The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-01-26
BONNER COUNTY.
A Citizen Expresses his Views on the
Question of County Division.

house of representatives:
Hon. r. w. Cowden, Chairman
of the committee on counties and
county boundaries, Boise City
Sir: Two years ago it was conf
IDENTIFY hoped that Kootenai county
would be divided At the present
time the same hope prevails. The
sentiment OF two years ago has in
creased in warmth as the fairness
of the demand for division has ap-
peared clearer. The arguments
then have gained in conviction, and
the election ola representative from
this county pledged to labor for a
new county gives the measure the
most popular Endorsement that
could be made. North as well as
South Kootenai county are heart
and soul for new county.
We have our argument for div
ision on the great distance of the
center of population of Northern
Kootenai county from the present
county seat. We base our argu-
ment on the matter Of population,
taxable wealth, area, resources 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 KoOtenai was formed out
of Shoshone county. 1t embraces
the larger part of that fertile and
picturesque 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 90
miles. 1t has an area of upwards
of $500 square miles and a popu-
lation approaching 10000. Of its
area nearly 100000 acres have been
appropriated, valued at more than
half million of dollars. There
are $50 miles of taxable railroad
property in the county and pros
poets of greater railroad construc-
ton in the near future. The asses
sed value Of taxable property is in
the neighborhood Of So, 10000
Northern Idaho has an area in
round numbers of $4,000 square
miles, divided into five counties:
Idaho, Nez Perez, Latah, Shoshone
and Kootenai.
The area Of Idaho county is 1 400
square miles and its population is
estimated at 5000. It's assessed
property is supposed to be $1,000
600. Nez Perez county has al area
of 1900 square miles and a popula-
ton not exceeding 1900. Land
valued at 100000 has been appro-
priated and its taxable wealth does
not exceed 81 100000. Latah coun-
ty has an area of 1880 square miles
and is the most populous of the fvs
counties. Its assessed value does
not exceed the assessed value of
property in Kootenai county. Sho-
shone county has an area of 400
square miles and a population of
about 5000.
AS to area it will be observed that
Kootenai county is larger than
Shoshone and Latah counties com
bined. Its oblong form throws its
northern and southern lines farther
from the county seat than is the
case with either of the other coun-
ties. With one exception it is the
most populous county in Northern
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-
tenai county. Our people must
travel 81 miles in order to reach
the county seat. Two separate
railroads and a stage road must be
travelled, wi h no agreement as to
time tables, and connections are the
result of chance. The expense of
the trip is unreasonably burden
some. 1t is quite often found ex-
pedient 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 i'm the state of W,sb;no