The County Seat Squabble That Could Sink a New County

The question of county division is lining up considerable interest on the east side of the county. Sentiment of the people seems overwhelmingly in favor of division along a north and south line, but it is plainly evident that an east and west division along the line of the pipe dream sent out from Springdale a few weeks ago, would meet with nothing but opposition from the east side of the county.

The Calispel Valley Times, of Usk, and the Ione Record, published by one man and from under one roof, are strongly in favor of division along north and south lines, but insist on putting in the front the matter of county seat location. The Times, of course, favors Usk, while the Record persists in stating that Ione is the only logical place for the new county capital.

As far down as Metaline dreams of county seat location are to be found. Cusick also has her ambitions and Dalkena may be expected to have hopes. It will be a pleasure to the opponents of county division on the west side of the county to see the atmosphere on the east side become charged with a county seat fight before there is one to locate.

The Miner is still of the opinion that the matter of location should be disregarded for the present. County division cannot be had for the asking. It will be necessary for the east side to show that it has the taxable valuation and population to carry itself along. It must be remembered that the east side's share of the county debt will be practically $100,000, a big load for a new county to start off with. Furthermore the west side has all three of the county's legislative representatives, and will doubtless continue to have them if the east side gets into an internal squabble.

Without a local representative in the legislature to present the cause of division and with a fight among ourselves, it is not likely that the legislators will lend a friendly ear to a petition for division.

It would therefore be advisable that representative men from all parts of the east side get together to plan a method of campaign to bring about the desired result. Arrangements must be made for the proper showing of our wealth, population, resources and ability to stand alone. Then when we have succeeded in landing division the matter of county seat location can be taken up. The claim of each community as to convenience for all parts of the new county will be considered by the voters, and by that time also development of the east side may have progressed farther toward a point where the best interests of all in the matter of location can be decided.