The Ordway new era., 1920-10-29
CIV. Purcell Sets
Right Some Very
Important Points

Hugo and vicinity have had a mis-
taken idea about the proposition of
annexing ten of the southern town
ships of Lincoln county to Crowley
county. They state that Ordway
worked up this sentiment and make
several other false statements. G.
w. Purcell who was one of the rasi-
dents of the townships in questicu,
and who worked hard on the propo-
:ition has written letter to set them
tight. Tho letter follows:
Ordway. Colo, Oct. 81, 1920.
Editor, Lincoln County Democrat,
Hugo. Colorado.
Dear Sir:
In reply to the letter OF Mr.. 1. e.
Iceland in the Range Leader of last
week in which he refers to the pro-
posed annexation of ten townships in
the southwest part of Lincoln and
Crowley counties should support this
annexation.
FIRST: Because more than two
thirds of the tax payers in this terri
tory have petitioned the County COM
missioners of Lincoln and Crowley
counties to have this put on the bal
lot this election.
SECOND: Because it is matter
that concerns vitality the majority of
us and the voters of Lincoln county
should not attempt to determine
against us for the benefit of selfish
parties who would like to add more
taxation to us by creating new
county in southern Lincoln county
some time in the near future.
THIRD: Three-fourths OF US in
this territory do all of our trading in
Ordway and haul most of our crops
there because II Is 4 down hill haul
and in as much us we do this 1t
would save us an extra trip to pay
our taxes. AS conditions now exist
1t is necessary for each and everyone
of us who trade in Ordway to make
a special trip to Hugo at an extra ex-
pense which most of us cannot afford
in order tn pay our .axes.
FOURTH: Taxes on dry land in
Crowley county do not amount to as
much as taxes on dry land in Lincoln
county. This we have ample proof of
as one of the petitioners, Mr.. Henry
! Stut3man Is paying taxes on 800
acres of land in Lincoln County and
320 acres adjoining in Crowley coun-
ty and his taxes on his land in Lin
coin county is more than that Of his
Crowley county property and he ad-
vises me that his land in Crowley
county is better piece of land and
better adapted for farming than his
Lincoln county land. This is suffi-
cent proof that Crowley county is
not a high taxation county and for
Mr.. Leland's information, l beg to
advise that Crowley County has no
bonded indebtedness and that the as
sessed valuation of dry land in Crow
ley county is $4.15 per acre. Crow
ley county is not trying to hide be-
hind low mill levy with high as
sessed valuation.
While it is true Mr.. Leland lives
in this proposed annexation territory
yet 1t might be well to scrutinize
carefully what Mr.. Leland's real pur-
pose is for opposing this annexation.
| First, / want to state that he has
grossly misrepresented the condition
existing. Second, his pet ambition
and that of one or two others possib-
ly. is to form a new county in south
ern Lincoln county with Karval as a
county seat and Mr. Leland sees his
pet hobby vanishing If these ten
townships are annexed to Crowley
county.
would respectfully ask of the vo-
ters of Lincoln county to consider
| these matters seriously and weigh
them carefully to see whether or not
in view of all existing conditions VIC
are entitled to be annexed to the
county in which the ajority of us
do our business.
Also / want to state further that
the Crowley county people did not
have anything to do with this annex
alton until n delegation from our ter
ritory went to Ordway and met with
the Commercial club and asked the
Commercial club if it would be agree
able to them for us to come into their
county and after due consideration
they agreed that the territory natur-
ally trade with Ordway and that if
the people in these ten townships or
the majority of them wished to come
with Crowley county that it was
agreeable to the people of Ordway,
and they believe in cooperation.
Crowley county business mon are
not endeavoring to slip anything ever,
neither have they anything hidden up
their sleeve and these of us in this !
territory who are boosting the an
nexatiOn of these townships have our |
cards on the table end we would ask
that Mr.. Iceland get his cards on the /