The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-01-26

peilse ol sucn Trip IS only 9Z0,
1t will not require a mind of ordin-
airy penetration to see that these
visits to the county seat cost the
people many times over what they
pay in taxes. Nearly all the mon
ey so expended leaves The county
and state and thus to very ma
terial extent impoverishes our
people who are forced to make these
contributions to railroads and for
outside hospitality.
Much complaint has been heard
recently on account of large court
expenses. On the subject Governor
Mcconnell has cOunseled the leg
islature to adopt remedial measures.
Combining the suggestion to our
own court, it is a fact that much of
the expense attending the admins
tration of justice is due to the dis
lance between the homes of litigants
and the courts. A large number
of criminal cases arise on the out
skirts of the county, and, to deal
with them, witnesses are subpoena
ed from remote corners to appear
before grand and petit juries. The
milage and fees paid out in this
way reach thousands of dollars
annually. At the present time an
inspection of the court calander of
our district court shows that about
one half of the cases originated in
the territory proposed to be set
apart as a separate county. The
expenses heaped upon litigants are
enormous. Citizens suffer viola
tons of their rights and thus, un-
consciously, encourage lawlessness,
because of the cost of bringing suit
for protection at so great distance.
Generally, it may be said, large
counties give greater opportunity
for political corruption. In distant
parts Of the county taxpayers and
citizens do not manifest that deep
interest in the finances of the
county which leads to wise and
honest administration. There is
lacking the opportunity to keep in
formed on county affairs and no
chance to frequently inspect the
county records. Frequent trips to
the county scat are necessary to
excite that deep concern in the
conduct of county officials upon
which political purity and good
government are so often made to
turn. Where county lines are cir
cumscribed there is always a closer
acquaintance between officials and
taxpayers, resulting in a salutary
watch over county affairs. In
Kootenai county there is absent
that sense of responsibility for
county affairs which attaches to the
individual citizen where there are
sympathy and community of inter
est between all the sections and all
the corners of the county.
In the proposed new county there
will be upwards of 2000 square
miles, or 1,2S0,000 square acres.
The population will exceed 1000,
with constant and rapid increase.
Its natural resources are varied
almost limitess. Mountains rich
in gold, silver, lead and coal trav-
erse it, and valleys of immense
fertility beautify it. Timber covers
its hills and quarries of granite and
other building stone are everywhere
found. There are few species of
wealth not native to the proposed
new county.
Taxable property of sufficient
amount to support a new county
lies within the segregated section.
More than $50 miles of taxable
railway property, assessed at nearly
81, 100000 is one item. A number
of hourishing towns, and ranches
throughout the northern part of
the county, form the basis for a
princely revenue. Perhaps in the
history of the state, no county ever
started out under brighter auspices
than Bonner County would begin
with. Ample territory, ample rev.
enue and ample population-noth-
ing more could be desired.
The division bill calls for Bon
ner's Ferry as the county seat.
Being centrally located on one of
the greatest navigable streams in