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The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., August 20, 1912, page 1

COUNTY DIVISION PROVES BENEFIT
Men In New Counties Advise To Stick Strongly For County Division

L. Barnum, one of the prominent citizens of Sherman county in Oregon, when asked if the county has been successful in every way since the division from Wasco county, replies as follows: "The division has proven generally satisfactory, decidedly so, and the taxes are less than one-half what they were before division. The creation of the county of Sherman has drawn homeseekers and land values have quadrupled; roads have materially improved since division. The expense of maintaining county offices has not been burdensome. If you have any assessable property stick hard for division. We are out of debt and pay seven and one-half mills county, state and road tax. Have good schools, good roads, fine court house. The old county has bum old buildings and only good roads near the county seat." Mr. Barnum is one of the bankers of Sherman county, residing at Moro.
William Barnett, residing at Wasco, and who is one of the most prominent business men of Sherman county, a merchant there, and who lived in the town before and after the division of Wasco county from which Sherman was taken, says: "Yes: the creation of the county has given great satisfaction and taxes have diminished and land values increased greatly. Our roads have been greatly improved since the division of the county and the people generally takes great interest in all improvements since the funds for the purpose have been more evenly divided and used in all parts of the county. Before division most of the funds were used nearer the county seat. Two years after a division our county was out of debt and has never been in debt since. Sherman county took over from the old county a large indebtedness which it paid out in two years after division. Stick to county division."
E.O. Blanchar, a banker of Hood River, Oregon, and who is perfectly familiar with conditions before and after the division from Wasco county, says: "The creation of Hood River county has given very general satisfaction to the people within its boundaries. Taxes have not increased since the creation of the county, the levy being even lower than it was before the division. Evaluations of land have been raised, owing to the general improvement of real estate. New arrivals are pleased that the valley is in a county of its own, making it more convenient for all concerned, with no possible increase in expenses to the taxpayer. The creation of the new county has in no way caused homeseekers to remain away, but on the other hand has been, if anything, a factor in favor of their locating here for they were quick to perceive the advantage of having the seat of government located in their immediate territory. Land values have increased since the division of the county from Wasco. The roads of Hood River county have materially improved since its creation and it was because of the road situation that the people in this territory were so strong for a new county. The expense of maintaining county officers has not been a noticeable burden to the people of the new county. This is probably due in part to the foresight of those interested in the movement in having a very reasonable salary specified for the new officials when the new county was created. It is a favorable time to imbue the public with a spirit of the economy in that direction. At the same time the actual work is so much lessened in a small county as compared with large ones that the actual service rendered may be procured at correspondingly lower cost. We know of no objections of consequence existing on account of having created the new county of Hood River."