The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-02-04
COUNTY DIVISION BILL.

The county divisionists seem to
have agreed upon a bill, which was
introduced in the legislature Monday
BY Representative Spaulding. Ii
provides for the abolishing Of
kootenai and the creating Of two new
counties, with temporary county
seats at Standpoint and Occur d.
Alene, the permanent location to be
decided BY q vote Of the people at
the next general election. The bill
which had been previously prepared
was found to be unconstitutional in
many features, making a change
necessary, and the Press publishes in
this issue the bill which is to divide
the county II it becomes a law. 1t
il the first authentic division bill
that has y ZEN printed in any Of the
county pabers, aside from the Taylor
bill which the Northern Idaho News
published some weeks ago.
Ii required much effort and
numerous changes to get bill salts
factory to those favoring division,
but it is thought that the one finally
agreed upon will do this. While it
does not leave the whole question OF
division to vote Of the people, this
provision-having so may doubtful
constitutional points in twas
eliminated, with the exception Of
that portion submitting the per
manent location Of the county seat,
which is expressly provided for by
the constitution.
We publish the bill in full that
the public may know just what it
contains. We believe that many
advantages will result to the people
from its passage. Kootenai Is one
OF the largest counties in the state,
las the population to make two good
counties, with valuation sufficient
Tor four, and territory enough to
make at least a dozen counties under
the provisions of the constitution.
As at present constituted, some people
must travel over one hundred miles
TO reach the county seat and those
from the southern portion are com
PEELED to make long stage ride,
then take the steamer to this city,
hire livery rig and drive to the
county seat at an expense Of about
$40 for transportation. The round
trip will consume three days, which,
with hotel bills added, will make a
loss Of from s2o 20 S25. County
division means that this expense is
TO be reduced one half.
While it is true that the assessed
valuation will be cut in two, i. is
also fact that the expenses, such as
mileage fees, travelling expenses Of
officers, litigation and the number Of
criminals cases are reduced. The
county seat is nearer the people aud
all public business can be more con-
Heniently transacted.
Occur d'Alene is admirably situa.
ted for county seat, its transporta-
tion facilities being superior to those
Of any other point in the proposed
new county. 1t has the lake and
rivers, the electric line, the North
srn Pacific and close connection by
steamer with the o. r. & y. at Har.
Tison. 1t is a growing city and an
important trade center to which I
people from all parts Of the proposed /
new county come for business pur-
poses. 1t has United States land I
office and it will often happen that
persons having business at that Office .
ran also transact their business with =
the county at the same time, thus :
one trip answer two purposes. r
We might 90 on with several
columns enumerating the advantages ,
Of the change II Il admitted that
division Of the county must come
within the next few years and there
seems Ia be no good resaou why it
should not be made at the present
session Of the legislature The bill
r. printed in another column is a
good one and should be read by every D.
citizen Of the county.