The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-01-03


There seems to be a strong tendency in
California at the present time towards the
division of large counties and the forma-
ton of new ones, with the object of OBJ
tanning a reduction in the tax rate and a
more satisfactory and equitable manage
ment in the administration of county
government.
This rapidly growing disposition for
small areas in many cases springs largely
from commercial reasons and a marked
homogeneity in products and population,
of territory-seeking subdivision, with a
growing conviction of the abuses of po-
litical power and the unequal distribu-
ton of political patronage.
The usual and perhaps unnecessary
size of several counties in this State lends
to the many arguments for division con-
siderable potency, or at least proves them
to be well founded, and invests the agita-
ton now in progress for judicious segre-
cation with sincerity well worthy of
notice by those to whom this important
question will be referred, and by all who
would inaugurate q new era OF progress
and prosperity. With constitutional re-
strlctiOns against petty counties and a
provision for the limit beyond which
subdivisions may not go, there is little
danger of too many boundary lines when
the immense area of several of our coun-
ties is taken into consideration.
San Diego County has an area OF 14.5S0
square miles-larger than Delaware and
Maryland combined-while San Ber-
nardino. with an area Of Zl,O0O square
miles, is nearly as large as West Virginia
and MARTY half larUa New DIRK
Pennsylvania or Illinois. Los Angeles
County is nearly as large as the State of
Connecticut. San Bernardino, Orange
and Los Angeles Counties constitute an
area of Il, 7O3 square mlIes-someth1ng
over one-fourth of the entire area OF the
State.
The average area of the fifty-three
counties of California is 1856 square
miles, while the average area of the four
counties above mentioned is about 10, 425
square miles, and of the three counties,
San Diego, Los Angeles and San Ber-
nardino, 1858 square miles.
The total area of the twenty counties
north of Sacramento-Butte, Colusa, Del
Norte, FL Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Las
sen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Placer,
Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Suffer, Te-
hama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba-is so, ll5
square miles-only 5000 square miles
more than the four southern counties,
without falling below the average area.
County-divlsiOn discussion, however, is
not confined to the territory south of Te-
hachapi. The knife of common interest
is at work in other portions of the State,
where the conditions are less favorable,
but the motives presumably as good as
those now actuating the people of the
south toward necessity that seems in
eyitable in the organization of a number
of new counties.
At the present time there are twelve
separate and distinct county division pro-
positions under discussion in the State,
many of which have not sufficiently de-
veloped to warrant mention, and remain
to be heard from later on; others are at
the boiling point, and after the Senatorial
contest will claim a large share of the
attention of our legislators.
Among the several propositions under
discussion are the following:
MADEIRA would leave Fresno and con-
tiguOus territory and become a county
seat, while Hanford would take from the
western portion Of Tulare County a con-
siderable territory to be called Lucerne.
In Los Angeles there is a popular
clamor for several new counties to be
formed from the extensive outlying sec
tions, which it is alleged NAV become
subdivided, to the end of better govern
ment and increased prosperity, after the
manner of Orange, which left its fond but
unwilling parent, in 1889 to set up a sep
arate government. The remarkable de-
gree OF success that has attended this ven
ture has in no small degree impelled
other sections OF this vast domain toward
subdivision.
Paso Robes is a possible formation
from San Luis Obispo, and Santa Bar
bara is asked in all seriousness to cut
from her limited domain a fertile section
10 be called Olive County.
Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley would
Join hands in a triple alliance, combin-
ing municipal and county organization
TO be known as the City and County of
Oakland, leaving sleepy little Newark as
the county seat of the remaining portion
of what is now Alameda County. New
ark, for a wonder, does not want to be-
come county seat, or any other kind of
seat; she has no ambition to grow strong
and mighty, and is quite content to plod
along in the moss-grown rut of blighted
hopes.
The above constitute few of the divis-
ion propositions now being talked of
several of which remain to take form
and to urge their respective claims at the
source OF power. Others there are which
have long ago left the embryonic condi-
ton for the light of day, and public
opinion having been warmly discussed
for months past by arguments both pro
and con, elaborate enough to fill a dozen
newspapers.
In the counties of San Diego and San
Bernardlno, comprising a total of about
$3.50 square miles, and including a terri
tory greater in extent than the States of
West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware
combined, county division discussion has
reached the highest point, and assumed A
shape for demanding immediate legisIa-
tive consideration.
1t Is only natural that subdivision ideas
should take tirmer root in this portion of
the State than in the northern sections
where the area Is much smaller and the
hOmogeneity as to products and popula-
ton much greater.
In the northern divisions where the
territory included under a county govern
ment has a common interest, where the
people are engaged in a common indus
try, and the affairs OF government are
administered in an economical manner.
according to the dictates of popular will
there is certainly less cause for COMPLAINT
leading to division than in the great
counties referred to above, where inter
est even on small, petty matters is widely
divergent, and where the conditions
alluded to are entirely reversed.
In these two counties, then, is to be
fought battle, and upon the result de-
ponds in a large measure the future pros
perity of that extensive and productive
territory south of Tehachapi. Three dis
tinct division propositions are now be-
fore the people in this section, and each
has received a large share of public at
tention. One is measure of considera-
BILE age, and evoked much discussion at
the legislative session of 1890, at which
time it was defeated in the Senate, after
passing with a good majority the lower
house. The other two are OF more recent
origin. and each have found vigorous ex-
preston in advancing new but sound rea-
sons for asking separation, which may be
nnfnnd as follows: The neonle of north