The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-11-03
TO THE VOTERS
Breckenridge County /!

anu fedeondDie liSnbs not only the cIaimS U
the town of Emporia for the county seat o.
your county, but, also. the necessity which
exists for the formation of new county
tout Of the northern and southern portions
of Breckenridge and Waubonsee, respect.
/ fully submit, for your consideration. :he
following facts:
We believe Emporia should be the coun,
Il ty seat, because she is the center of popu-
lation in the countryside would accommo-
date majority Of the people of the county
in the transaction Of county, and all other
kinds of business. She is the center oil
trade in the county, and for upwards of a
hundred miles sonIh and west of here, and
for considerable distance north and east
of her-ehe is the largest, and. to-day, the
most flourishing town in central Kansas,
made SO by her central position, in Erich,
densely settled portion of the Territory
She is the only market in this portion of the
Territory, where the farmers of the county
can sell their stock. pork. produce, &c
With FIVE large dry goods stores and other
branches of business in, proportion, with
several large halls, offices &c. She is bet
ter prepared to accommodate the people of the
county, officers and courts-without any
expense to the county-than any of her RI
walls for the seat of justice. She does not
ask the county seat to build her up as a town,
for her central position is sufficient guar
antee to her future prosperity, though you
should locate the county seat within three
miles of her. The above being true, we
ask you, in all candor, if the general inter-
est of the whole people of the county would
not be better subserved by concentrating,
at this point, whatever influences will tend
to increase that prosperity, which nature
has guaranteed to her; and thus aid in Gre
ating greater market for whatever you
may have to dispose Of In this matter,
we have too much confidence in YOUR hon.
esty and intelligence, to believe that you
will allow an imaginary town interest, or
even the influence of those who have an i'm
aginary town interest, to swerve you from
Y,
honest, contentious performance of your
duty as voters. If you believe Emporia has
superior claims over any other town in the
county, for the county seat if you believe
she will get it on the second or third vote
this fall, then deposite an honest ballot for
her the first time, and save yourselves and
the county the expense of two more cleo
lions. She has entered into bonds to the
county, to furnish comfortable and COM
modious" buildings for our courts and coun-
tv officers, free of charge 10 tie county for
FIVE years, and longer if the county wants
them and should she be made the county
seat, we assure you, her citizens will see
that these tonds are strictly complied with,
for we all have common interest in light
taxes, and an economical administration of
county affairs. Her citizens, many of them
being heavy tax payers, will ever advocate
the lightest possible tax, consistent with
the general good. The past proves that she
will do that. When Americas, about year
and half ago "a majority of the Board of
Commissioners being in theinterest of Amer
icus at that time attempted and actually did
levy upon you fifteen mills on the dollar, for
a Court House and other purposes. The
citizens of Emporia did cal a meeting of
the people of the county, which repudiated
the tax as illegal. unequal and unjust
Through the efforts of the people of Empo
ria aud good men throughout the county,
the tax payers of the county were relieved
of the burdens of such an enormous and
outrageous tax, and reduced the same from
fifteen mills on the dollar to four, the pres
ent levy. And if Emporia shall be ma lie
the county seat, we do not hesitate to say.
that the present tax will. by another year,
be reduced to two mills on the dollar, for
she has tound herself to furnish the county
take no steps towards creating a necessity
for a larger tax than the last mentioned
amount, which is certainly as low as the
most scrupulous tax payer could reasonably
expect. Voters of Breckenridge-far
mechanics, tradesmen-one and ALL we ask
you to consider these things, unprecedented,
uninfuenced and, with honest hearts, GO
TO THE POLLS and deposit yourAballots for
EMPoRIA FOR THE COUNTY SEAT. and thus.
settle the matter at the first election.
The conclusion, then. to which we hon
estly come. is. that Emporia ought to be
the county seat. for the present. whether
the lines are changed or not.
We now propose to state, briefly, our
reasons for the formation of new county
out of the northern part of Breckenridge
and the southern part of Waubonsa. By
reference to correct map of the Territory.
you will see for yourselves, that Waubon-
see county. adjoining Breckenridge, on the
north, is about thirty-fve miles long, with
the Kansas river for her northern boundary,
and that her county seat is located at town
of Waubonsee, on that river. The rich
and heavily settled valley of the Kaw pre-
vents its removal, and the consequence is,
Al Io,o,o oF naorIa bo have