The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-11-16
WILL IT PAY?

The question of dividing the county IS re-
ceiving the serious consideration of the resi-
dents of every portion Il it. This is right
and proper. Every measure that by inferenc"
or deduction contemplates adding hnrd"
upon the people in the shape OF all lncrea>'
taxation, should be discussed, and its p'a''
cability and ACCESSIBILITY measured by l.
same rules that govern other business tr1'''
actions. The question that the people Of the
county will ask of themselves and of tncir
neighbors in discussing the county division
matter is, is it a just measure and will it pay'
The political aspects of the subject shonld
cut no figure in its determination. No one,
save a few politicians, will permit them to
Influence his decision in the matter. Wheth-
! er Deer Lodge remains the " Imperial county
Of Montana" will be mater of Indifference
to the mass of the people. when it is shown
that to support that imperialism it takes
| fl ION their pockets sums of money that they
are in no condition to spare.
As regards the justice of the proposed
measure there can arise no question of it III
the mind of any unpreiudiced person. The
people of the southern half of The county 1"
not propose to take from the northern portion
any of its acquired or vested rights. They
will leave it in the full enjoyment of a co nty
organization and in the possession of the
necessary county buildings. No doubt exists
as to its ability to pay its county officers ard
maintain a county organization. Ii a division
would entail an unbearahls burden upon the
tax payers of either portion, or if 1t would
leave either unable to support its county Off
GERS a plea of injustice might be made. Bur
OH the contraly y, as we shall show before we
our articles on this suffice, both
sections are abuudantly able to take care OF
themselves. Both possess elements of grea.
wealth, developed and undeveloped, and Will
n the near future become the leading couu
les in the territory. No imaginary line be-
ween each section could cut the bond OF
lnion that now cements them together in all
matters in which they have a common inter
ST, nor in any man,.er retard the develop
lent of the hidden wealth and other rtsour-
es which both possess.
1t is all axiom. in financial as we'll as polit.
cal economy, that the lesser considerations
Nie,d to the greater. Our people will
naturally study this question from a financial
ia .dpoint. Ii they should become satisfied
hat it will pay there will be no serious oppo-
to the proposed division. We shall
that tile county divided will be as pros
porous as it now stands, and that it will be in
a better position to economic in the admins
tration of its county affairs than at present.
This We shall prove in future issues of The
MINER.
While writing this article a gentleman who
is engaged in farming near Warm Springs |
called upon us. He stated that the ~ranclIars
in his vicinity were strongly IN favor OF a d.
vision of the county, and gave as some of
their reasons that Butte was their market for
their butter, eggs and farm produce of all de-
scriptions. and that if the county be divided
and Butte made the county seat OF the new
county, that they could do their marketing
and their Necessary county business at the
same time. We think that all the farmers
south of the line of division, wherever it may
be, will take this view of Tie matter, for the
reason that it will pay. Butte is the best
market in the territory for farm produce. All
the surplus hay, gram and vegetables that the
farmers Of upper Deer Lodge valley can raise
find a ready sale in this city at lemunerauye
prices. This will be the case for an indefinite
period Of time. The farmers know this, and
hence favor a division of the county that will
place them within the borders OF the pro.
posed new one. As far as our farming com
muuity is concerned it Wi pay.