USA > California > Amador County > History of Amador County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 25
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The returns showed the following result: A. H. Rose, 1,342; O. H. Morse, 1,099.
H. Lee, the member from Alpine county, was killed some months after by being thrown from a buggy.
Miner Frink's seat was contested by A. C. Brown, who received but two or three votes less in the elec- tion than Frink. Brown proved that two or three illegal votes were cast for Frink, and obtained the seat.
Frink afterward got a position in the office of Internal Revenue, but a year or two later, was found dead in his bed at the hotel, in San Francisco.
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
The tax levy for 1865 was-
For State purposes on each $100 .$1 15
General Fund
66
1 00
Amador Wagon Road
40
Hospital Fund 66
66
25
School Fund 16
6.
30
Redemption Road Fund "
10-$3.20
In February, the outstanding warrants were reported as being-
On General Fund. $74,308.18
Hospital Fund. 11,619.71
Wagon Road Fund.
9,918.55
Redemption Fund. 185.27-$96.031.71
This did not include interest which was then accu- mulating at the rate of about ten thousand dollars per year, which would have carried the debt up to about one hundred and thirty thousand dollars.
This season the famous warrant, No. 103, was liquidated, the balance due being $7,556.16.
REPORT OF AN EXPERT, 1865.
E. G. Hunt was appointed to examine the state of the finances, and reported receipts from all sources, from March, 1864, to December, 1865, as follows :-
Credited to General Fund. $61,907.48
State
58,751.63
School 66
17,643.39
66 Hospital
10,905.04
66 Road
3,328.28
66 Sierra W. R. 13,906.57-$166,442.39
Taxes assessed in 1864 amounted to $75,753.20; delinquent, $15,072.26; making a net of $60,680.94.
CHAPTER XXII.
END OF THE SECOND DECADE.
Politics in 1866-Financial Matters-Rabolt Declarcd Ineligible to the Office of Treasurer, and Otto Walther Appointed- Political Parties in 1867-New Registry Law-Election Returns Showing the New Precincts-Judiciary Election- Financial Matters-Financial Matters in 1868-Contest for Supervisor in the First District-Ingalls Declared Unseated -Carroll Installed-Act of the Legislature in Reference Thereto-Wealth and Population-Political Parties in 1868, -Election Returns by Precincts-Politics in 1869-Election Returns by Precincts.
THE year 1866 opened with little attention to politics. No elections occurring this season, the strife was over the far away subjects of reconstruc- tion, taxing bonds, and negro suffrage, which did not immediately concern the people.
June 2d, the Treasurer reported outstanding war- rants as follows :-
108
HISTORY OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
On General Fund. .$83,343.93
Hospital Fund. 13,342.40
Road Fund . 3,569.31
To this must be added the bonds of the Sierra Nevada Wagon Road, amount- ing to ..
6,000.00-$106.255.64
This does not include interest, which, since 1863, has been steadily accumulating, at the rare of ten thousand dollars yearly.
December 1st, the outstanding warrants were reported as-
On General Fund.
.$92,229.30
Wagon Road Fund ... 4,860.86
Hospital Fund .. 14,698.00-$111,788.16
No mention made of interest.
The assessment roll was reported at $1,874,817.75; taxes on samc, $58,685.70.
L. Rabolt, who had been elected Treasurer the previous season, was declared incligible to the posi- tion, on the ground that he was not a citizen; and the office being vacant, Otto Walther was appointed to fill it.
POLITICAL PARTIES IN 1867.
The election of State and county officers, as well as members of Congress, caused the politicians to set their standards early in the field.
H. H. Haight was nominated for Governor by the Democrats, and George C. Gorham, by the Republicans. Higby and Coffroth, both representa- tive men from the mines, werc put forth by the Republicans and Democrats respectively, for Con- gress. The failure to impeach Andrew Johnson, which project was a Republican measure, had given the Democrats courage everywhere in the county, State, and nation. The Democrats had, to some extent, adopted his financial views about the pay- ment, or rather, non-payment of the national debt; and the traveling orators, including Farley and Cof- froth, roundly asserted, not only the right, but the expediency of taxing national bonds, while Edger- ton, and other Republican speakers, as roundly denied it, and referred to numerous decisions of the Supreme Court, establishing the non-taxability of national securities. The bitterness of war times was evidently passing away. The discussion of financial questions involved figures rather than feel- ings; and not every one was capable of entering into the spirit of large numbers. Bloated bond- holders and prospective negro suffrage, all could understand, and a general interest, rather than the intense bitterness of former years, marked the cam- paign.
The following table will show the relative strength of the parties, and the names of the new polling places under the registration law, which, though somewhat difficult to put into operation, worked to the general satisfaction of the public. Under the old form of election, any out-of-the-way place could get up a precinct. A poll list was kept, it is true, but so loosely, that a man might vote in several places, or several times a day, without detection. Unnaturalized foreigners were voted in some places,
by the dozens. Men were chosen for judges and inspectors, who could hardly read; and it was pos- sible to make up a general result only by condoning a multitude of mistakes and irregularities.
ELECTION RETURNS-1867.
OFFICES.
NAMES.
Jackson .. .
Ione ...
Volcano . . .
Forest Home.
Drytown. .
Fiddletown ..
Lancha Plana
Sutter.
Total .
Governor
Geo. C. Gorham, (R.) 236 124 237
31
96
89
42 220 1076
Licut. Governor
John P. Jones, (R.). . 252 137 245
35 96 105
46 230 1147
Congressmen
Wm. Higby, (R.) ..
260 135 248
33 90 105
46 225 1151
I. B. Gregory, (D.) ..
403 154 286
17
59 159
52 214 1336
Assemblymen.
Chas. D. Smith, (R.). 255
131 24S
42 113 106
41 229 1166
William Pearson, (R.) 249
132 245
35
100
95
42 213 1114
Geo. Durham, (D.) ..
397
143 282
20
71 158
53 199 1323
Sheriff.
Samuel Smith, (R.). . 259 141 253
32 98 110
37 246 11:8
County Clerk.
A. F. Northrop, (R.). 246 135 246
35 82 114
50 208|1111
Recorder
Ph. Seibenthaler, (R.) 267 155 296
36 102 129
50 223 1263
James Meehan, (D.) .. 366 154 294
flenry Ginnochio, (R.) 287 137 246
35
94
99
41 227 1146
. H. L. Waldo, (D.).
393 145 288
20
75 166
45 219 1352
District Attorney.
R. M. Briggs, (R.).
262 137 246
31
94 103
47 224 1143
j A. Specr, (D.). .
402 145 283
17 75 163
44 217 1349
{ Sam Loree, (R.).
250 134 248
35 96 107
46 228 1148
Chas. Boarman. (D.)
409 145 283
17
76 163
35 215 1342
Coroner
W. E. Fifield, (R.).
246 138 249
35
97 108
46 230 1148
Public Administ'r
G. L. Bradly, (R.).
282 134 215
35
96 105
47 280 1229
Supt. Schools
J. D. Mason, (R.).
253 147 241 35
96 106
49 22៛ 1155
The entire Democratie ticket was clected with the exception of Seibenthaler, for County Clerk, who was chosen by a small majority. It was currently reported, and believed by many, that Otto Walther, who became acting County Clerk, owed his election to a commercial transaction rather than to political preferences. If it was so, it was so quietly done that no member of a Grand Jury ever got an inkling of it.
The Collectors and Assessors for 1867 were-
Township No. 1-N. M. Bowman.
Township No. 2-J. W. Surface.
Township No. 3-J. Foster.
Township No. 4-Thomas Dunlap.
Township No. 5-J. T. Maffitt.
Township No. 6-F. L. Sullivan.
At the judiciary clection, J. Foot Turner, Repub- lican, was re-elected over J. T. Phelps, Democrat, by a large majority. This apparent change in the polit- ical cast of the vote was explained by the fact that Judge Turner never was an active politician, and was supported by persons of both parties.
FINANCIAL MATTERS IN 1867.
January, 1867, the reported outstanding warrants, over and above the funds on hand to meet them, was-
On General Fund. .$94,761 74
Hospital Fund . .13,691 53-$108,453 27
The Wagon Road Fund was $122.19 in excess of liability. This did not take into account the fifth bond which matured during the year, as the next report mentions it with the accrued interest, amount- ing to $5,510. In this estimate no mention is made of the interest which is steadily increasing.
409|147 280|
18
63 1616
45 214 |1308
Wm. Ilolden, (D.) .... 401 144 287
17 73 164
44 215 1345
J. W. Coffroth, (D.). . 397 143 286
17 73 164
44 224 1347
Geo. M. Payne, (Đ.). .
405 154 286
17
€4 164
47 229 1361
A. C. Hinkson, (D.) ..
411 142 286
17 85 163
40 237 1390
D. B. Spagnoli, (D.). . 390 125 236
16 61 138
40 220 1228
Treasurer.
74 169
51 218 1341
Surveyor.
W. A. Few, (D.)
367 144 291
1
75 164
45 16: 1256
S. G. Briggs, (D.)
403,134 291
17 74 168
45 217 1339
H. H. Ha ght, (D.) ..
RESIDENCE AND RANCH OF CAPT. M. J. LITTLE, JACKSON, AMADOR COUNTY, CAL.
UTH BRITTON & REY, J.F.
RESIDENCE OF R. C. DOWNS, SUTTER CREEK, AMADOR COUNTY, CAL.
109
END OF THE SECOND DECADE.
TAX RATE FOR 1867.
For State Fund, on each $100. $1 13
General Fund "
1 00
Wagon Road Fund
30
Hospital Fund
25
School Fund 66
35
In March the total indebtedness, exclusive of inter- est, was reported at $84,110.01. How it was reduced $24,000 since January does not appear.
March 12, 1867, John Burke, Collector of Town- ship No. 1, was declared defaulter to the amount of nine hundred and eighty-three dollars, by A. C. Hinkson, County Auditor, for which act, as well as other improper transactions, he was removed, and J. M. Griffith appointed in his place. Among other things, Burke was charged with making out receipts with pencil, and collecting money thereon, and afterwards procuring the receipts again for a trifle, erasing the name and amount, and using them again, or return- ing them to the Board of Supervisors as unused.
FINANCIAL MATTERS IN 1868.
Rate of taxes for State purposes on each $100. . .$1.00
General Fund,
60
Hospital Fund, 66 66
...
25
School Fund,
35-$2.20
March 3d, the outstanding warrants were General Fund. $$7,074.97
Hospital Fund. 11.403.20-$98,478.17 Exclusive of interest !!
The Supervisors making this report were C. In- galls, L. McLaine and D. M. Goff. James Carroll was afterward declared by Judge Brockway entitled to the seat occupied by C. Ingalls for nearly three years. Many rumors were in circulation of a bar- gain between Carroll and Ingalls, that the latter should allow himself to be ousted that the former might draw a salary for the whole term; at any rate, Carroll presented a bill for $1,665.50, salary for the full term, which was allowed by the Supervisors, but payment was stopped by means of an injunction served on the Treasurer by District Attorney Waldo. In 1872 the Legislature ordered the Supervisors of Amador county to draw a warrant for $1,050 as back salary, H. Waldo, John Eagon, and J. T. Farley being members for Amador county. Since the allow- ance was made by the Supervisors, lines in ink have been drawn through the minutes as if for erasure. Carroll took his seat July 6th; the allowance was made August 3d, following.
THE WEALTH AND POPULATION
According to reports were as follows: Real estate, $962,284; improvements, $247,549; personal property, $527,625; total, $1,737,458. Population, 11,400; registered votes, 2,552.
POLITICAL PARTIES IN 1868.
There being no local officers to elect, this was the off year in politics. The county officers, securely fixed in their seats for a year, rested serenely on their comfortable salaries. Some of the politicians and orators, scenting places in the Custom House or office of internal revenue, put on their armor, loaded their
mental guns with the heaviest shot, and plunged into the thickest of the fight, making a great smoke and noise whether they hit anybody or not.
The State had been divided into Congressional Districts so that but a single Congressman was to be voted for. Coffroth and Sargent, Democratic and Republican candidates respectively, stumped the dis- tricts, taking Amador county in their course. The questions of payment of the national debt, the taxa- tion of the bonds, and the reconstruction of the Southern States, again came before the people. Grant, the Republican nominee for President, was reviewed, and, as was to be expected, was bitterly assailed and as warmly defended. The danger of electing soldiers to office was held up to view. Many professed to believe that he would, with the aid of the army, make himself Emperor; that in case he was elected he would be the last President the United States would ever have; that in a short time we should have an order of hereditary nobility estab- lished. Others professed to think Grant only a lucky fool, who would be the tool of designing politicians; that he was not much of a General anyhow; that Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Logan and others whipped the Rebellion. On the other hand Seymour was represented as heartless, treacherous and un- worthy. The microscope was turned on him and every possible mistake of his life magnified into a monstrous crime. His treatment of the New York rioters at the time of the draft was made construc- tive treason. "Ile ought to have turned loose the dogs of war on the rioters; ought never to have addressed them calling them his friends." Illustrated editions of the New York riots in which brutal Irish- men were slaying defenseless negro orphan children were everywhere circulated; in short, the old, old stories, told every year from the time of Jefferson down, were brought out, colored and re-shaped to suit the times and persons, so that they were almost as good as new. Strangers to our country and its style of conducting a campaign, whether national or local, would imagine that we were on the eve of
ELECTION RETURNS BY PRECINCTS IN 1868.
PRECINCTS.
SEYMOUR -
GRANT - - -
COFFROTHI-
SARGENT -
Jackson
320
236
320
223
Ione City
142
127
142
157
Lancha Plana
42
49
12
49
Clinton
70
23
72
21
Volcano
246
222
247
221
Fiddletown
91
81
92
81
Enterprise
5-1
28
133
188
Amador
42
48
41
48
Drytown
62
64
62
64
Forest Home
16
42
16
42
Total
1223 1098 1221 1112
Democratic majority.
125
110
28
Sutter Creek
138
188
110
HISTORY OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
anarchy, a general breaking up of all order and indus- trics; but the elections pass away, the people, satisfied with masquerading, return to their avocations and prosperity continues.
POLITICAL PARTIES IN 1869.
A full set of county officers to be elected, set things to going carly. The interest was the most intense in the Democratic party as being the most likely to win, though much of the work was given to obtaining the nominations.
The railroad question began to be agitated this year, the question of regulating farcs and freights having become an element in politics. To what extent, if any, candidates were supplied with the material for making a successful campaign, by pledging them- selves, will always be a matter of mystery. The Democrats, as usual, elected their whole ticket. It will be observed that the township system was. discontinued, a County Assessor and Collector being chosen.
ELECTION OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, 1869.
Township No. 1-E. Turner, J. S. Campbell. Township No. 2-Charles Walker, William Shelby. Township No. 3-Louis Miller, Louis Ludiken. Township No. 4-C. K. Johnson, U. Nursc. Township No. 5-M. B. Church, C. D. Smith.
Township No. 6-E. R. Yates, F. Shearer.
ELECTION RETURNS-1869.
NAME.
Jackson .
Clinton ..
Ione City .
Lancha Plana
Volcano ..
Sutter Creek
Amador ...
Drytown.
Forest Home
Fiddletown .
Enterprise.
Total ..
STATE SENATOR.
J. T. Farley, (D.).
314
78 125
39 225 194
49
49
9
59
22 815
ASSEMBLYMEN.
A. C. Brown, (D.).
293
77 122
39 203 165 43
23
7
75
35 1082
J. M. Johnson, (D.).
291
72 124
36 218 188
46
44
7
$1
44
1151
Wm. Jennings
195
25 105
29 189
168
38
74
30
66
27
946
- Folger ..
178
20 104
28 182 147
38
48
30
58
21 854
Geo. Durham. (D.)
347
73 140
48 199 223
56
50
10
87
45 1278
-- Foster. (R.)
132
23
89
18 201 111
26
8
27
53
75
37 925
TREASURER.
329
74 132
40 206 197
51
49
8
90
45 1221
F. McBride. (R.).
149
22
91
25 177 132
31
49
29
55
21 780
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
287
69
129
46 239 179
45
36
1-
79
40 1156
E. G. Hunt, (R.)
188
26
99
20 160 153
38
60
30
63
25
862
COUNTY ASSESSOR.
275
76 177
55 224
192
47
51
9
89
56
21 795
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR.
323
82 125
39 228 190
46
48
7
89 45 1222
W. T. Wildman.
156
14 105
27 173 145
37
50
56
814
S. G. Briggs
303
77 125
38 258 181
45
47
88 45 1214
E. B. McIntyre.
179
20 105
28|142 155
39
50
30
55
21 824
CHAPTER XXIII.
CONDITION OF THE COUNTY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD DECADE -- 1870.
Condition of the County at the Beginning of the Third Decade- Statisties of the Wealth and Indebtedness-Polities in 1870 -Financial Condition-Redemption Fund-Condition of Other Counties-The Miners' League-Death of McMenemy and Hatch-Political Parties in 1872-Election Returns by Precincts, 1871-Persons Eleeted in 1871-Financial Mat- ters 1872-Political Parties in 1872-Election Returns for 1872 -- Comparison of Vote with Previous Years-Financial Matters, 1873-Political Parties in 1873-John Eagon's Posi- tion-Judge Gordon's Stand-J. T. Farley's Position-Elee- tion Returns by Precinets-Officers Elected in 1873-Alpine county Left out in the Election-Financial Matters in 1874 -The Funding Projeet-Political Parties in 1874-Financial Matters in 1875-Robbery of the Treasury May 9, 1875- Conclusion of Butterfield Matter in 1877-Politieal Matters in 1875-Officers eleeted in 1875.
ACCORDING to the reports of the Assessor the value of all property, personal and real, was $2,241,070. The county debt had been estimated as being less than $100,000, but as was written in the previous chapters of the history, it was constantly increasing, the sums paid not being equal to the interest, and con- sequently no portion was applied to the payment of the principal. At the beginning of this decade the debt was nearly, if not quite, $200,000. It seems to be the fate of political organizations, as well as of individuals, to go into extravagant and wasteful expenditure in prosperous times, and pay up when times are hard. At the beginning of 1860 we found placer mining remunerative to a high degree; quartz mining established on a paying basis and agriculture and horticulture profitably employing a great num- ber of men. The farms on the Mokelumne river, in Jackson, Ione and Dry Creek valleys, as well as on the heads of the latter ereeks, with their waving fields of grain, orchards, and vineyards, were all that could be desired.
Many causes combined to arrest this tide of pros- perity. The Frazer river excitement drew away a great many miners. Still later the discovery of the Washoe mines caused another outflow of hundreds of able, industrious men. The copper excitement took a great many away from moderately profitable work; and, when copper failed in the subsequent years to prove remunerative, at least five hundred men were sct adrift, most of whom left the county in search of some more promising place. During the years of 1861-64, the price of cattle of all kinds went down with a panic, so that many, who considered themselves well fixed, became poor men. The wine business, which promised so much, had proved an utter failure, every attempt to market the wine in the East resulting in loss; so that many per- sons were induced to tear up their vineyards and give up the business. The orchards, which pro- duced a great quantity of the finest fruit, werc also poor property; for the emigration of many of the miners left no market for such products. The quartz mining alone' saved the county from comparative poverty. The mines along the mother lodes, as well as in the eastern part of the county, on the Volcano
D. B. Spagroli, (D.).
308
82 131
37 217 176
41
11
6
69
29 1107
B. F. Riehtmyer, (R.).
170
14
97
29 184 160
42
8
31
44 1209
M. W. Gordon, (R.).
164
19 104
25 171 142
36
46
2
SHERIFF
21 749
COUNTY CLERK.
---- Getchell, (R.(.
202
21
49
11 178 145
37
47
28
45 1240
James Meehan, (D.) ...
H. L. Waldo, (D .. )
James Surface, (D.).
A. Yoak
30
SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOLS.
111
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD DECADE.
range, gave employment to perhaps one thousand men. Some of the mines, such as the Lincoln, Mahoney and Hayward at Sutter Creek, and others at Drytown, Amador, and Plymouth, took out sums varying from ten thousand to sixty thousand dol- lars per month. Large quantities of wood and lum- ber were required, which furnished labor to as many more men as were engaged in the mines.
With all this there was little inerease in the pop- ulation and prospective wealth. The vote, which in 1860 had elosely reached four thousand, in ten years was reduced to about two thousand, though there was no deerease in population in proportion to the vote, as the roving part was composed mostly of men without families.
The gradual improvement in financial standing, through wise management, and a gradual and healthy growth in all the business industries of the country will appear as the third decade passes away.
A FEW STATISTICS
As to the comparative wealth and population will be interesting :-
Population in 1870.
Population in 1860 .*
PRECINCTS.
Total .. . .
Native ..
Foreign.
White. .
Colored .
Chinese.
Total .. . .
White ..
Colored .|
Chinese.
Jackson
240S 1170 1328 1988
3
417
1344 1822 17
505
Ione ..
1779 1094
685 1330
24
425
2712 2098 21
539
Volcano
1357
S40
517 1218
2 137
1545 1527
5
113
Sutter
1966 1157
809 1858
36
72
1214 1022 13
179
Drytown
853
486
367
640
2
211
1559 852 18
689
Oleta
1219
702
517
849
5 365
1191|
824
6
361
Rancheria
478
3S2
95
Total
9582 5449 4223 7883
72 1627 10930 8527 SI 2535
In making these estimates the Government gave the township the name of the largest town.
1870
1860
Assessed value of Real Estate $1,167,525
Pers. Property
785,419
Total
$1,952,944
$2,395,684
True value.
$4,428,490
State Taxes
$19,944
$28,855.90
County Taxes
$29,293
Total
$48,237
County Debt
$165,000
$4,823.50
Improved Land (in acres) __
41,534
38,483
Unimproved “
19,782
Cash value of Farms
$486,400
66
Farm Impl'ts
45,015
66
Orchard Products
43,350
..
Farm 66
363,983
6.
66
Manufacturies
26,000
66
Animals for Food
62.232
6. Live Stock
280,587
Number of Horses
1,686
1,749
..
Mules
141
66
Milch Cows
1,471 )
Working Oxen ..
68 -
9,633
Other Cattle
2,497 )
* There is a slight discrepancy in the census returns.
Number of Sheep
23,914
3,990
Swine
5,380
Bushels of Wheat raised
16,678
39,000
Corn
36,370
19,000
Barley
66
51,815
31,175
Potatoes
9,988
9,200
Sweet “
1,060
Pounds of Wool
73,010
Gals. Wine made
54,165
Pounds of Butter
43,700
Cheese
950
Gals. Milk sold ..
1,600
Tons Hay raised
5.908
3,000
Pounds of Hops 66
Honey
2,520
Quartz Mills
33
27
Tons of Roek erushed.
61,736
70,360
POLITICAL PARTIES IN 1870.
This was a year of quiet, as neither national, State, or county officers were to be elected. The mutter- ings of the storm, that was prevailing in the East, were but little heeded in the off years. It took the loaves and fishes of the county offices to arouse the politieians to a full sense of the dangers impending over our Constitution, our country or our raee. No livery teams were hired to carry the men, ambitious to serve their country in easy, luerative offiees, around to alarm the people. No twenty-dollar pieees were left at the saloons to pay for beer doled out where it would do the most good. In faet, everything was dis- tressingly dull, and the people were allowed to attend quietly to their business.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE COUNTY.
Nobody knew exactly how it stood. It is true that quarterly returns were made by the Sheriff, Auditor, Treasurer, and Supervisors, and occasion- ally the Grand Jury would have a spasm of economy and make an inquiry into the financial condition; but who among the Grand Jurors had time to look over the stubs of the outstanding warrants, to see for what purpose, or when they were drawn, or how mueh interest had accumulated, or whether even the interest had been paid! A few persons were con- scious of the painful uneertainty and to these the eounty is indebted for the arrangements which not only brought the aceumulating debt to view, but pro- vided means for its gradual liquidation.
REDEMPTION FUND.
As early as February 7th the Supervisors, L. Me- Laine, Henry Peek, and D. M. Goff, took the matter under consideration and recommended a plan which, however, was said to have been first suggested by James Meehan, the Treasurer, that sixty eents on each one hundred dollars should be raised to be used as a sinking fund for outstanding registered war- rants. Meehan went to Sacramento and personally solicited the support of the members not interested in the matter, his position as Treasurer enabling him to explain the necessity of some such measure, to prevent the county from becoming bankrupt. Messrs.
Market Gardens ..
11,605
:
12,050
112
HISTORY OF AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
*
Farley and Brown, Senator and Assemblyman respectively, ably supported the Bill, and on the 12th of March it became a law. It provided a sinking fund of sixty cents on each one hundred dollars which was sacred for this purpose; also that no war- rant should be drawn unless there was money to meet it; a certificate of indebtedness, bearing no interest, being given when occasion demanded. Though the sum specially assessed was sufficient to check the accumulation of interest, and also assisted materially in bringing to light the different items, it was not until December 3, 1872, that the full amount of liabilities was known and reported, the debt having been estimated at one hundred and sixty-five thou- sand dollars. To anticipate the result it was then reported that the outstanding warrants
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