Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-03-06
FIGURES ARE TOO HIGH

In the fourth paragraph OF their
argument against the question Of
county seat removal being submitted
to the voters for an expression OF
their choice the Rathdrum commit
tee having the matter in charge
make this statement:
1T must be kept constantly in
mind that the question is not now
an original one. involving the choice
OF a county seat for new county.
For years the county seat Of Koot-
enai county has been established at
Rathdrum. During that period there
has been accumulated at the county
seat, through expenditures of the
people and otherwise, public property
oficially estimated al $47,195.1O. OF
the various items entering into this
aggregate the courthouse and
grounds are valued at $4,000, the jail
at $4,000. vaults and fixtures at
$4,000; making a total OF $22. 900.
These items are here mentioned be-
cause by the terms OF the grant to
the county OF the courthouse site the
whole Is to revert to the grantor in
case the county seat is changed, thus
entailing a dead loss to the county
Of that amount OF property"
We do not believe the facts bear
out the statement conveyed In the
above. for the reason that they are
misleading, incorrect and calculated
10 deceive the people for the purpose
Of Influencing them to oppose the
submission Of the question at the
coming election, The $47,f95.1O
named as the total amount invested
In public property covers the poor
farm and buildings, which 1t Is not
proposed to remove, county records
and furnishings. and $4,000 in
courthouse and grounds, The build
Ing and grounds are probably worth
$500, no more The Jail Is placed
at value OF $4,000. figure which
is twice its actual value, II we deduct
the steel cages and ironwork inclos-
Ing them The vaults aud fixtures
are placed at $4,000. making a total
Of $4,000. II we accept these flg-
ures, there Is no way In which the
total can be brought up to the
amount named by our Rathdrum
friends as the actual Investment, and
when we deduct the value OF the
ground, which the county can sell
for what 1t is worth. the building
would not be considered worth more
than a few hundred dollars at best.
The steel cages can be moved and
used In another building. Deduct
these available assets and losses from
the $4,000 and there Is not to ex-
coed $4,000 left as the actual in
vestment of the county In property
which II has occupied for the past 30
years, That Is rental OF $500 a
year. which all win concede Is rea-
sonable. II we take this rental value
into account the people win have lost
nothing II they abandon what Is left
OF the old shell of courthouse at
Rathdrum and move the county seat
TO this city. The Rathdrum commit.
tee must revise its figures II II ex-
poets the people 10 accept them.
The people OF this city want the
removal question submitted on i,s
merits, to be decided by :he people,
and for the people They have en-
tered into no entangling alliances
with other towns and made no prom
ises for the purpose OF inllueneine
the people OF any part Of the county,
but are willing to let the voters de-
eide for themselves where the future
county seat shall be. DO the voters
believe that they have a right to de
eide this question for themselves. OF
are they willing that Rathdrum
should do the thinking for thems
Tha atty eaasn,aI a.. a-a..a. k...t.,s,s,.