The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., June 7, 1912, page 1
TIME FOR NEW COUNTY
----------------
Some Reasons Why People of Western Klickitat
Should Be Interested in Creating
New County
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It would give the west end individuality.
In case of emergency the county seat could be reached
quicker.
The west end is big enough and rich enough and wise enough
for home rule.
There would be an estimated expense of $5,000 for
transcribing the records.
Tax payers of the west end would have the satisfaction
of spending their own money.
A new county would be another indication of progress.
The value of that alone would be worth a lot.
The longer county division is put off, the more the west
end pays of the county's bonded indebtedness.
With the boundary line between ranges 13 and 14 the new
county would have about 450 square miles of territory.
Western Klickitat is the highest assessed part of the
county, representing probably over one third of the entire valuation.
Increased population and valuation in the western part
of Klickitat county made possible the higher salaries at Goldendale.
Since January 1st, 1912, the west end newspapers have
done $5.15 of the county's printing. How's that for fair distribution?
The west end pays more for the care of the unfortunate
in the rest of the county that the "rest of the county" pays for the poor
of the west end.
Taxpayers would be more conversant with county business.
They would be more widely informed as to how their taxes were being spent.
The new county would not have to assume any of the present
bonded indebtedness for improvements unless any of the improvements fell
within the new county.
The business of 400 or 500 square miles of territory
can be handled with more satisfaction to property owners, and more economically,
than 1800 square miles of territory.
In the event of division, there would be no need for
the immediate erection of a court house. The new Hood River county rented
a suitable building for $30 a month.
A county 80 miles one way and an average of 25 miles
the other, with a mountain range across one end and an unfordable river,
is too unwieldy for the best of management for all of its parts.
County division will save a large annual total in travelling
to the county seat by those have business. Travelling expenses of officers
on official business, serving papers, witnesses, jurors, etc., would be
lessened.
It costs a person from the upper end of western Klickitat
county at least $10 to go to Goldendale by rail, to say nothing of the time
consumed. Eighty miles to the county seat is too far, even if the scenery
is fine.
The important matter of highway improvement could be
worked out more satisfactorily than at a county seat 50 miles away
by commissioners, the majority of whom have no interest in the west end.
And the development of highways is of the greatest importance.
Based on income from land, the tax rolls show that lands
of the west end are hit hard as compared with other portions. Yet how many
can afford to travel to the county seat to protest before the board of
equalization when their taxes are out of proportion? It has been found that
it is cheaper for the small land holders to pay the taxes and save the expense
money. Here is another of the costly inconveniences of the present
situation.
County officers' salaries at Goldendale total $21,205.40,
not including the office of clerk. The most that salaries in the new county
could total is estimated at $6,000, including clerk salary, but not including
commissioners. If the west end pays one third of present salaries, it would
save $900 by county division. An opponents of county division have held that
salaries would be the main item in the new county's expense account and therefore
increase taxes.
Goldendale worked the county for a special tax of $10,000
($8609 expended) for the Hill state highway along the edge of the bluff that
no one travels, and it will be in the sweet bye and bye when a box of apples
or a bushel of grain will ever be marketed over it. That piece of highway
has cost the taxpayers of the state $53,685.57, and figuring the cost of
convict labor, and estimated expense of $70,000. There is an economy in
management which might be found to more that offset any increased regular
expense, assuming there would be increased expense.
Hood River county came into place five years ago because
the people in the heavy paying end of Wasco county and the spirit and wisdom
to kick against a system of burdensome taxation without corresponding benefits.
And the valuation of the county before being cut was $8,220,070. Klickitat
county's assessed valuation is about $12,000,000, and will be materially
more this year. You will not find a taxpayer in Hood River county who would
want to go back to the old conditions. here is the levy of Hood River county
for 11911: state, 3 mills; general county school, 1.4 mills; county
library, .1 mills; general road, 3.9 mills; the highest levy of any special
school district is 6 mills. One man, O.C. Dean, who owns property on both
sides of the Columbia pays twice as much on the Klickitat side as on the
Hod River county side. Hood River county means far more today than Wasco
county would have meant so far as the west end of the county is concerned.
Salaried paid the different county officers are reported
by the auditor as follows:
Auditor...............$4344.40
Treasurer..............4019.40
Assessor...............2497.25
Superintendent......1250.10
Pros. Attorney......1400.25
Sheriff...................2518.00
Engineer................3389.65
Commissioners......1255.00
Coroner....................85.40
Health Officer..........456.00
Total,...........21,205.40
Salaries in the new county would read about as follows,
based on the 3,000 to 4,000 population:
Auditor.......................$900
Treasurer......................900
Clerk (est.)...................800
Assessor, $4 per diem...900
Superintendent..............500
Pros. Attorney..............400
Sheriff...........................900
Engineer (est.)...............800
Com. $4 per diem......... ---
Total......................6100
In both tables additional expenses like travel, postage,
stationery, etc., are not included. There is an annual court house expense
of $2,628, which would not have to be borne in anywhere near the corresponding
amount by the county.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer