The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-01-25
PEOPLE WANT
COUNTY DIVIDED
UNITED MOVEMENT TO THAT END
Increase In Population and Great In.
duStrial Development Call For
County Seat Nearer
Its Heart

At meeting held in this city last
Saturday afternoon an informal or
ganization was effected for furthering
a cause which is fraught with greater
benefits for the residents and taxpay-
ers Of Hood River valley and the wes-
tern end of Waseo county than any
movement that has ever been project
ed. We say any movement that has
ever been projected, but we slightly
err In the statement, as it was pro-
| jected once before and failed.
The movement in question Is not
secret, for we think that it is by this
time in the mind and on the tongue
of almost every man in Hood River
valley, and is in short the division of
Wasco county, with the dividing line
between MosieT and The Dalles.
This is not a new question, as has
been stated, but to reiterate it, is one
in which every man who has the best
interest Of the section named at heart
is vitally interested.
The meeting was representative and
from those who we're present informa-
tion and encouragement was given
that pointed to the fact that the pro-
ject Is being received with not only
encouragement, but enthusiasm, ire
spective of political affiliations, which
is just what the legion of friends of
the division of the county want, and
also Just what will bring it to sue
cessful issue.
While the meeting was instigated
and took place in this city, 1t is the
intention to consult with and ask the
support Of all the outlying townships
which will become part Of the new
county II established and to which the
benefits cannot help but be equally as
great as to Hood River valley.
In the coming campaign there will
be the usual political affiliations and
the equally usual political ties which
few want to md many cannot break.
| The friends Of county division are
not asking any political sacrifices, but
they do ask that every one support
the movement. They ask it because
they think 1t Is their right to promote
what seems to the majority, and Is
undoubtedly so, the best interests of
the citizens who would comprise what
would be known as Cascade county.
The rapidly increasing population,
the great increase in valuation of
property, immense development in
business resources and an industrial
growth that has no equal in any other
J section Of this state outside of Port
} land, all call for the location of q
county seat nearer to the heart of its
activity.
: "Time is money!" so it lie said, and
to have a county seat located at Hood
River would be the saving of much
: time to the busy citizens of the coun-
try contiguous to 1t, who are forc'd to
make long journeys over county
roads with railroad ride of some
J length at the end of 1t. 1t would
mean not only saving of time to res
idents in Hood River valley, but q
saving of both time and mileage to the
residents of the west end of the pres
ent county and a greater convenience
and benefit to all concerned.
The time was ripe for county divis-
ion some time ago, but 1t has become
now almost an absolute necessity and
the unanimous call from all parts of
the section interested has caused the
Glacier to become its champion.
At the last session Of the legislature
the wishes of the citizens of this end
Of the county, while they failed of at
tainment, we're so nearly successful
that 1t is thought that by putting the
matter in its true light before the
members Of that body again and
showing it that the desire Ia unani-
} nous for county division, that every
member who believes in the right of
the majority to rule will feel compel-
ed to support the measure.
The time Is fast approaching when
the voters will be called on to present
the names of the men they feel are
best qualified to represent the will OF
the majority In public offices. The
direct primary law Is in the nature Of
an experiment. Few seem to under
} stand 1t and it would be well for every
one interested to look into the matter
and make no mistakes. The success
of the plan to create new county
! must depend largely on a successful
application of the new law and means
full and thorough registration. 1t
= also means going to the polls on elec-
! tion day with solid front and the un-
D derstanding that you are going to
cast your vote on that day for the
3 candidate who has pledged himself to
8 use his utmost endeavors in securing
new county.
I To this end and in order that an
effective organization may be had we
+ ask that the friends of the Il ovement
urge the voters to register early and
d. thus get out the full strength OF the
vote. Various suggestions have been
t made as to formally opening the cam
b paign so as to have all the districts
b completely in touch with each other,
: but it is the wish of the citizens OF
Hood River that the outlying towns
/. select delegation that can attend 6
n meeting to be held in this city at some
n date to be named in the near future
It and that they communicate With ethel
E p. S. Davidson, chairman, or S. f.
Fouts, secretary, of the Cascade
County Association.