Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-02-26
DIvIDING THE COUNTY.

Two petitions have been sent TO the /
Legislature, one Tor the annexation Of
portion OF this county to Mendocino the
other for annexation of another part to
Humboldt county. The petitions are sim
liar to those presented two yeas ago,
with this exception, that this year they
bear to some extent the names Of citizens
who are on the great register OF this
county, which was not the case at that
time. Petitioners represent that they
are distant neatly one hundred miles
from the county seat of Trinity that
they have deep streams and high mount
aims TO cross, which, in the Winter season
render the road to Weaverville impassa-
bic at times and that all their business
and other interests lie in the direction Of
those counties TO which they wish to be
attached.
We do not propose TO dispute but the
petitioners have represented their cases
fairly, excepting the little fact that they
have put their side of the case somewhat
stronger than would bear the light Of in
quiry. But we question very much if
the Legislature will, or should Cat lea.
at the present time). interfere in their be-
al 1t is not II subject Of legitimate leg
i. ion t. change existing boundary lines
of counties, unless the most convincing
re sons can be shown why such changes
should be made. The caprice Of few
ind vidu Is is often made the basis Of II
Gemand for legislative action, and while
we do not know or claim such to be the
case in the present instance, we presume
the petitions a c more the work of two or
three interested parties than of the body
Of settlers. Nor do we question but the c
i. great Inconvenience felt by those who
are compelled to come to this place on
court business, but so far as other matters
are concerned it makes little difference
whether they are citizens OF this county
or Of another.
The Legislature has not shown a dispc-
s'tion to ciange boundary lines in past
sessio IS even in cases of greater necessity
tn III The one now presented. Any bill
for such a change must, in justice to all
parties in interest, make provision for an
equitable assumption Of the debt of the
county from which the territory is taken,
proportioned to the amount of taxable
p operty included in the transfer. Such
proceeding involves of necessity great
eXpense-the appointment Of comm ssion-
ers the transcrbing of records and other
papers nee ,ssary to placing the affairs
O! the ceded territory upon the right ba-
SIS. This expense should be borne by
county benefttng by the change, or by
the parties directly interested.
Our p'ople are opposed to the move
ment. In the present condition of our
conuty affairs we cannot afford to lose the
wealth sought to be transferred to other
and richer counties. Though we have n
largo extent Of territory population is
sparsely distributed, and property of a
permanent character, such as is sought
to be taken from us, is not of the kind
| which makes up our assessment roll,-
| We have heavy county Indebtedness
!e.ting upon us, one Of the legacies Of
the "hush times which is gradually de-
crca ing under the prudent management
shown during the last ten years. Still it
is large in proportion to our population
and wealth, and we can i'll afford to lose
| q. t.1 IN, 10
pait of the county, even though Hum
boldt and Mendocino do assume just
proportion of our liabilities. Our assess
ment roll foo's up lie than n million of
dollars, and to meet the current exp. .ts
Of local government and reduce indcht
| cdness the annual tax levy is two dollars
and seventy cents. The Supreme Court
decision declaring solvent debts not taxa
BILE, will raise the State levy and necessi-
tate an even higher rate this year, ard if
We should lose the taxes we now receive
from that section the levy would inevita-
bly, go above three dollars, figure reach
ed now by only one or two countics.-
| We do not blame the people of the Hct-
tens aw region for trying to escape from
n poor county into rich one, but it oc
ours to us that if the Legislature looks
well into the equities of the case, it will
keep the county lines as they are, and
not change them at the request of few
settlers, the majority of whom have not
be,n in the county long enough to think
IL worth their while to acquire the privil-
ege Of voting with us.