The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-03-04
PASSED THE SENATE MONDAY
Signed by the Governor d'AIene the
County Seat of Clark.

Kootenai for 81 years, but did not
consider that be owned the county.
He told Of his difficulties in reaching
the county seat, and declared the
only people obiecting to county
division were those residing in or
near Rathdrum. He stated the south
ern end Of the county had increased
100 per cent in population in the
last three years, while the section
about Rathdrum had not increased
20 per cent ia 10 years.
The present county buildings we're
worth but little, be asserted, and be
was willing TO donate more lumber to
get a conveniently located county
seat than was contained in the pres
ent courthouse. He believed that IL
was 20 the best interest Of 80 per
cent Of the people to have the county
divided. II was now large enough
for a good sized state, and a contract
had been let for the survey Of 2oo,
600 acres Of land that would be
thrown open for more people to
locate on.
J. A. Spaulding, president Of the
Red Collar line Of steamboats,, plying
on the st. Joe river, declared the
people Of the sections be had visited
desired division, instead OF being
put 10 the expense and delay Of going
to Rathdrum.
Pred l. Burgan, Of Occur d'Alene,
explained the transportation facil-
titles Of the different portions of the
county from a wall map, showing
that from nearly all portions Of the
present county, the inhabitants were
compelled 20 go through either
Standpoint or Occur d'Alene to reach
Rathdrum. OF the southern county,
IL was claimed. that three fourths
were living in Occur d'Alene or
south Of that place.
Mr.. Hoffman spoke for over two
hours in support of the retention Of
the present county Of Kootenai The
question had been threshed out be-
fore the house committee, be said,
and an adverse report bad been the
result. He commended principally
that the bill did not represent the
desires Of the people of Kootenai
county, % precincts having petition
ed without opposition for the reten-
tion Of the present county. He
attacked some Of the petitions upon
the ground that the names were not
genuine, reciting the charges Of
duplication aud names wronefully
signed that had been made when the
Taylor bill was before the senate a
few weeks ago.
Does this not show" he asked,
that some methods have been
resorted to to manufacture evidence
by which this legislature might be
imposed uponS"
He pointed out that Occur d'Alene
opposed the Taylor bill, which did
not grant 1t a county seat, and
argued that the entire matter was
simply question of the location Of
the county seat, which the constitu-
tion said must be submitted to a vote
of the people. He read from a num-
her Of kootenai county papers in sup.
port Of this contention. notwith-
standing the protests of MIR, MeClear
and Senator Taylor, who evidently
desired to hurry the proceedings to
early conclusion. The opponents of
the bill, he stated, were willing to
leave the matter to vote of the
people, but the friends of the meas.
ure we're not.
The people we're opposed to county
division at this time, believing It TO
be premature and that &c would In.
flict heavy burden Of taxation.
Sheriff Doust made a short talk to
the committee, asserting the expense
of summoning jurors was not as
heavy as represented and that the
means Of transportation were good,
Ninety per cent of the people to
whom he had talked opposed division.