Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1889-04-08
HOW THE DIVISION BUSINESS
LOOKS NOW.


it is fitting time to look backward
over the field and see what has beef,
accomplished.
Three months ago Alturas was in
fact the empire county of the Terri
tory. The past twenty-five years a
vast debt had accumulated, and this
debt had just been bonded and county
warrants, for the first time in the his.
tory Of the county, stood at par.
Good roads had been built into every
portion of the county, and bridges
spanned her streams wherever travel
demanded them. A magnificent court.
house adorned her county-seat, and
her records we're the most complete
of any county in the Territory. Her
school system had been model
worthy of imitation and schools had
been conducted in the various dis.
tricts for three. fourths of the year;
taxation had been reduced to basis
OF $2.85 on the $lOU-the lowest it
had ever reached in the history of the
county. The credit of the county
was vt high standard. as is evidenced
BY the fact that our bonds found a
ready sale in the financial market at
81 and Z per cent. An election had
Just been held and the officials had
the confidence of the people, aud
Whatever incompetency there may
have been in the management of our
public Offices was remedied. Those
interested with the management Of
our county Offices had made an earn
est and sincere effort to reduce cur.
rent expenses; the salaries of our
officials, who had heretofore been
paid the maximum allowance, were
reduced. Bills against the county
were subjected to the most rigid
scrutiny. A kindlier feeling seemed
to prevail among the different Sec
tions of our people, and the whole
future was rosy with the promise of
brighter days for old Alturas.
Over this bright picture comes the
shadow OF the division of the county.
Nearly three months have passed in
expensive litigation. The most in
tense and bitter personal feuds rend
our people. The interest on our
bonds, based upon the good faith of
the people, is liable togo by default.
In the confusion many of the public
schools are closing. No one but an
idiot will claim that the requisite tax.
alton can be levied on basis as low
as 1886 on the 800. Even if it
should be done this year the valua-
ton must be tripled next year to make
up the deficiency. To the expense
Of litigation among ourselves must
be anticipated that from outsiders
who hold our bonds. What was
saved in reducing salaries and curtail.
ing current expenses is in danger of
being spent in litigation.
Let it be understood that we are
here referring to Alturss county as it
stood before misunderstanding Lo-
gan and Gilmore counties. The mat
tiers we now refer to affect the rEo.
TIE in these three counties. The
mere fact that a new geographical
line divides Alturas county does not
affsc. the condition Of things within
the borders of old Alturas. What
we say here applies with equal force
to Elmore and Logan counties.
Not one person in one hundred
conprehends the difficulties which
this 'niGultous legislation has heaped
upon the people living within the
borders of these three counties. Had
this division been an amicable one
and acceptable to the people affected,
all this trouble could have been
avoided. But it must be apparent to
any observing person that, as matters
now stand, it is war to the knife and
the knife to the hilt. The fight is
now on a narrow margin. An early
hearing on the appeal, now IN the
Supreme Court at Washington, may
reverse the present order Of things.
1t is this unsettled aud uncertain con.
difion OF things that aff cts US so in.
jnriousiv.
In tn. meantiase dhe carnival of