Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-10-28
A FAIR PROPOSITION
Proposed Nesmith County n.,
Support of Voters

The people of southern Lane -,
Northern Douglas counties. nnrS aaa
ing more than eight thousand so", .er-
feeling that they are qualifieS
economically administer their 70
affairs from governmental Stoa wv
point, have initiated a bill for su' ~
creation of new county to be knonts .us
as Nesmith, in honor of James py"a WyN,l
Nesmith, pioneer whose nams s
shines in the armament of illnS,.se
Gus Oregonians. The pronosos
county would contoin 1910 sruoSa oeu
miles, of which lap would SOM
from Lane and 46S from DonglaS'
leaving the former 2,9OS snnas. us
miles and the latter 4,993 souare
miles, a sufficient area from which
to still form several counties the eya
of Multnomah, Hood River. Colnm'
bia and Washington. The total
assessed valuation of Nesmith
county would be $5.9O957s
leaving Lane $1S,000,OOO and
country within the proposed nav
county is capable of maintaining an
organization that would, we believe
be to the best interests of the peonla
embraced within the territory, and
at the same time not deprive Other
people affected of their rights. No,
increase their burdens, nor work
them any injury whatsoever.
Owing to the large area of the
two old counties affected many resi-.
dents are put to great Inconvenience
delay and expense in transacting
business at the county seats. To com.
pei residents to travel from twenty
to sixty miles over bad roads in or.
der to pay their taxes, serve on
iuries, or as witnesses, is to inflit
a hardship upon them; yet it is more
a matter of self-government for
which the progressive people of this
proposed county are contending
Taxation and representation should
go hand in hand, but not so under
nresent conditions. For instance
Cottage Grove, the second city in
size and importance in Lane county
has never been permitted to name
county Judge, and it has been
quarter century since it had repre-
sentation on the county board Of
commissioners: while the territory
from Douglas county has never had
either a county judge or commission
er. The representatives in the state
legislature are from the county
seats-Eugene and Roseburg-thus
leaving a large tax-contributing COM
munity without voice in either local
or state affairs. Ninety-two per cent
of the residents within the proposed
Nesmith county signed the petition.
praying the voters of Oregon to
grant them self-government by the
creation of the new county, while one
particular section Immediately out
side the original boundary lines petit
toned the Nesmith committee Tor
admission to the new county, prefer
rinng to take chances with the new
rather than to remain with the DID,
This shows conclusively that the SEN
timert Of the taxpayers of the pro-
posed new county are practlcally un'
animous in favor of division.
Jointly Lane and Douglas nave
$500, 600 acres, or more than the
entire Willamette valley, ard OF TINS
vast area. only million and a quar-
ter are. asked by the new county :.
The neople within the territory OF
pronosed Nesmith county are pre-.
santing their case to the voters OF
the state without the slightest MIS-
representation, pinning their faith In
the voters to sunoort their conten-
ton that local self-government is me
ideal form Of government; that tne
nearer home government is cheaper
that laws are more effectuaIiy en-,
forced that greater DEVELOPMENT Oh
country is nossible; that better high
wavs are attainable; that its citizens
arc corvenienced bv nearness to the
scat of goverrment; that taxation
a"d concentration go hand in hand
ard that Nv the creation of Nesmitn
oountv the efforts of & large and pro-
oressive comnunitv would be rem
dered more effective in increasing
noNulation. developing the resources
and enhancing the greatness OF Ore
gon.