The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-16
A WAY TO GET IN.

The Utah delegation in congress has In
troduced bills TO annex to the state Of Utah
all that portion OF Arizona lying north OF
the Colorado river and west OF the east
ern boundary of Utah. This would give
Utah a natural southern boundary. In
stead OF an artificial parallel of latitude
as state line, and 1t would add to the
states area a piece of territory nearly as
large as the state of New Jersey.
While as a general rule II Is unusual for
states to alter their boundaries after hav-
ing once been admitted to the Union. there
are instances where il has been done
among some of the newer states. Ne
vada some years ago had congress ex-
tend its southern boundary 10 the Col
orado river. as Utah now proposes to do.
Nebraska adjusted it's northern boundary
by taking a triangular piece from Dakota
Prior to the admission OF the state of
Washington, the question as to whether
the panhandle OF Idaho should be annexed
to the new state was much discussed, and,
IL We are not mistaken, a number of bills
providing for admission with that annexa-
ton were introduced in congress. As 10
how the state OF Nevada might be i'm
proved so that It's population would be IN
keeping with It's congressional privileges
is question which viii no doubt be dis
cussed so long as that state has no more
people than is contained in a good-siZed
city The constitution or Nevada pro-
vides for adding to the state portion OF
Utah, but in view OF the latter's growth
and recent admission, there Is very little
probability OF that constitutional provision
being brought into use. There have been
many suggestions made from time to time
looking towards a partitioning OF Nevada
among the surrounding states. a part TO
go to Idaho a part to Oregon. a part TO
California and possibly q part to Utah.
but so long as Nevada has anything to
say In the matter such readjustment OF
lines is hardly to be expected.
Adding a portion OF Arizona TO Utah
will probably meet with little opposition
except In Arizona. The people there are
very anxious for statehood and they may
think parting with a portion OF their ter
rftory will not enhance their chances for
seeing their desire gratiied. But there Is
| little probability that Arizona will be-
come a state In the very near future. IL
woNld perhaps make better member OF
| the Union than Nevada, but its proper
| ton OF arid and unproductive land Is so
! large ana It's Industries SO limited that II
will be many years before Arizona can
| come up TO what tlrst-clsss common
| wealth should be. Perhaps the very best
| solution OF this annual problem Of admit
| ting New Mexico and Arizona as states
would be in q reunion OF the two. II they
/ could unite and present an application for
/ admission as single commonwealth IL IL
/ not improbable II would be received with
/ favor. even at the present time. To be
/ sure. II would make large state. second
/ only to Texas in size. but IL is not likely
/ that its population would for many years
! be greater than a fnll-iedged state ought
/ 10 have. In these two territories there Is
a similarity OF country and climate. OF
| resources and industries. and probably
! greater natural Affiliations than can be
found between the peoples OF any two
/ states in the Union. Together they now
/ have a population that comes up TO re-
/ quirenents SO far as numbers are con-
/ eerned. and Il they could pool issues, Il
/ might open a way 70 very satisfactorily
settle a question which IS likely to be put
/ or for some years while each IS asking to
/ come IN as single state.