Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-02-12
COUNTY LINES.

The following extract fro a
lengthy editorial in the Common
wealth is timely and true and the leg
islature will make mistake i'll adopt
ing or acting upon any other idea or
showing. The facts as represented
by the Commonwealth are uncontro-
vertihle. That paper says:
One ofthe most important measures
which is before the present legislature
has been made the special order for
consideration by the house this even
ing. This measure is bill TO restore
the old county lines in Southwestern
Kansas, as they existed prior TO 1881,
and to re-create the old counties of
Seward, Stevens, Kansas, Stanton,
Grant, Arapahoe, Gray. Sequoyah,
Kearney ard Hamilton. No bill be-
fore the present session has excited
more interest and no bill is of more i'm
portance to the people of Southwestern
Kansas. The old lines were destroyed
at the session of 1881. at time when
it was popularity believed the Great
American Desert" would not be set
tied for decades to come; when the
only citizens were the large ranch
men, and few townsite SPECTATORS.
Within the past three years change
has come over the southwest. Set
tiers have poured in by the thousands;
settlements have been formed, the wild
prairie transformed into farms and
gardens, cities and towns built schools
organized and churches established,
ana the advantages of a Kansas civili-
cation made to be realized in the very
midst of rich and fertile country
that few years ago was termed the
"Great American Desert" The past
year has witnessed most remarkable
progress in all western Kansas, and
especially in the portion which is inter-
ested in the present bill. The line of
settlement has extended forward until
the pioneers have passed beyond the
border of the "SunflOwer state" and
have taken up the rallying cry of
miners of years agO-"Pikes peak or
bust" Before another three months
have passed, not quarter section of
,illable land will be left in Kansas to
the Colorado line. The citizens of
southwestern Kansas realize tina. it is
in the power of the legislature to set
tie these questions now and in such a
way as to prevent further agitation in
the future. regarding this territory,
and believe it should be done. The
people have fully expressed them
selves in favor eff the bill by their ac-
ton at the Larkin convention, and by
resolutions adopted at subsequent
mass meetings throughout the utter
ested territory, and by numerously
signed petitions to the legislature. The
citizens of the various proposed
counties desire their lines perma-
nently fixed that they know
just what they are doing and
just where their political lot
will be cast. They also desire to
be in shape for county organizations
whenever the population and the value
of taxable property will warrant it.
An important bill in this regard has
been introduced by Mr.. McNeal, of
Barber, one of the western members,
fixing the required population at $500
and the value of taxable property at
100000. This is doubtless wise and
just bill, and has properly been at
tached TO the county line bill for con-
sideration this evening. With these
two bills passed, there is no danger of
too early an organization, and the
eastern members. knowing that the
people of the southwest desire it, can-
not consistently refuse to vote for the
county lines bill. The passage of the
bill insures more rapid development
of southwestern Kansas, and only adds
to the prosperity of the whole state.