The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-02-02
BoHxER COUNTY.
4 citissn Expresses His Views on the Ones
tion Of County Divisiou.

Citlssn kxprssses His Views on the Ones
tien Of County Division.
Bartlett Sinclair Of Bonner's Ferry
has addressed the following letter to
Chairman Cowden Of the committee on
counties and county boundaries Of the
house Of representatives:
Hon. r. w. Cowden, Chairman of the
committe on counties and county
boundaries, Boise City.
Two years ago 1t was confidently
hoped that KoOtenai county would be
divided. At the present time the same
hope prevails. The sentiment of two
years ago has increased In warmth as
the fairness of the demand for division
has appeared clearer The arguments
then have gained in conviction, and the
election Of representative from this
county pledged to labor for a new
county gives the measure the most pop.
ular Endorsement that could be made.
North as well as South kootenai county
are heart and soul for new county.
We have our argument for division
on the great distance Of the center of
population Of Northern Kootenai
county from the present county seat.
We base our argument on the matter
OF population. taxable wealth, area, re-
sources and our ability to maintain a
separate county organization equal in
rank to the most prosperous counties Of
the state at their inception.
Fourteen years ago the present
county of ko0tenai was formed out Of
Shoshone county. 1t embraces the
larger part of that fertile and pictur-
esque portion of Idaho known as the
Panhandle. From north TO south the
distance Is more than $50 miles and
from east to west the average distance
is more than 80 miles. 1t has an area
Of upwards of $500 square miles and a
population approaching 10000. or its
area nearly 10000 acres have been ap-
propriated. valued at more than half
million of dollars. There are $50 miles
of taxable railroad property in the
county and prospects Of greater railraad
construction in the near future. The
assessed value Of taxable property is in
the neighborhood of $4,000.
Northern Idaho has an area in round
numbers OF 5000 square miles, divided
into five counties: Idaho. Nez Perez,
Latah, Shoshone and Kootenai.
The area Of Idaho county is ll,400
square miles and its population is esti-
mated at 5000. Its assessed property is
is supposed TO be 81 10000. Nez Perez
county has an area of 1900 square miles
and a population not exceeding 400.
Land valued at $4,000 has been ap-
propriated and its taxable wealth does
not exceed $4,000. Latah county
has an area Of 1850 square miles and is
the most populous Of the five counties.
Its assessed value does not exceed the
assessed value Of property in kootenai
county. Shoshone county has an area
OF 400 square miles and a population Of
about $500.
As to area 1t will be observed that
kootenai county is larger than Sho-
shone and Latah counties combined.
Its oblong form throws its northern and
southern lines farther from the county
seat than is the case with either of the
other counties. With one exception it
is the most populous county in North
Idaho. Its taxable wealth is, with one
exception, the greatest. and in point of
natural resources it is second TO no
county in the state.
The disadvantages which adhere to
the maintenance Of excessively large
counties are no where more sensibly
felt than in Northern koo;enai county
Our people must travel 3. miles in or
der 10 reach the county seat. Two
separate railroads and stage road
must be Travelled, with no agreement as
10 time tables, and connections are the
result of chance. The expense of the
trip is unreasonably burdensome. 1t is
quite often found expedient in order to
save time and expense for residents Of
Northern kootenai county intending to
visit the county seat to go by way Of
Spokane in the state of Washington,
making a distance of $50 miles. To
say nothing TO the loss of time, the
pecuniary outlay Of such trip is en-
tirely inconsistent with accepted notions
of social economy. Assuming, and it
is fair assumption, that on an average
each person in this part Of the county
has need Of visiting the county seat
once each year: assume further that the
expense of such a trips only Ss5. it will
not require mind of ordinary penetra-
ton to see that these visits to the county
seat cost the people many times over
what they pay in taxes. Nearly all the
money SO expended leaves the county
and state and thus to very material
extent impoverishes our people who
are forced to make the contribution to
railroads and for outside hospitality.
Much complaint has been heard re.
Gently on account of large court expen-
ses. On the subject Governor Nc
Council has counseled the legislature
to adopt remedial measures. Combining
the suggestion to our own court, 1t is a
fact that much of the expense attend
ing the administration of justice is due
to the distance between the homes of
litigants and the courts. A large num-
Der of criminal cases arise on the out,
skirts of the county, and, to deal with