The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-02-05

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in particular-promised if elect
ed, that he would use his best
efforts to abolish the county !?
We have heard such report at
least.
Mr.. Reed also informs us that
the idea to abolish originated in
Battle Ground, and not in HALEY.
We did not think that precinct
was SO disloyal to its county gov
ernment. We do not believe
we cannot believe that the mai
ority of the citizens of that pre-
cinct favor any such proposition.
But is it not a fact that the petit
ton was drawn up in HALEY?
NoW our friend tells us that the
taxable property of Custer coun-
ty is decreasing each year. But
there is no proof to substantiate
this. statement The Assessors
book shows that there has been
a large increase in the past two
years of assessable property, and
that instead of the county going
deeper in debt each year, it is
paying its current running ex-
penses besides paying off its old
debts at a rapid rate, until Gus
ter county is today in far better
circumstances than other coun-
ties in the state that we could
mention.
Now let US go further and see
what Mr.. Reed says 1.-THE
principal support of the opposi-
ton comes from the little towns
whollerive their support largely
from ranchers and stockmen. +"
Let US see if this is fact. AL
most unanimous remonstrance
petitions have been sent from
Custer, Bonanza, Clayton, Bay
horse and Challis. Do the first
four towns mentioned derive
their support from ranchers and
stockmen ? Do they not almost
wholly derive their support from
their mining interests ? Do not
the ranchers and stockmen, more
especially the farmers ofthe coun-
ty, depend. to a great extent. on
the mining towns of the county
for markets for their produce /?
No, the opposition to the scheme
to abolish Custer county comes
from three-fourths of the citizens
and taxpayers of Custer county;
those who have the welfare of
the people and the county at
heart.
1t is true that the taxes of our
county are high, but what relief
could be expected from going
into Blaine or I4emhi county F?
True. their taxes are less than
Custer county at this time, but
wait till these counties have to
meet their bonded Indebtedness
and interest, just as Custer coun-
ty is doing today, then see how
their taxes will climb skyward.
Suppose for instance, Big Lost
river was annexed to Blaine
county, and Haley the county
seat. The citizens of that part
of the county, in winter, in order
to get to their county capitol
would be almost compelled to
make the round-a- bout route via.
Blackfoot, Pocatello apd Sho-
shone and finally reach Haley
in about three days if they were
fortunate. The expenses to a
person to make this trip would
be nearly enough to pay the diff
ference between the taxes of the
two counties, besides the great
inconvenience. The same rule
would apply to US Salmon river
people who our Battle Ground
friend would annex us to Lemhi
county. Suppose the people of
Stanley and Seafoam were com
PEELED to go to Salmon to tran
sact county business, distance
of nearly 200 miles, wouldn't it
be ine luxury ?
Mr., Reed speaks of the heavy
burdens of taxation, but there
are other burdens, but the great
est burden he will find will be to
abolish Custer county.
To Tax the Gross output of MINES.