Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-03-01

WE HAVE more than once expressed our
views upon railroad subjects, and on the
Gould-Dillon proposition, giving our disap-
proval with reasons, etc. We have also as
serted that we believed any railroad meas
ure would be defeated by the people, unless
there was a manifest willingness on the part
of the mining industry to share its pro rata
Of the cost. We. were sincere in these state
ments. They were based upon our conf
dence in the wisdom and judgment of the
taxpayers of the Territory. We also stated
that there was no a%ntagonism of interest be-
tween the agriculturist, the stock and wool
grower and the miner. And although there
may have been a seeming ill-feeling engen-
dered, there should be none. And we can
assure our mining friends that the farmers
willing to meet them half way and labor
for the best interests of the whole people.
The North and South railroad bill, which
was passed by our Legislature is not just
what the country wanted, or at least, it is
not in harmony with the wishes of the
1uTilcIS, IClCICI uOCo l C@NttSuy hASSo oAs
appreciation of many of our miners, nor is
it what we desired to see. But it is less OBJ
jectionable than we had anticipated. Our
best legal advisers pronounce it to be a good
bill that it is sufficiently explicit to guar
antee a'full observance of all it's provisions,
should it become a law. If this be true
and we have no reason to dispute with our
legal fraternity-it is at least a recommend
alton for it is a w%ell-known fact that a ma
jorlty of the swindles and steals of railroad
subsidies come of imperfections in the pro-
visions creating them. The provision re-
quiring a royalty upon the mineral product
shipped over the road, is one of the most
important provisions of the bill. All efforts
to levy a tax upon ores and bullion proved
unavailing, but the dexterous engineering of
a few have incorporated a provision Or sec
ton in the bill which will compel the miner
to pay his portion of the cost, Ga matter he
&c much desired to shirk), or reject the bill.
Should the subsidy be voted it will impose a
heavy tax upon the people, and the question
to be decided is, Will the influx Of popula-
ton, the increase of capital and of taxable
property, the development of our mines,
the settlement of our valleys and the bust
ling buoyancy of the times likely to follow,
compensate for such an outlay? 1t is an
Important question, and n that will re-
Quire careful examination. 1t may be TWEEN
ty days yet before we learn whether or not
Gould, Dillon g. Co. will accept the bill, but
In the meantime we should use all diligence
in informing ourselves. Every farmer and
every citizen should read the bill, whether
he be for or against it. Not only read it,
but calculate carefully upon the result. To
this end, we invite a free discussion Of the
subject through our columns, asking only
that u friends be. brief, confinlng their
reasoning as much to the point as possible,
and we trust that such statements as may
be offered will be founded upon facts, and
offered, not solely for the purpose of carry.
ing a point, but for the purpose of arriving
at a. correct and intelligent conclusion.
LEGISLATIVE.