The copper era., 1908-05-21
County Seat Removal or County Division, Not Which Will You Have, But
 Which Can You Get?


 Eight or six years ago county division was ruch talked of, but many were of the opinion that it would be better to wait until the Gila Valley road canie in for taxa' tiou. This road has been paying taxes for the past four years and during this period there has been a very strong sentiment for division were very pronounced in favor of | division, but as soon as election was over, knowing that division of the county would diminish the pay of the newly elected, they then turned their faces hard against division, and al. ways with the result that the wishes of the people were defeated. They then began to say, "that a large couny could be governed much cheap CT than two small ones," which is not correct. The fees and salaries of the officers is small item in the govern mental expense of a county like Graham.
 It is the expenses of witnesses, jurors, suitOrs and of the people gem orally, and the convenience of the public, that is of the greatest im- pOrtance and should first be consid- cred, rather than the desire of few.
 The expenses of the people gener- ally at each term of court will not fall below Sl5,OOO, besides incon- venience and direct loss to their business going so far away from their home to attend court which falls heavily upon the taxpayers and much heavier upon those who have to make the long and expensive trip. It is a we'll known fact that this in- convenience and unnecessarily added expense prevents the territory and other litigants from procuring wit nesses, for no one likes to make donation of $50 or SlOO, just to see that the laws are duly administered, and no one can blame them.
 The most of the court business comes from the north end of the county, which creates fully two thirds of the costs in administering the affairs of the county.
 Once being fooled is enough, we have the light of the past to guide us in the future, the political bosses will defeat any bill introduced for county division, but we have county
 
 trol, and in the face of past history this is the only wise course to pursue.
 The court house should be located nearest the center of population and where the larges volumn of business arises, and this means Clifton. We have already, for many years, been put to much trouble and expense in 1 court far from our homes. ]
 The present court house is a worth ! less tumble down old adobe, which | will soon have to be replaced by | new one, and we had better by far | erect the structure at Clifton. All | the vaults and most of the furniture | in the old can be used in the new, and i, the old abandoned with no loss.
 Clifton will donate the necessary | grounds for the new building and | very probably will make other dOna- tions. Clifton always ought have had | the county seat, and if such were the case, we would now have a court house worthy ot that name.
 There IS no reason why all of the big companies will not sign the peti tion for county seat removal, as it is to their interest, and to the interest of four-hfths of those who have to do with county and court business, that the county seat be located in the north end of the county.
 Don't be fooled any longer by division talk. The bosses nave fooled you for six years, is that not long enough?
 Now is the time to go forward with county seat removal, let every one sign the petition, and have che submitted to a vote of those who ought to have a voice in the administration of the county affairs. We have all to gain by seat removal, and nothing to ose but the recollection of bad water. l. KEARNEY.