Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1911-01-05

Much time has been used in our
courts in interpreting its provisions,
and at each recurring general cleo
ton our citizens are called to vote
on various amendments. While it per-
haps sufficed in the earlier years of
statehood. IT is no longer adapted 70
this growing state A constitutional
convention must be called in the near
future. / DO not recommend action
to be taken at this session. but be-
lieve it proper to call the attention
of our people to this subject so that
future action can be carefully consid-
cred before hand.
Creation of New Counties.
The state at the present time is
divided into. 23 counties. These vary
greatly in area as they do in popula-
ton and resources. Experience has
shown that the best and most eco
nomical administration Of county af-
fairs is possible only in small, COM
pact counties where the people have
common interests and the population
is homogeneous. There must be
great future increase in the number
of counties of southern Idaho. which
watered by the Snake river and its
tributaries, contains an immense area
of irrigable land that is now being
rapidly settled in many localities.
while in other places years will elapse
before it is fully improved. Until
our great irrigation systems are
brought to a successful completion
and our irrigable lands have a per-
manent population, il will become i'm
possible to definitely ascertain the
! centers of population or the proper
boundaries of new counties to be
created
In my Judgment it will be fore the
best interests of the people of this
entire section to patiently watt a few
years longer until conditions are
such that the permanent boundaries
of proposed new counties can be as
certainea and fixed. even if by so
doing slight hardships are sustained
by some of them I can see no other
was of avoiding serious troubles and
disputes in the future and prevent
ing complications that will necessar-
ilv arise in the premature adjustment
of county boundaries than to wait
until such time as | have indicated,
\ and then create all the necessary new
counties that will be required. From
I
done in four years, possibly in two.
Such Sction cannot properly be taken
and such boundaries permanently ar
ranged at the present time. and | am
absolutely and unequivocally opposed
to any measures tending to fix the
boundaries of new counties in this
particular district. unless conditions
should be proven to exist that are not
contemplated by me. In suggesting
in advance my ideas upon this i'm
pOrtant matter, / do not wish to be
understood as opposing the division
of amp county in the state where it is
apparent such division would be to the
interest of all sections of that coun-
ty, and would not work hardship up
any of it's citizens and where there
is a unanimity Of sentiment upon the
matter. and the boundaries of other
counties will not be infringed upon
nor would / desire to be understood
as opposing the temporary addition
to any county of a section of another
county where there was unanimity
Of sentiment on the part of the peo
pie of both such counties in favor o.
such change. and where the interests
of the people of the transferred sec
ton would be subserved bv sucl
: actionh While I have applied thu
above remarks in the main to the
Snake river valley in the southern
part of the state. they will also ap
ply in modified form to the northern
; part of the state.
; Legislative Representation.