The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-01-30
DIVISION OF THIS
d ouNTY ARousES TAXPAYERS.

The taxpayers of Shoshone county
Hts theatened with new danger thai
Was arisen In the form Of movement
Il divide the county. There have been
intimations during the past few
months that an attempt would be
made by the people living In the ST.
Joe section-that generally referred to
Tx the St Joe watershed, to establish
Il new county, taken partly from
kootenai but largely from Shoshone
An Investigation, Of the rumor shows
that there is not q general or very
strong demand for such action on the
part Of the residents of ST. Maries and
the country that would be included In
the boundaries of the proposed new
county In fact. it is doubtful If a
majority of the taxpayers there are
in favor of the plan. Neither Is there
any sentiment in the legislature, so
far as can be learned. in favor of the
creation of the proposed new county.
except among a few where the influ-
have been felt County division fur
nishes the trading stock for innum-
cradle deals" in the legislatures Of
all new states, and future develop
ments may prove that a pledge Of
votes in favor of dividing Shoshone
county was secured In this manner.
It is certain that none OF this county's
delegation is in favor of the plan, and
for very good reasons.
In view OF the rapid increase in
population of the state, and especially
of the northern portion, 1t is to be ex-
pected that new counties VIII be
formed in time, but all who have
looked into the situation are convinced
that the time for cutting Shoshone In
two and creating new county is in
opportune. The new county would
find the burdens of self government
greater than many suspect, notwith-
standing the fact that the revenue
derived by taxation from the section
that would be cut off from Shoshone
is considerable. This revenue Is now
far in excess of the sum that has been
collected in the past. before the rail-
roads entered the district, and before
the numbering industry grew to. its
present proportions. Shoshone coun-
ty has borne the burden uncomplain
ingly and been fair and liberal in its
attitude to the people of st. Maries
and surrounding country. The tax
payers of all parts of the county feel
that 1t Is but just that the county re-
main as 1t is for some time to come
and that it receive the benefit of the
increased revenue from taxation of
property in that portion that would be
cut off by the proposed division. In
round numbers, this amounts to $780,
600 year at the present time, This
decrease in the revenue would neces-
sarily have to be met by raising the
rate of taxation in Shoshone, after the
formation of the new county for as
is pointed out by the board Of county
commissioners, 1t would not be posi-
BILE to materially decrease the ex
penses of county government The
same number of county officers would
be required and the expenses of the
several offices could not be appreci-
ably lessened.
The members of the legislature who
favor the division include, it is said,
some of the kootenai delegation, who
promised St Maries to work for
new county of which st. Maries should
be the county seat. in return for aid
given Kootenai when the county seat
war was on between Occur d'Alene
and Rathdrum. without doubt a
great deal of work will be done In the
y .l
legislature to bring about division.
but there is every reason to believe
that prompt and energetic action will
head on the movement, and result in
the defeat Of the bill that has been in