Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-09-20
TO GILMORE TAXPAYERS.


also for the location Of the
county seat for Elmore.
II is not intended here to discuss
the legal points raised, as whether
a county seat election 10 legal at
this time, or whether it requires a
majority or a two-thirds vote to de-
eide the question; but, laying all
that aside, we wish to place before
the voters and taxpayers Of Elmore,
in fair and square way, the rea-
sons why Rocky Bar should remain
for time the county seat.
Rocky Bar is the consumer of the
surplus products of the other parts
of the county, Mt. Home is depend
ent upon il for the larger share of
her business, and most of the small
settlements of ranchers find here
their only market, and one where
they can always sell their produce
at the highest cash prices. II also
pays nearly double to its laborers
what they can get in other than
mining pursuits, and gives employ
ment to large number of men,
that but for the mining industry
here, would have to compete with
the present labors in the lower part
of the county or leave the county
altogether.
/ We do not disguise the fact that
by continuing the county seat ut
this place, men Of means ON the
outside are more likely TO come here
and be brought in contact with our
hundreds Of gold lodges and are
likely to invest the capital needed
to open our mines. But every such
investment brings men into the
county to work, which consumes &c
much more of the farm produce OF
the county and gives employment
TO large numbers in hauling for and
supplying these men. The more
business done in town and tn,
larger the number of people there
the better the market; so TIA,
rancher has a direct personal inter
est in every mine opened in oui
county, and in making our camp:
larger and prosperous.
One of the great needs of Elmor'
is more people to help build .oul
) roads and bridges and help pay oul
taxes.
This is a young county and will
} the exception of Rocky Bar, mos
of her towns are of so recent growth
that no one can now tell what plac,
will die out. To change the count,
seat at present is to change to som,
town which is very likely to b,
nothing but the county seat five o
ten years from this time, with N,
business, no people and no build
ings but the expensive count,
buildings, wrung from the tax-op
pressed people OF Elmore. b,
waiting till the county is bette
settled, we will avoid nil this ex
pense and can then locate oul
county seat in some permanent
town convenient 10 all sections.
But all these considerations
strong as they must be TO every
thinking man-are cast in the shad,
by the consideration Of the county
finances. In order to properly Iii.
derstand the situation, let the facts
of the rounty's taxes and indebted
ness be submitted to every man il
Gilmore who has an interest in oul
welfare and who wishes 10 have
the taxes light ami the least op.
pressive as possible, with a good
county organization and improve
ment.
! A statement of the county's in
debtedness rs made( approximately
by the County Treasurer is as fol
lows:
Road fund $1,000
General fund ..... 9,OE
Old debt S1,OU
Total 49,. .s97 ,O0C
+ Our debt, as will be seen by th,
above statement. is more than SO
per capita Tor for every man
woman and child in the county,
debt ON every family Of six
OF more than $3.50, being Target,
greater than the per capita neces
sary to pay off our national debt.
1 Think of it, taxpayersl a debt
OF $3.50 ON every family of six-a
lien of $3.50 on your ranches. vour
houses, your horses, your plows and
drags, on everything, and all liabl,
to be sold by the sheriff TO satisfy
the debt the county has already in
CURED, if not paid when due.
A change of county seat at the
present time means an immediate
increase Of our debt and q conse.
quent increase of taxes. Ii q
change of county seat is made, a
suitable court house, Jail, and
offices for all the county officers,
must be built, such a one as will
answer the county for years to
come and make safe the county
records. Such building at a very
moderate estimate would cost $780,
NM -.