People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1896 — A New County. [ARTICLE]

A New County.

In view of the extreme length; large area and irregular shape of Jasper county why would it no! be a good idea to form a new county out of Carpenter, Jordan and Milroy townships, and a small strip off Newton, Marion and Hanging Grove, in Jasper county, and Pinceton township in White? This would make a county 12 miles north and south and 18 miles east and west, with an area of 216 square miles. Jasper county now has an area of 570 square miles and White 500. We believe there would be no trouble to get the required number of signatures to apetition for the formation ot the new county and think it would be to the advantage of the territory concerned to have the change made. This move would bring the boundaries of Jasper county in much better shape and would not injure the symmetry of White to any great extent. Jasper is now the second largest county in the state, while few equal White in area. By cutting off the three townships referred to the geographical center of Jasper would be about on the south line of Walker tp., and about 2| miles east of the Union tp., line, although Kniman or Virgie would be the only towns anywhere near the center of the county that are located on a railroad. Should this move be made, it is likely the large land owners in that vicinity would, so far as’cost to the tax payers of the county is concerned, settle the question of a new court house in short order by donating ground and the required amount of cash to build a fine court house. The geographical center of the proposed new county would be, east and west, at a point about midway between Remington and Wolcott, but one of those towns would of course be chosen for the county seat. Under the existing laws no territory can be taken from a county having less than 400 square miles nor can a county having over such area be cut down to less than 400 square miles, and no new county can be formed with area of less than 200 square miles. It will readily be seen that both Jasper and White would still have over 400 square miles left to them and our new county would have an area of about 516 square miles, more than the required area for the formation of a new county. All that is necessary to do by those who favor the scheme of forming a new county is to secure the signatures of a majority of the voters of the territory proposed to be included and present same to the boards of commissioners of White and “Jasper, and at the next general election a vote is taken to determine whether the prayer of the petitioners shall orshallnotbe granted. These is but little question but what. Jasper county would vote “for,” as the three townships immedi ately concerned would favor it to a man, while it would be to the interests of those of the north end to have the new county formed, they gaining the county seat by the move. As to White the matter might not strike them quite so favorably, although Princeton township to a man ought to favor the scheme. —Remington Press.

The sober second thought of the people would scarcely endorse the above. They are taxed now to the fullest limit of their endurance and a new county would but add to their existing burdens. The territory suggested for the new county is already near the county seat, and if a division is ever made it should be done for the north end. of Jasper county with Wheatfield, probably, for the county seat. Fair minded men all over the county would be obliged to grant the people in that locality a withdrawal card if the demand was made. But even our neighbors at the north will hesitate in asking dismemberment of the county, as their present inconvenience can be more easily borne than could the salaries of another set of officers and court expenses.