Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-09
COUNTY DIVISION
New Salem, Feb. 8. 1907.

4 t4sE5l New Salem, FSU.E %, TIVVa.lE5tEsi&
Editor Daily Bismarck Tribune
NY Dear Sir: Our law on county
division is SO unfair and unjust. det-
riment to the prosperity of our state a
that we would like to bring this Dues r..
ton before our people, and before the
senators and representatives, with the e.
hope that they will see this injustice
and remedy the same at this session
of the legislature. The law on county
division that we write Of is part OF
section 1880 of the code, which reads
as follows: IF it shall appear that
the majority Of all votes cast at such
election in each Of the counties, pro.
posed new counties, and the remain
ing part Of the county or counties In
terested is in favor of the formation OF.
such new county" etc, then they can
divide the county. otherwise not. This
Is the only part Of the division law
that is wrong, and should be changed
to read Shy the majority Of all votes
cast in any county in the state of
North Dakota" The voters may ask
for the division of said county, as the
law is laid down in our statute books
now.
The above should be changed for the
good OF our state. AS the law now
stands there cannot, nor never will be,
a change in our large counties, as we
never will get the consent Of the older
part Of said county They all like and
know good thing, and will keep all
they have. We believe that If the ma
jority Of the voters wish to divide
their county they should have the
right to do SO, as they are the people
that pay the taxes; and If they think
and believe that starting new counties
is to their interest, then there should
be no law to interfere with their
wishes Nothing would help the state.
Of North Dakota today more than If.
the whole state was cut up in coun-
ties of twenty-five townships each.
Roads. bridges and improvements of
all kinds would increase fifty per
cent. Take Morton county for an ex-
ample. We have in this county some
one hundred townships. The county
seat is in the northeast corner Of the
county, and we are willing to admit
that we have five of the brightest
commissio that live today, men
that never overlook good thing. Still,
we think that if the same one hum
dred townships were put in four coun.
ties, with four county seats and four
sets OF county commissioners instead
of the above five brilliant men. our
county would be much better cared
for. Roads, bridges and improve
ments Of all kinds would start up all
over the county at the same time, and
be finished at the same time. AS it
now l1, stands, they commence close to-
the county seat and the rest Of the
r T 4 -
county must wait, and help pay the
bills. n
II one county seat OF one hundred
townships can offer inducements for
capital to come to her for good in.
vestment, would It not look reasonable
that four county seats could bring in
more capital for investment than one?
Would this not be help along the
right lines? We, eight hundred vot-
ers OF Morton county think it would
be a great Improvement, and ask our
good friends from all over the state
to help us change this unjust law on
division Of counties.
JOHN BLooDGooD,
81, IL 5i55 Chairman.