Gold Hill Daily News

DIVISION OF THE COUNTY
This project, for which there are now two bills before the Legislature—one for creating the city and county of Virginia and the other the city and county of Union (Gold Hill)—seems to meet with a very general favor in this immediate community. The consolidation idea is fading from sight and existence, like the morning mist. The Virginians can't see it in the same light with those citizens of Gold Hill who would consent to consolidation upon a fairer basis, and the majority of the Gold Hill people can't see it at all.
There seems to be an "irrepressible conflict" between the people of Virginia and those of Gold Hill. The former want to be represented in proportion to population; the latter in proportion to taxable property. The Gold Hill people have no reverence for the vox populi of Virginia; it savors too much of the vox shoulder-lifter to suit our quiet burghers, who have no fancy for "going into training" prior to each election. The effect of the kind of rule which has held sway in Virginia is visible in the present condition of the affairs of that city. Its Common Council has been spoken of by the local press as "a den of thieves" and its exiled and deposed Mayor is alluded to as a sort of John A. Murrill. To give the ruling element at the ballot-box of Virginia the controlling voice in a consolidated government, would be a piece of policy that Gold Hill folks are too shrewd to voluntarily submit to. Such is the demand of Virginia, and as a consequence, "Consolidation" is a dead cock in the pit.
"Separation" is now the favorite idea, and from considerable discussion and comparing of notes, we are convinced that it is the true course for Gold Hill to pursue if the separation can be effected. "Gold Hill can conduct a city and county government, on her own hook, for many thousands of dollars per annum less than she can remain in either her present position or consolidated with Virginia."
We have not had time to prepare a full table of estimate of the cost of a separate government for Gold Hill, but, from memoranda before us, we are convinced that a city and county government can be formed which can be maintained at cost far below what we now pay as a portion of Storey county. In arguing in favor of consolidation, "Cosmos" makes the annual tax upon Gold Hill under that form of government $57,500, and this is "an enormous saving upon the present form of government and condition of things." A separate government for Gold Hill can be maintained, and a sinking fund created for the extinction of our share of the county debt, upon a tax not exceeding forty thousand dollars for the first year, and gradually diminishing thereafter to less than thirty thousand dollars. Our taxable property is increasing at a much more rapid ratio than that of Virginia; and that it will continue to do so, is a fact too apparent to need argument. We have not yet seen Mr. Bishop's bill for the creation of the new county, but hope to be able to lay it before our readers at an early day, together with the figures which will demonstrate the advisability of the proposed measure.