to be made rea-
tive to it is, will its adoption be beneficial OF not
to the people of this county. If its adoption will
be a general benefit in which all will participate
to some extent. then am for it, but if it will
open u Pandora box of evils. which will be inju-
rous to all, then it should be rejected. So that
all you have to do to have my vote recorded
against it, is to present some good evidence that
a considerable portion of the people Of the coun
ty will be materially injured by it. But sir, all
your outcry about fraud and corruption. in tho
passage of the bill is thrown away, while it is
clearly evident that nothing but good will result
from its adoption by the people.


You say you want n Company to build the Wa
gon road!- subjecting every man, animal. and We
hicle to pay toll; but assure you the people want
a free road such as this bill provides for, so you
must change your policy or you will be left alone
at the polls. Yours respectfully.


JNO. NELSON SMITH.


A FLouRIsHING CouSTY.--P acer county
is said to be in better condition financial.
l. H. 9Th in ho TOT