The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-02-02
ne Proposed Annsxation Of Adjoining Terri
tory 70 EeYadn

1he Proposed AnnexAtion Of Adjoining Terri
tory to Nevada.
The bills providing for the annexation of
portions of Idaho and Utah to the State Of
Nevada have been published. The bill of Mr..
Fitch in the House is said to be similar to that
introduced by Mr.. Stewart.
These bills make Snake river, instead of the
Salmon river mountains, the northern bound
ary line of this State. General Butler, of the
Owyhee Wave, has been figuring on the geo
graphy Of the country, and comes to the con-
elusion that the effect Of the bill, if it should
become a law, will be to add to Nevada a strip
40 miles wide and $50 long, from the southern
portion Of Idaho and another strip 60 by $50
miles from the western side of Utah. II is
proposed to run the boundary from the eastern
line of Oregon, up Snake river to the 43d
degree of latitude, near the mouth of Rey-
nold's creek, where it leaves the river and
continues easterly along the 43d degree, taking
IN Fort Hall; continuing east, to within 80
miles Of Fort Bonneville to the 3ith degree of
longitude, west from Washington; thence
south, to point about 80 miles west of Fort
Bridger, in Utah; thence west, TO and through
Salt Lake, between Pennington and Ogden,
including Ogden in Nevada. On the western
shore of the lake it runs south $50 miles into
southern Utah, through the Beaver settlement,
to point near Minersville, to the 3Sth degree
of latitude thence west, GO miles, to the pres
ent line of Nevada.
Most of the population included within
these limits are Mormons. Owyhee county, in
Idaho contains nearly all of the Gentle popu-
lation which would be added to Nevada under
these bills.
The Idaho Statesman, published at the cap
ital Of the Territory, of course opposes the
bill. 1t is Of the opinion that the passage of
the measure would result in the erasure of
Idaho from the map; for, it says, Let Nevada
get big slice Of the best mines and valleys,
and Oregon would not be long in asking for
Ada county; and then Washington Territory,
ambitious to become State, would ask for
our northern counties but we can't spare any
Of them, not even Owyhee." On the con-
trary, the Owyhee Tidal Wave says, The bill
will meet with favorable response from that
portion of Idaho embraced within the proposed
lines, but will not be relished by the people
north of Snake river, or by the Normons."
II concludes an article on the subject with
these words Should the bill pass, there
will be no tears shed south Of Snake river in
consequence"
Public meetings have been held at Boise
City, protesting against the change, and pc
tition circulated to the same effect. To offset
this, petitions numerously signed are circulat-
ing in Owyheo county fayoring annexation
Many in the latter county favor annexation &c
Nevada, believing that capital would more
readily flow into investments in quartz undel
the State government than under the Terri
torial organization. Political hopes and dis,
appointments also have something to do will
the variance in public sentiment.
We think the bill can be amended to advan
tage. Probably, fear of the prepondernnce o
the Democratic element limited the propose,
annexation TO the country south ii Snnk,
river. If the line were run little furthe
north, and not SO far east, it rUud be- mn i'm
provemcnt 4 mining, Gentle element i
desirable-too much of MormVnisIn, not =,
much so.
! The bill requires the State Legislature 4
T ratify the Congressional enactment before tn
change is completed. Is tho bill pass Con
, gress, it will bring the subject prominentl
r before the people. There IL disposition i,
some of the western counties 10 oppose tn
measure, for fear that it will lay the foundation
for the removal of the State capital from Car
; son to some more central point The easter
counties will naturally be disposed to favor til
change for the same reason. The bill pro
poses n meritorious measure, and ought to re
ceive the unanimous ratification of the Legif