Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-09-05
COUNTY DIVISION.

county is gong to DO the question OF :
greatest interest in our local politics,
this fall, it il we'll that the matter
should be discussed, in order that all
may be Informed on tho subject.
II the county is divided, the divi.
sion will prove beneficial to Wood
River. The majority OF the popula-
ton, the bulk Of the taxable property
is here, or in this immediate vicinity.
IT i therefore plain that the bulk of
the taxes must como from here. AL.
though these are disbursed here, the
money does not remain here. a. it il
sent to tho various districts, in the
manner contemplated by law. The
taxes, when collected, arc apportioned
70 the various districts, after q plan
which 10 supposed to do justice all
around, but ~ ons.half OF them are
always set apart, At the inception, to
Do divided equally among all the dis
sriess or precincts. it inevitably follows
that the smaller districts invariably re-
csivs much more, in proportion to
wealth and population, than the larger
ones. The larger precincts are there.
fore taxed for the benefit of the small.
Or ones. Aud Haley, for instance,
being the wealthiest precinct, suffers
from this source more than any other
in the county. 1t Is true that some OF
CHS money is spent here. and that We
therefore get back portion Of what
We pay out. But it is equally true that,
here % elsewhere, more invariably
goes out than comes in.
II il 20 with the county rs . whole.
Fully one.fourth Of the present debt
WAS created by Western Alturas At u
time when there were not rs perma.
nsut residents east Of Corral creek.
Since the settlement OF Eastern AL.
turas the western portion of the coun-
ty-owing to its distance-tas COS.
fully thrice as much to govern rs the
balance Of the county. That is to say,
for every dollar Of revenue derived
from shero the county has had &c
spend three. II, therefore, we could
get rid of Western Alturas 1t woulG
Do tar better for the balance Of the
county.
Two years ago, the situation wal
different. A heavy debt had to be
funded. If the county had been di
vidod the property cut of would have
escaped tho just burden which deb
created mainly by the region thu
separated had imposed upon it. Now
however, the case is different. Tn
debt il funded, and every dollar
worth of property in the present boun
diaries Of Alturas county, or which wi
ever be within its boundaries as y
present constituted, is and will be re
,sponsible for the debt. This csnno
DO avoided.
The debt being provided for, moth
ing but advantage can accrue t
Wood River from the proposed divi
sion of the county, provided that tn
dividing lines are equi.ably drawn, s
~ to accommodate the largest mum
Der Of taxpayers.
But how will tho division affec
Western Alturas? Already heavil
in debt to the parent county. withou
courthouse. roads, bridges, schoo
houses, or any considerable propor,io
Of taxable property. how can the tai
payers afford to assume the enormor
expense of conducting a separa'
county? And will not the immedia'
consequence be the saddl;ng upon Il
taxpayers of such an onerous burde
that their prosperity and welfare wi
Be seriously retarded If not PERM
ncntly impaired ?
II 10 not surprising that politician
whose palms itch with . desire 4
hsadle public moneys; that owners
slots in Soldier, Pine Grove, Rock
Bar, Or Mountain Home (ail of who
hope % secure the seat OF the ne
county, should desire to be en,iche
n the expense Of the taxpayers; tn