Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-02-28
County Division.

a movement has been on foot, orig
mating in Thief River Falls, to de-
tach the eastern part of Marshall
county and with this territory and a
portion of Red Lake county, to form
new county with Thief River Falls
as the county seat. That Marshall
county will be divided some day is
very evident, but whether the time is
ripe for such movement is ques-
ton. Whenever the majority of the
people in the eastern part of the
county desire to be set off, the people
of Warren and the western part of
the county, will, we believe, inter-
pose no objection but on the other
hand will assist them in forming
county of their own. But if the peo-
pie of the eastern part of the county
are wise we believe they will come to
the conclusion that the proper time
for county division has not yet ar
rived, and that it will be to their in
terest to remain part of Marshall
county for some years yet. A rail
road is bound to pass through the
eastern part of Marshall county be-
fore SO very long, and a town may
spring up that as county seat would
be much more conveniently located
than Thief River Falls. That is one
reason. But the strongest argument
against county division at present is,
we believe, the economic one. Mar
shall county is in good financial
condition, our court house is all paid
for, our bonded indebtedness small,
and the tax levy for county purposes
exceedingly light. There is great
deal of expense connected with the
organization of new county, the
building of court house and jail,
procuring record books and numer-
Gus other things necessary for the
smooth running Of the county machin-
cry, district court expenses, and the
support of a new set of county officers.
The experience of all new counties,
set off from older counties, is that
they would have been better off had
they been in less haste to break away.
Roseau county has incurred large
debt in getting its county machinery
in motion. 1t would have been much
better for the people if they had re-
NAMED part of Kittson county un-
til more of the land had been proved
up, and they better able to support
county government. The people of
Red Lake county would perhaps have
done as well if they had remained
part of Polk county a little longer.
The Thief River Falls Press gives as
reason why the people in the east
ern part of Marshall county should
desire to be set off, that they are be-
ing unjustly taxed for the benefit of
the people in the western part. That
is not in accordance with the facts.
The county records will show that the
eastern part has received out of the
road and bridge fund far more: than
they have paid in. 1t has always been
the policy of the county board to treat
the newly settled portions of the coun-
ty literally and with the utmost fair
ness. Commissioners Schie and
Rookie, who represent the people of
the eastern part Of the~county, are
honorable and fair minded men, who
certainly will see that their constitu-
ents are treated justly.
However this question Of county
division is one that concerns more
directly the people of the eastern part
of the county, and, as we said before,
whatever the majority of these people
want, the people Of Warren and the
western part of the county, will, we
think, be willing to concede and
grant. But should the majority not
want to be set off yet, the consider
able cost connected with the vote on
the question ought to be avoided, if
possible.
The annual township elections will