La Junta tribune., 1909-01-30
COUNTY DIVISION MEETING.
Prominent Citizens Of Ia Junts, Man
xaneis, Fowler and Rocky Ford
Meet and Place Seal Of oisappros-
aI Upon County Division.

OF the towns Of La Junta. Manzano-
la, Fowler and Rocky Ford, was he'd
In the club rooms Of the Rocky
Ford Business Mems Association
last Tuesday. There were present
from Manzanola T. J. Barlow and
r. J. Stanley; from Fowler. b. w.
Benedict, A. S. Marshall and q. b.
Burnett; Rocky Ford. l. ID. Hale, w.
C. Steele. e. J. Cover. q. NJ. Hall
and II. J. Sprinkler; La Junta. X
Phillips, w E. Andrews and J. w.
Fisher The meeting was called to
order by II. J. Sprinkler. who stated
that the object OF the meeting was to
discuss the question Of a division OF
the county as proposed by certain In
terests on the north side OF the
Arkansas river. bill having been
drafted and Is now about to be In
troduced into the legislature for The
proposed division.
On motion. Mr.. Sprinkler was made
chairman of the meeting and r. Phil
lips secretary. A letter from Wm. II.
McCaskill, memi er OF the house of
representatives OF Otero county. Colo
RADIO. was then read. as follows:
Denver, Colo. January %. 1909
Mr. II. j. Sprinkler. Rocky Ford. Colo.
Dear Sir. Yours OF the 23d inst. re-
ceived. You are working along the
right line. ! would like protests
against the proposed county divi-
sion from the boards of trade of
Rocky Ford, Swink, La Junta, Man
zanola. Fowler and Sugar City. togeth-
er with petitions against signed by as
many as can be induced to do so.
map OF the proposed new county. the
valuation. population. estimated tax
levy of new county. and anything
bearing upon the subject. Address al
protests and petitions to the speaker
of the house of representatives, and
mail to me. and will present them
at the proper time. II you will co
this. Otero county will not be divid-
ed. will Introduce a bill tomor-
row to place Otero in the third
class. and think the bill viii pass.
Yours respectfully.
"WM. II. MCASKILL.
A general discussion OF the dtyi-
sion proposed was then entered into
in which every one present took part
| Mr.. Marshall, Of Fowler. told of hlv-
ing visited Denver and having had an
Interview with Representative McCns-
kill and Senator Crowley. in which
they expressed themselves as being
opposed to county division, but
they are powerless to do anything
unless they have the backing and
know the wishes of the people of
the county. He said that Messrs.
McCaskill and Crowley were in doubt
as to the final outcome OF the ques-
| tion unless there was decided
stand made by the majority OF the
people OF the county against diNi
sion
| Every one present spoke In oppo-
sition To the scheme, a good many
different reasons being given. AIR
Barlow said that the proposition TO
make the Arkansas river the divi-
sion line, even for short distance,
was impracticable. as complications
would be sure to arise in the future
re-ative to the construction OF
bridges, or the maintenance of those
ialready Luilt. In addition to this, the
1 interests on either side OF the river
for a considerable distance are al
ways Identical and division which
makes the river the boundary line
separates. and cuts apart interests
which are already united.
Mr.. Stanley mentioned two rea-
sons against division not touched by
anyone else. one of these being that
for the past few years there has been
a large expenditure OF money Tor
bridges and roads in the section cover
ed BY the proposed new county. and
this expenditure being in the nature OF
a permanent improvements the expens
of these items in the future to The
county will not be great. His other
reason was that Otero county. which
is now the ninth county in the state
in assessed valuation, would, by the
division, he placed lower down on the
list OF counties, and the effort now
being made by our representative to
have this county placed In the list Of