The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-03-08
OUR LETTER.
The County Seat Removal Bili "A Pro
test gains lis to rIllOn-
the Geographical Center OF
Be~sverhead COunty-Glendale TO he
preferred TO Dillon by the
ites-Jim Hardy draws the Line At
the Church.

the Church.
Editor Butte MINER:
DEAR Shit is reported here within the
last few days That the bill called q B No. 46,
concerning the removal of the county seat
from Bannack to Dillon has passed both hou-
ses Of the legislature and has become a law.
An election will be held on the first Monday
in May. We look upon it here as a ~deplora-
Bile thing to see a few s'sore-heads' in Beaver
head valley entertain an enmity against Ban
mack, and this because of the building of our
court house here a few years ago. | claim to
know a little about that enterprise. Cy.
Mulkey and G. O.. Trask (both absent now,)
were the principal instigators IN that move,
which was not approved by many in Ban
mack. l, for one, was asked 10 subscribe for
the purchase of the lot wherein it stands,
and refused to give. | stated to them my oh
Jections that Beaverhead county had time
enough to locate a permanent court house;
that we did not then know where the princi-
pal town in the county woul be in the flu
ture; but they had the power, having the
commissioners from this section to back them.
The appropriation was made. As a conse.
quence several from this place were not much
pleased with the operation, but a great many
more were dissatisfied from the Bcaverhead
valley who were altogether opposed to it.
Ever since then an i'll feeling has existed be-
tween The two places on that point. | feelthat
the peop'e of Beaverhead valley We're greatly
| aIIIcoJ IN fIic ,nnttnr rJI,nr u,n,o ,nt On,
suited. On the contrary, they demonstrated
against it but all in vain. The house was
erected in opposition to them. Time is sup
posed to destroy all things, and since love
and hate seem to be no exception, l, for one,
thought this old difficulty partly efaced with
the past, when all at once it is resurrected in
the above mentioned bill. Our county, to-
day, stands under a debt Of about $34, DOC. co.,
and until this sum shall be paid up it is GER
tainly to the disadvantage, and not to the in
terest of the tax payers in the county to take
the county seat from here. The old troubles
cannot be remedied now by changing the
county seat, for the county would soon he
volved with a double indebtedness, and l did
not meet one single mai last year who COM
planned of his taxes being too low.
Mr.. James kirkpatrick wrote a letter not
long since which made lis appearance in the
Helena Herald, placing Dillon Gas a reason
for relnoval) near the cent!e of the county.
A statement very misleading. indeed. But
our friend should not be too bitterly censured
for his assertion, for when he wrote that letter
he was about to marry, and his mind, no
doubt, wandered in another channel. This
is a very singular world. Men often commit
suicide because they cannot obtain the one
they love. l have known a man to commit
the same act, because he loved too much. 1t
would not surprise me to hear of a bad thing
from the valley soon. Now a few words
about the geographical position of Dillon. 1t
stands within twelve miles of the 'Big Hole"
river on the northwest, and within seven
miles of the eastern boundry line of the
county, following said line to its southern
boundry above 'Rcd Rock,' it is sixty miles,
and from Dillon to the head of the 'Big
Hole" basin, ninety miles. Now, you see,
Dillon is located in the northeast corner Of
the county. Now as to Bannack's geographic
Idl iiOSlbiplls i'i ~ tilS hnii l"A5S
is forty miles, to the line across, by Dillon,
on the northeast, thirty-eight miles, to the
east line forty miles, to the "Dig Hole" basin
on the west siNty-tve miles, to the line on the
southeast ~ttty-five miles, to the Line OH the
northwest sixty miles. Now l leave every
voter in the county to Judge Tor himself. !
will admit that the most Of Our population,
at present, are to be seen on Beayerhoad,
and at Glendale, but in a year Or two how
will it be, is a question. The mines in this
vicinity, and the Elk Horn district, thirty
miles above here, may shortly call that popu-
la1lon over this way, and | presume that 1hiS
will be the case. 1t is a little too soon for
Dillon to demand the county seat, but 1t is
on account OF the feeble faith that the town
company have IN tie future hope of Dillon
that makes them hurry this thing up. 1t is
now, OF never. They are afraid that two
thirds of the Dillon people will follow up the
terminus to Camp Creek, or that other creek,
and | do not blame them, for this will be the
case, certain, when Dillon will be left Il one
!, horse own like Bannack. If it IS to be Tt-
t moved from here, Glendale should have put
in her rightful claim. She stands as much III
the centre of our county as Dillon, and she
has contributed the most tow ,!'s the welfare
) of the county. But for the good mines at
Glendale aud Butte, Dillon would yet be
| called the 'alkali fiat"
If the bill spoken of was broader and left
us the choice of place, Glendale would tie
our ~tavorite place, and l am authorized to
speak for the most ID this section. Our friend
James Hardy, a few days ago, on being told
that our court house would soon move ava
from here, said LET them take it, and 60