Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-09-26
CHANGING STATE BOUNDARIES

A JOINT resolution has been introduced
IN congress by Representative Burton
L. French Of Idaho to authorize the
states of Idaho and Wyoming, through
action by their legislatures, to exchange
small strips Of land along the boundary
line between the two states, so that the
residents of the respective areas NAV be
better accommodated.
Certain areas Of southeastern Idaho
because of typographical conditions,
are more accessible from Wyoming than
from Idaho, and likewise territory
lying within Wyoming is more readily
reached through Idaho.
Representative French, it is pointed
out, acted on receipt of petitions urging
relief. In order that the boundaries
might be altered, one of two procedures
is necessary. The states concerned NAV
pass legislation eeding to each other the
lands involved, and then ask the con
gress of the United States to ratify the
cession. The other method is the pas
sage by the congress of an enabling act,
and then authorize the states through
their legislatures to make the cessions
Ct the lands they desire.
The cesSons in question along the
Idaho Wyoming border would, no doubt,
If made, prove to the convenience, com
mercially, of the inhabitants of the
lands, but in the proposed cession of
lands by one state to another, political
and historic connections arise, which
serve to more than offset the CONNER
eial advantage of the change.
Several years ago, a memorial to con
gress was introduced in the state legis
lature of Idaho by a gentleman from
Bonner county, for the creation of the
state Of Lincoln" from the north of
Idaho, and that portion of Washington
lying east of the Cascade mountains.
Also, efforts have been made to have
northern Idaho annexed to Washington. ;
Both schemes have failed, yet it was
declared that northern Idaho, by reason +
If its peculiar geographical position, {
md lack Of direct transportation, was
n area distinctly apart from the south
IN twO-thirds of the state, and was tri-
'utary to Spokane, as its natural job f
ing point. b
In commenting on proposed changes +
n state boundaries, and especially men, 4
ioning scheme to transfer a part of f,
7estern Florida, extending for $50 miles
n the seacOast, to the state of Alabam9 81
s well as the north Idaho situation, the g,
lew York Sun says: o.
a Proposals for rectifying boundaries o.
S well as for dividing states have been
lany, the changes actually made few. D.
There historic associations gather 9,
round divisional line they are not W
asily enacted, whatever may be the 81
numerical considerations working in a,
rat direction. In cases in which rail
ay connections have made the bust -
sss relations of a region closer with
lOther state than with its own the
medy is found in the construction of
W lines. Political geography enters
mewhat into railway building"
The economic development of the in |
rior of what is now the great state of
aho, would be seriously menaeed by
vision of the state, whereas, mainten
ee of existing political conditions
rves as a stimulus to the construction
roads, and later railways, that viii
ire closely cement together the PEG
rs of the north and the south. Would -
at transportation may so develop,
At the north could sake off relations
tn Spokane, and the south abandon
business connection with Salt Lake,
the end that the state of idaho might
velop within its borders a commercial
4 iobbing center that would serve the
ire state, Until this can be accom-
shed, idaho cannot expect to possess
.ity Of real consequence.
instead Of puzzling our brains about :
angling state boundaries so they will
ase those who may be temporarily
onvenienced, we should put forth in