The oasis., 1895-02-09
THE EQUITY IN COUNTY DIVISION.

county will not add OO the burdens of the taxpayers, in that the cost of con ducting the affairs of first class county exceeds that of running two counties of the second and third class.
 In this article it is proposed to point out the equities of the claim of the southern part of Pima for county au- tonomy on their own account.
 As stated last week the amount now annually paid into the treasury of Pima by the people of the proposed county of Papago aggregates some thing more than twenty-nine thous- and dollars. Of this sun there are not five per cent expended among the peo- pie from whom the money is drawn. Instead it is all taken to Tucson, sev- euty-eight miles away, and expended there or in that vicinity. Support of the branch jail, which surely does not exceed two thousand dollars year, Is about all that is expended here. 1t seems almost impossible to get Pima county to do anything to the roads in this region. The road tax paid by Nogales alone in the past ten years would have constructed and main tained good roads between N0gales and such near camps as Harshaw, Orc Blanco and Washington But while no roads nave been built to connect these camps with Nogales, they all have direct connection with Tucson over good roads double the distance. The roads to those places from Tue son are not begrudged by NogaleS; nor should Tucson begrudge Nogales di- rect connection with those camps. yet when the business men of NOgales asked Pima county to aid them in the construction of road to Gro BlancO, extension of such aid was bitterly opposed in Tucson and TIE OASIS is now credibly informed that at that time Mr. Bernard of Tucson, the legis- lator who now so Strenuously opposes the Papago county bill in committee, made himself very conspicuous with a remOnstrance against extension of the aid asked. Finally nine hundred dol lars were granted, the road is com pletcd, but the grant is not yet paid. Business men of Nogales have paid over five thousand dollars to build the road For want of the amount of the grant they must thrust their hands in their pockets again to clean up the construction indebtedness.
 Construction and maintenance of roads is one of the most important duties of county governments. Such roads should be constructed upon sys- tens which will facilitate cOmmuni- cation between all parts of theconnty. As an important center NogalcS is en- titled to the best possible communi- cation with the surrounding country. And the surrounding country has q like right to easy communication with Nogalcs. Heretofore that right has been denied and one important duty of local government is neglected. The people of the proposed county feel that this important matter has been too long neglected. They want d county government at home to repair the neglect Simple equity demands giving them what they ask.
 An onerous tax on the people of No gales, who will sustain half the cost of the new county, but which never appears upon the tax roll, is the ex- pense, both in time and money, now attendant on going eighty miles to the county seat on necessary business. Conservative business men estimate +l,,4 In tIfr ttfav NCnala- nave nnuu-