The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-02-27
COUNTY DIVISION BILL
BEFORE LEGISLATURE
A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Creation
and Organization of New Counties and
Government of the Same and to Provide
for the Continu ation Of Existing Laws.

A copy of the County Division Bill
introduced in the legislature by Repre-
sentatives McGhee, Reed, Anderson
and Hitchcock of the Sixtieth and
Sixty-First Districts, has been received
in this city and is being discussed
among those who are Interested.
The bill was read before meeting
of hastily summoned citizens Monday
afternoon at the Community Center
by Attorney Sig Dahl, w. A. Eaton and
Douglas Nelson of Virginia Attorney
Dahl explained the provisions OF the
measure. President w. P. Wolff OF the
Ely Commercial Club presided at the
meeting and Notwithstanding the short
notice given for the call large attend
ance was present
AS only one copy of the bill had been
prepared, the legislative committee OF
the Commercial Club had the same
mimeographed and copies were dis
tributed at the Tuesday evening meet
ing of the Club where also some dis
cussion was had for and against the
measure. Further information on the
matter was sought by those present.
The Bill with perhaps barring Few
typographical errors is In substance as
follows:
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the
State of Minnesota:
Section /. A new county may be
established out of the territory OF any
county in this State having an area
,,-$,v <7v-o hN1r7Crad
square miles and population OF more
than one hundred thousand inhabit-
ants, as hereinafter provided; but no
such new county shall contain less
than two thousand square miles, nor
less than sixty thousand inhabitants,
nor shall it have an assessed valuation
of less than one hundred million dol
lars, and no county shall thereby be
reduced in area below four hundred
square miles, nor so as to contain less
than fifty thousand inhabitants, nor
so as to have an assessed valuation OF
less than fifty million dollars.
Section 2. A petition addressed to
the Governor signed by voters residing
IN that portion of the original county
proposed to be set OF and established
as a new county equal in number TO
at least one-fifth OF those voting In
said portion at the last preceding
general election for state officers, giving
the residence of each signer, may be
filed with the Secretary OF State, and
a COPY thereof with the auditor OF SAID
original county, praying that a new
county be established out Of the terri
tory to be taken from such original
county. It shall state the name OF the
proposed new county and designate
the territory to be included therein
The signature of the petition need not
be appended to one paper. The peE-
toner procuring the signatures to each
such paper and petition shall make an
oath before a person competent to
administer oatfs, that each signature
therein is genuine signature OF the
elector whose name puports TO be
thereunto subscribed, and that such
signer is an elector duly qualified to
vote within the territory designated IN
the petition as the territory proposed
to be set of and established as new
county.
Section 3. If it appears that such
petition is in due form, complies with
the provisions of this Act, and IS
signed by the regular number of cleo
tors in the portion OF the original
county proposed TO be set OH and
established as q new county, Of which
latter fact the affidavit Of the petit
TONERS procuring the signatures to
such paper and petition shausbe prima
facie evidence, the secretary OF state
shall notify the Governor OF the filing
thereof, who shall within thirty days
issue his proclamation, reciting that
such petition has been so filed. the
substance thereof, and directing that
the question of setting OF and eStab-
fishing such new county be submitted
TO the electors of that portion OF the
original county proposed to be set OF
and established as a new county, and
calling a special election therefor, des-
ignating the time for holding such
election, which shall not be less than
thirty GOD days nor more than (50)
days from the time Of presenting said
petition, and directing that the same
be held in each election precinct in
said territory; but in no case shall
more than one proposition be submitted
at the same election
Section 4 Upon issuance of such
proclamation, the Secretary Of State
shall record the petition, afidayits, and
proclamation, and shall cause such pro-
clamation TO be published once each
week for three consecutive weeks in
the official newspaper Of said county
and also in at least one newspaper Of
general circulation published in the
territory proposed to be established as
a new county, and shall also transmit
a certified copy Of such proclamation
TO the auditor of such original county
Section S. Within ten uo) days
after the county auditor of the original
county shall have received a certified
copy Of the Governors PROCLAMATION,
said auditor shall caus. notice of such
election to be posted and given IN the
manner provided by Law for general
elections of State officers, and such
notice shall recite the Governors pro-