The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-07
TIMELY TEXAS TOPIC.
COUNTIES
Demand for Smaller subdivisions of
the ,tate's Jumbo rerritOries--The
Benefits to be Derived
Names suggested, Etc.

Jan. 81 Editor HERALD.
& mong desirable objects of legislation
81 one to which no allusion, so far as
|fnown tn the writer, has been made. 1t
& the Justice and wisdom Of dividing in
- constitutional counties of 900 square
lilies each, the five giant counties of
crockett, Tom Green, Pecos, Presidio
nd FL Paso. All the remainder of our
last vacant territory, regardless of its
Unsettled conditions, was so divided in
Y fifty-four handsomely-shap, d coun-
Les few years ago and their posi- ii ms
a the map of the state is the strongest
Fgument in favor of tho policy. Of
lis number, then without inhabitants,
16Onley, Wheeler, Oldham, Nolan,
; (itchel, Scurry, Howard, Martin and
y bssibly Others are now organized and
fosperous. An immense advantage
this plan Is in the in
4 feased facility afforded for the
{6 Identification OF lands and the cOnse-
|nlent protection given to purchasers of
hem against deception as to location
nd character. Imagine on the one
E and, as it afOretime was, a patent to
& Ind describing it thus: "In the Pan
|andle (biH rs Ohio) l27 miles N, AZ w,
= the Initial monument on Red, stake
Ior beginning cJrner." How lucid and
efinite, and how easily found by pay
BIZ some surveyor $500, more or less, TO
out "A party, run the l27 miles and
bow you about whore he supposes the
lake ought to be; for the next surveyor,
XnplOyed by some one else, to show an
tnta mis- hn int
bile, and soon the country is covered
18th suits AZ to boundaries. On the other
bnd, suppose the patent reads: ain the
s Ian handle, IL miles n, As w, west from
be southeast corner of Floyd county,"
low easy to locate the neighborhood
nd find the land.
= If the five mammoth counties named
nc now carved up in the same way the
Rme results will follow and immigra-
hon will be encouraged, because vast
Numbers, as experience attests, will seek
homes in counties witt permanent
Boundaries, in good shape and yet to be
-organized, who shrink from q ing Int ,
vast territory, liable to he cut into
pfHgments by the old policy and have
IL county seats moved about on wheels
tosuit the caprices of land specu ators.
IS costs nothing to do this thing. 1t has
Worked admirably since its inception in
rs. IL has drawn together commun-
1ues where none would otherwise
lave existed. The map of that part OF
Ithe state is made Ineligible to stran-
Gers, and there is not one valid objec-
ION TO it.
But there is another view appealing to
tho spirit of Justice for this action. Look
~ those immense counties as they are,
EIbey are organized. They tax the
EWhole territory to erect costly court
1Quses and jails, and If they create
jus, then when n new county, under
W. old plan, is laid out in any portion
" the territory, they demand that it
dull pay proportion of the old county's
Qbts, tho gh fifty, seventy-five or 100
lles away from the couri-house. Then
new county is compelled to re-tax
own people for the erection of its
4blic buildings. In Tom Green coun.
the county seat is in one extreme
ner, and must remain such when
territory is cut up into other coun-
vet they tax, or can do so, this inn
ense area, as large as many states, to
~ buildings for the sole and perma-
ht use OF the present county when re-
ced to it's proper area o.:
Lily miles square. It Is
Just. Divide these large counties into
institutional ones Till organized, at
IA them Tor Judicial purposes To those
are organized, and tax them pro
"a for the ordinary current expenses
the mother county, but do not make
Nm or the holders of land in them paw
public buildings or other improve
ents, to remain exclusively the prop
N of the mother county.
the legis Azure wants that country
WIsettle and be self sustaining, and
Ice and community OF interests in
boch county aud no cOunty-seat war, as
Tread OF Dakota right now and have
n4Q in the older parts of Texas, time
ne again, this is the way to accomplish
1Qre results. And | repeat that there
70 sensible or patriotic reason against
Resident IL Dallas, without a dol
interest in ali that country, dis
IN every motive outside of desire
Inc settlement, prosperity and hap
Nuess of the country.
~ esteemed friend recently inquired
he as to appropriate names to be be-
uoFed ON counties yet to be created.
lW very many years there has been
puething OF fixed policy ON this sub
patterned alter the example OF nu-
uofous southern and western states.
To name counties for noted national
UQrts or streams, as Sabine, Colorado.
~ Saba, PecOs, etc. But those bearing
names of long streams are OF little
a. to distinctive locality. The
q and most tavorito plan has been to
NO our counties for men deserving
marks of esteem among pioneers,
Qiers and public men of the state,
though violated in a number OF
p. the decided preference has been
polng so alter the death of the per-
SO honored. For one, | have been a
pm advocate of this course.
the hity.iour names bestowed by
one act referred to, there are u fow,
ainlY not over four or five, which
-iniormed old citizens, fami lar
men in tho past, would have
ltted, but the bulk of them were
n worthily bestowed. There are
herous names, which tho most EN-.
tened and patriotic old-time citi-
OF Texas weuld rejoice 10 sec be.
4Ned on new counties. A few may be
ohened ~ SAMPLES: Mai. George
nerland, deceased, in Jackson county
7S53, valiantly led his company in
vorming San Antonio In 1895, fought at
M Jacinto in 1896, served in congress,
Rht under Jackson in tho Creek war,
M big farm, big heart, and fed
HQpry soldiers and his first born child
liam, Tell MARTYR in the Alamo
not these good credentials;
name of Meneiee from
onward, IL honorably and indis.
IDLY connected with the defense and
council OF the state. William Men.
deceased some years since in
xette, served In every deliherati i've
" OF Texas from 1893 TO about 1853 =
ned the declaration, fought Indians
Vxicans and wrong doing with equal
was pure patriot, wise counsellor
M Christian citizen, sustained by wor,
sons and nephews Of the same and
ID names.
illiam l.. Hunter, an octogenariar
@liad, terribly wounded and mirac
1sly escaped from Fannin's mas
p, and afterwards long representa-
often a soldier and always a good
Pm, Justly merits such recognition
~ our ante-bellum presidents and
ernors have been 40 honored except
iov. II. NJ. Pease, deceased not Ions
p. He was a soldier of 1856, twic,
ernor, aud died an active member oI