The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-07-22


tent, and its total population upon the
basis of the last census would be about
315, 900. The reasons advanced for the
creation Of the new state may be briefly
stated as follows:
The northern peninsula of Michigan,
the northern portion of Wisconsin and
the northeastern portion Of Minnesota,
embracing all the shore line of Lake Su-
perior in the United States, is especially
rich in timber and minerals. For this
reason the interests of the inhabitants
are practically identical and not wholly
IN accord with the interests of the three
states to which this mineral timber re-
gion now owes allegiance. Besides the
development of the territory under con-
sideration, though it began later, has
been much more rapid than that of the
older portions of the three states. So
great has been the increase of taxable
wealth in proportion to population, it is
claimed by the advocates of the scheme,
that its taxing value to the three states
Is much in excess of the political power
behind it, and it has been impossible to
secure the passage of many laws and the
making of many appropriations demand
fact" one of the strongest advocates of
the new commonwealth says, eve are
receiving less for the taxes we pay than
any other section of either of the old
states, and we are getting tired of it. :"
Notwithstanding the fact, however,
that n majority of the citizens in the
northern portions of the states seem to
favor the scheme, very many consider
it an impracticable one, and some are
decidedly opposed to it, and it goes
without saying that no one in the south
ern and older portions of Wisconsin,
Michigan or Minnesota favors it.
This is not the first scheme for the
formation of new state from portions
of old ones, but with the exception OK
West Virginia, which was erected out of
the northwestern portion of Virginia as
a war measure while yet Virginia was
state in the Southern Confederacy,
none of these schemes has ever been car
ried through. 1t was stipulated when
Texas came into the Union that at some
time its territory should be divided into
four several states, but it has never been
possible to do this, and the sentiment
there now is decidedly against it. Many
years ago 1t was proposed to erect state
that should include the whole of the
Delaware peninsula, which would take
in parts of Delaware, Maryland and Vir-
GINA, but none Of the states concerned,
excepting Delaware, has ever shown any
favor to the scheme.
Other new state'' schemes look to
the disposal of Nevada, which is stead
fly decreasing in population One of
these schemes is to join Nevada and
Utah, but this does not please Utah
Another is to annex Arizona to Nevada,
but this has never been regarded with
great favor by the residents Of either po-
htical division. AT the present time Ne
vada, with population of only 40, 900,
has two senator's in the upper house at
Washington, and therefore has the same
power in senatorial legislation as New
York or any other of the older and more
populous states.
For long time, too, there has beer
talk of dividing the state Of New York,
making 4 new state out of its extreme
southeastern portion, which would in
clude New York city, Westchester coun-
", Long Island and Staten Island. 4
similar plan, too, has been proposed for
the division of Illinois. This plan would
benefit Chicago, as the last mentioned
one would benefit New York city In
each case 1t is claimed by the residents
of the big city interested that such a
division would relieve a great munici-
pality of control by voters who reside in
more or less rural neighborhoods, and
so are not qualified TO take part in mu-
nlcIpal government. There has often
been talk, too. of anpexing the north
western portion OF Florida TO Alabama,
and Maryland has suit pending that
may deprive West Virginia of several
hundred square miles and leave the lat
Ger state IN two parts, with alien terri
tory between them.