Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-08
COUNTY DIVISION,
To the Members Of the LEXIS.
!atare Of Idaho.

Among the various things it will
be your province to consider during
the progress Of the present session
will be bill for the division of the
county Of Alturas, cutting off from
its present vast domain certain ter
ritory lying west of the Sawtooth
range of mounteins, the boundaries
of which you will find fully defined
in bill to be presented early in The
session.
The dimensions Of Alturas county
as at present constituted, are ONE
HUNDRED AND NINETY MILES from
east to west and about NINETY from
its northern to it's southern ex-
tremity. The number of square
miles cannot be given because Of its
irregular lines and the neglect of
the General Government to make
the surveys necessary to the fur
nishing of such information. Suffice
it to say that there are many States
in this Union Of less dimensions,
among which are New Jersey, Con-
neeticut, New Hampshire and Yer
mont. IF mountainous surface
be made the pretext for holding
within the limits Of a single county
such vast amount of territory, it
may be said that the two last
named States present an equally
rugged aspect.
We find Alturas bounded on the
north by Boise, Custer and Lemhi,
on the east by Bingham and Oneida,
on the south by Bingham, Cassia
and Owyhee, on the west by Boise
and Ada. Upon either side we find
the boundaries of Alturas stretching
along the lines Of two or more coun-
ties. Is there any reason why it
should be larger than either Of
them? Where in the Territory is
there such an aggregation Of towns
and villages as on Wood River
Their wealth is their boast, and its
use upon previous occasions in pre-
serving the integrity of their terri
tory forms o common topic Of com
versation during the hours of reyelry
Of many persons who seem to take
great interest in local public af-
fairs. Nor are the dimensions Of
the county fully shown upon the
Territorial maps. A survey has re-
Gently been made, under the aus
pieces Of the County Commissioners,
which, according TO the claim made,
cuts off a large slice from Boise
county. La which direction this
Alturas octopus may extend It's ten
dons another year we have not the
data at present to divine.
The great extent of territory en-
braced in Alturas, for evident rea-
sons, conduces in no small degree to
add to the burdens Of the people.
For several years previous to 1881,
(when the county seat was removed
from Rocky Bar to Eailey), the en-
tire cost of the county government
was less than $4,000 per year and
the debt was insignificant Now the
county debt is more than $33O,CO0
of which we know, and tits probably
much more, as it has increased over
S25,OO0 the past year.
The longer we remain unsevered
the larger this burden is liable to
become As, in case Of division, we
must assume our preFortionate share
we desire that division to come be-
fore we shall inherit debt which
will tend to paralyze our industries
and alright those who would other
wise come among lis to make
homes.
1t las been said by the opponents
Of division AT HALEY that bat !. small
proportion OF the proposed new county
desired division. 70 test this fact a
division ticket was nominated by the
people Of the proposed new county 10
be voted upon at the last general cleo
ton. 1t received the almost uaani-
nous support Of the people il the
territory named, both Democrats and
Republicans sacrificing in measure
their political predictions to satisfy
you gentlemen occupying seats in the
present legislature that the wish of the
people is unquestionably for division.
1t has been said that we cannot
take care of ourselves ~ q county. Our
population is over 1000. The pro-
posed county has near 10000 sheep, i
10000 cattle, more than 5000 horses,
so miles Of railroad, near twenty val /,
liable stamp quartz mills, rich mines,
besides the real estate and personal
property OF the thriving towns Of I
Rocky Bar, Atlanta, Pine Grove,
Glenn's Fetry and Mountain Hone.
We have to ia great extent supported i
the HALEY government and II no"
allowed to pursue our own course /
under county organization We can
not only support a local government
but in few years pay OUT proportion
Of debt with which we have been TN
justly saddied, and from which we
have never received dollars benefit.
If, upon the contrary, there IS no
division, but the great expense Incl
dent to courts, jurors and witnesses 10
to go on, we can see nothing but bank
rupbcy and ruin in store for our prop