Year: 1866

Those of our readers who have carefully

 examined the Act of the last Legislature.

 creating Board of Supervisors in each coun- ty in the Territory, will agree with us that

 great powers are given those officers, and that

 they should be chosen with the greatest care.

 Let every voter in the Territory ponder the

 following section of the Act, defining the du-

 ties of the Supervisors:

 "sEC. s. The Board of Supervisors shall have power and jurisdiction in their respective conn. ties 1st, To make orders respecting the prop- erty Of the county, in conformity with any law of this Territory, and 10 take care of and preserve such property 2d, To examine, settle and al- low, all accounts legally chargeable against the county, and to levy for the purpose prescribed by law such amount of taxes on the assessed yalue of real and personal property !n the county as may be authorized by law 3d, To examine and audit the accounts of all officers having the care man. agemeDi, collection or disbursement, Of any money belonging to the county, or appropriated hy law or otherwise for it's use and benefit 4th

 To By out, consract and manage public roads tuTnpikes, ferries and bridges within the county. ID all cases where the law does not prohibit such Jurisdiction, and to make such orders as may he ne,essary and requisite 10 carry their control and management into effect 9th. To take care of and provide for the indigent sick of the couufy- oth To divide the county into townships, and to change inc divisions of tue same and 10 create new townships as the convenience of the county may require Itb, To establish and change cleo. uOn precincts and to appoint inspectors and iudg. es or election sth, To control and manage the property, real and personal, of the county and to receive by donation any property for the use and Deneht oi the county yth, To lease or to pur chase any real or personal property for the use the county; PrOrided, No purchase of real prop erty shall be made unless the value of the sam, be previously estimated by three disinterestet persons, to be appointed by the Probate Judge 10th, To sell at public auction, al the court hous, of the county, after at least thirty days prcviou public notice, and cause to be conveyed, any prop eriy belonging to the county, apprOpriating th, proceeds Of such sale to the use of the same iith, To cause 10 be erected and furnished. { courthouse, jail, and s1ch other public building, as may be necessary, and tO keep the same in re pair 18th, To control the prosecution or de fence of all suits to which the county is party l5thi To do and perform all such other acts and things as may be strictly necessary 10 the fuii dis charge Of the powers and jurisdiction conferred on the BOaTd.p

 Here is an extent of power and jurisdiction not enjoyed by any other county officers, and such as to require for its safe exercise the best judgment, the ripest experience and the sta'lnchest integrity. As the Supervisors decree, the counties may or may not be in- volyed in debt their affairs may or may not be we'll managed their prosperity may or may not be advanced. More even than mem bers of the Legislature is it in their power to aid or to injure the Territory, for the Terri tory IS but the aggregation of the counties.

 But all the powers of the Supervisors are not enumerated in the section we have quoted. Section 0 declares that they shall also act as Board of Canvassers, and declare the election returns, and cause certificate of election to be given by the clerk to any per son whom they shall find to have been legal ly elected to any county or township office, within the county, provided that the Probate Judge shall canvass the election returns as to Supervisors, and shall cause the clerk to give to each person elected to the office of Super visor, certificate of election.

 Section 10 makes it their duty to require new bonds of any county or township officer, with additional securities, whenever they leem the same necessary, and they may re- Iuire of all county township officers in