Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-14
Bill to Be introduced Into Leg
iSIature Making New PoIiti-
cal Division Called Sumner
About Town of That Name,
CONTRIBUTE ROOSEVELT
AND GUADALUPE SLICES
Want Plains of Chavez and
Eddy Unitedi Taxpayers Are
Expected to Protest at
Formations,

;spse,AL eoaRssrososses TO MORNING JOURNAL
Santa Fe, Jan. 13.-Of the making
of new homes there is no end
only none of them have ever beer
finished up to date.
New Mexico is a large state-the
fourth largest in the union. 1t has
only twenty-six counties, as against
146 in Georgia and considerably more
that 200 in Texas. There are one OF
two counties in New Mexico that en-
brace more territory than some east
ern states. Ours is state of magnifi-
cent distances and vast spaces
A few years ago twenty-siX coun-
ties were enough and to spare for New
Mexico. The population was small
and widely scattered. No county had
more than enough money TO support
its necessary organization-to pay the
salaries of officials and defray the
ordinary expenses of county govern
ment But that was few years ago
Times have changed.
Tide of immigration.
Tides of immigration have been
flowing into New Mexico and are
growing with each passing year. The
state has been we'll advertised and its
advantages are becoming known. Peo-
pie have come to learn that this is a
land of opportunity. They are head
ing this way to take advantage of
what New Mexico has to offer.
Practically all of this immigration
has come from the east and not un-
Ii,, H. 1n., 40 n,.Y,
New Mexico have been the first to feel
the stirring of new blood. The popu-
lation of the eastern slope has grown
more rapidly than that of the re-
mainder of the state.
Every citizen, at some time during
the year, has business of importance
at the county seat. The railroad as
"a means of transportation is accessible
to comparatively few. To the great
mass of the people more primitive
methods of travel are necessary. 1t is
a matter of vital Importance that the
county seat be not too inaccessible to
the average citizen.
Where Opposition Comes.
With the growth of population, es-
nues from taxation have increased and
the means to support new counties
have come into existence. Conse-
quently there has come into existence
a demand for the creation of new
counties, in order to serve the con-
venience of the greater number of peo-
pie.
When a new county is created, the
territory that it embraces and the
population that inhabits it necessari-
ly comes from counties already in eX-
istence. That means less taxable
property and a smaller population for
the old county, greater burden for
those who remain to. bear. Hence
there is always opposition, active and
spirited to the creation of a new coun-
ty. The man from whom something
is taken never quite sympathizes with
the man who takes it from him.
They're at 1t Again.
All of which is merely preliminary
to saying that the county tinkers are
at it again, and that there will be the
usual effort at this session to carve
out new political subdivisions of the
state. What success their efforts will
meet cannot be predicted at this time.
but as the constant dripping of wa
ter wears away the hardest stone,
there is reason to believe that even if
they do not succeed they will come
nearer to it than at any time in the
past.
At every session of the legislature
since statehood there has been an ef-
fort to create a new county out the
country surrounding Fort Sumner,
embracing mainly portions of Guada-
lupe and Roosevelt counties The
present session is no exception. 1t is
proposed to call the new county Sum-
ner and to leave the selection of the
county seat to a vote of the people.
In this way there will be no opposi-
tion to the formation of the new coun-
ty from towns whose citizens might
think themselves entitled to that dis
tinction and improperly deprived of 1t
by the trainers of the bill
Roosevelt Compensated.
In drawing the bill for the creation
of the new county. which is to be in
troduced at an early day, care has
been taken to reconcile, as far as pos
sible, all possible differences and al
lay all opposition that may arise.
Roosevelt county is to be compensated
for considerable loss of territory by
having part of Chaves county an
nexed to the southern end. The re-
publican majority in the house will
have nothing to fear, because it is the
democratic end of Guadalupe county
that is to be clipped off. and the pre-
sumption is that the county will be
left a normally republican commun-
ity. There will be no democratic gain