The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-01-31
COUNTY DIVISION.

tereSted, because there seems to be
a we'll defined movement on foot to
secure division in some form. The
people OF Rathdrum naturally are
opposed to division from the fact
that it means the loss of the county
seat, If not at present, then at a
later date, 1t is not the interests
OF the people Of Rathdrum that are
alone to be considered, but the peo-
pie OF the county. Kootenai county
is larger than some OF the eastern
states, being $50 miles long by 81
miles in width. Its magnificent
distances are sources OF great ex-
pense in transacting public bust
ness. The officers pile up big bills
for mileage and expenses as a re-
suit OF the long distances travelled;
Jurors and witnesses must be paid
time and mileage in going to the
county seat. People who are COM
PEELED to attend to business matters
at the county seat are put to a
heavy expense and, taking all these
things into consideration, it is evil
IDENTIFY not going to increase the ex-
penses in any case by dividing the
county and shortening the distances
to the county seat. 1t is true that
two sets Of officers will be necessary
where there is now one, but il is
also true that where the present Of
hcers are compelled to have a num-
Der OF assistants, these can be dis
pensed with because the business
will be divided. The argument
that the county own public build
lngs at Rathdrum amounts to moth
ing for the simple reason, as every
one knows, that if the property
were put on the market it would
not bring S. 900. The court house
IS an old shell of little value and
the Jail is insecure, a fact that has
been demonstrated by the frequent
Jail deliveries in the past few years.
Public.buildings of a more substan-
tial and modern kind are needed
and must soon be constructed and
every person who has given the
matter serious thought knows that
It IS but a question of short time
when the increasing population and
wealth of the county will make di-
vision an absolute necessity. The
time IS coming when the people !
will demand division in such terms |
that there will be no way of pre-
venting it. Under these conditions
1t IS question if now is not the
proper time to accomplish division.
The county has an assessed valua-
tion that will approximate S., ooo,-
300. Its great timber interests are
icing developed and adding humid
eds OF thousands of dollars to our
wealth; the county records, MANY |
II them, are insecure from loss by {
ire which is liable, at any time, to |
lestroy the old shell now used as a {
ourt house. In the course of a l
ew years the timber will have been s
ut and the land will then be occu- I
bed by farmers. 1t seems to us
hat under these circumsta noes no
'etter time will ever come for divi-
ION than the present and in fact.
public sentiment, outside of Rath-
irum, seems TO be largely in favor
u the proposition, and we believe
hat big majority would be re
ofded in favor of it were the mat
er left to vote There Is grow
ng belief that if we are ever to d.
ide and have substantial public
III the two counties il
hould be done while the great
imberlng industries are making
rosPerity and creating wealth that
an bear its just share of the ex-
ense. The assessed valuation is
lthcient for two good counties and
ach would still be large in extent
! territory, and were the county
at OF the southern county located
Ceur d Alene it would be cent 3,
Il and easily accessible for all the d'
eople, especially so for those liv- "
g south of here. The people -,
moving that division must come
some time, will never consent to "
e erection of permanent buildings
Rathdrum and when all of these
ings are considered, we see no =
lid objection to division at the
esent time, and if the legislature S IA