Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-08-08
conanehs County.

@-e8~~N NeoaAI-
G. N. Cade, one OF the pioneer set
tiers In the new town of Coldwater,
Comanche county, passed through here
yesterday, on his return to Anthony,
his former home. He says Coldwater
now has e houses completed, none Of
them being less than 16x20 and many Of
them being 2Ox40, two stories high.
Nearly all Of these are occupied and
every branch of business Is represented.
He says the people Of Coldwate and
vicinity have every confidence in their
town being selected as the county seat,
whenever the county is organized. And
about this organization: Mr.. Cade
thinks that no effort will be made in
this direction until there is a pOpala-
ulation Of 1900 people in the county and
the necessary $50 householder. Then
the governor will be petitioned to order
the organization, and 1t will be COM
menced from the very foundation, as
though the county had pever been or
gaDized before. And in this connec-
ton a synopsis of the law relating to
the organization of counties may be of
interest here:
Section Ill, Of chapter "A, revised
statutes Of Kansas, provides that when
petition signed by $50 householders
who are legal electors of the state, of
any unorganized county, shall be pre-
sented to the governor, showing that
there are 1900 bona fde inhabitants in
such county and that $50 are household
ers and reside in such county, and pray
ing the county may be organized, &C
companied by ahidavits of at least three
householders, showing that the sigma
lures to such petition are genuine and
the petitioners bona fide residents, hay-
ing resided there six months, it shall be
the duty OF the governor to appoint
some competent person, a resident of
the county, to take the census, and as.
certain the names and ages of all in
habitants. The person who takes the
census shall make returns to the gov
ernor, and make affidavit before the
clerk OF the supreme court as to the
correctness Of his returns. Then If it
appears that there are $500 inhabitants,
and $50 householders, the governor shall
appoint three residents Of the county
as commissioners, and he shall also ap-
point county clerk, and designate and
declare the place recommended by a
majority Of the legal voters as the tenn
porary county seat. No bonds of any
kind shall be issued by any county,
township or school district within one
year after the organization of such new
county.
When the governor has reason to be-
lieve that the affidavits or enumerations
mentioned are incorrect, he is author
lied to withdraw his proclamation and
institute an investigation by sending
three disinterested householders of the
state into such unorganized county
to ascertain the true state Of affairs.
When the commissioners are appoint
ed and qualified they are required to di-
vide the county into convenient town.
ships, each one constituting an election
precinct and shall give thirty days no
tice Of the time they shall fix for hold
ing the first election of township and
county offers. At the first election the
voters shall by a majority vote deter
mine the permanent location of the
county seat; but in case no place re-
ceives majority Of all the votes cast.
at the next general election the matter
shall be voted on again, and 90 on un-
til the question Is settled. All county
officers win hold until the next general
election and all township officers until
the regular township election.
When county organized under this
act has been previously attached to an
organized county for municipal pur-
poses, the county clerk Of the new coun-
ty shall procure a transcript of all deeds
and other instruments affecting the
new county and make them matters of
record.
tits not thought thatthere will be the
necessary 800 inhabitants in Comanche
county this year, but by next spring the
governor will be petitioned to. How
eyer, it may be that the next legislature
will be asked to pass a special act on
the subject and admit the county at
once.
There is some talk of changing the
name of Comanche county, and perhaps
the boundary lines, so that the fraudu-
lent bonds hanging over the county win
a q nd M ahorIr o. hoir,n rnaid