A County Divided: Newport’s Bid for the County Seat

The Statesman-Index enters the county division discussion with the following:

When there is nothing else to talk about, county division seems to supply the deficiency. Colville can remain mum on the question and enjoy seeing the advocates of county division tear one another into shreds.

The fact that Colville went dry at the recent local option election gave Springdale a chance to sail in and start something. But the strange part of the Springdale plan is that Chewelah went wet, yet Springdale does not seem willing to reward Chewelah for her stand on the liquor question, but proposes a plan of east and west division whereby Springdale will become the county seat. Editor Brownlow says “nixie” to Springdale’s proposition, because by an east and west division Chewelah would naturally be thrown near the north line of the new county and would stand little show of landing the prize.

Newport also went dry in the recent option election and Editor Wolf becomes red-headed at the thought of east and west division, contending that the north and south line of the mountain range should be the dividing line, thereby giving Newport a chance to land the county capital.

But Newport’s worst enemies nowadays seem to be on the east side, and Editor Logue vehemently sets forth the claims of Usk and Ione.

On account of the heavy indebtedness of the county and the great expense which a new set of county officials, court house, jail and records would entail, those parties, even on the east side, who are at all posted on the financial affairs of the county, are opposed to county division at this time, claiming that it would only be another instance like Ferry county and would be a detriment rather than a benefit.

The editor of the Statesman-Index is inclined not to throw any obstruction in the way of a proper division of the county. We do not believe that the section east of the range is of any particular benefit to Colville. We believe that that part of the county west of the range is large enough and wealthy enough to take care of itself in good shape. It is the proposed new county, which will be shy of taxable property and short on population. The residents of the east side should well consider the matter before asking to be made a separate county. The ambitions of Newport, Springdale, Usk or Ione should be the last consideration in this matter.

In conversation with the best posted man on Stevens county finances recently he informed us that he was opposed to any county division at this time; that in ten years it would be feasible, and that then he would favor it. He has the situation sized up right and considers only the welfare of the taxpayers of the county.

To attempt to divide the county by an east and west line would make matters worse than at present. Expense would be increased with no benefit to anyone except the town of Springdale. We like Springdale, but not well enough to die for her in this way.

When county division is ripe, a north and south division, with the range as the line, is the only practical solution. Newport, Usk and Ione can then settle it among themselves as to which will be the county seat.

The Northport Republican gets in with this: “With all this scramble over the division of the county, and with so many worthy places scheming for first honors, why not quarter poor old Stevens county and give them all a slice.”