The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-01-18
COUNTY

before it there is not one that is fraught with
greater interest to the people of Deer Lodge
county than that OF its division. 1t is a mat
ter in which all the residents of the county
feel more or less concerned. Those of the
southern portion, especially, will watch with
more than passing interest the progress of the
bill for this object, that will be introduced III
the legislature in the early days Of the pres
ent session. To Butte and the surrounding
country the favorable action of the leeisla-
ture upon this important measure is of vital
moment. The interest in this matter is not
confined altogether to this locality, but passes
beyond cur boundaries and engages the at
tention Of others who have a common interest
with us in the future prosperity Of Butte
and the adjacent mining camps. They very
correctly reason that whatever disadvanta-
~geously effects one portion Of the territory
directly Or indirectly lnjuriously affects the
whole. They are also aware that the adj
vancement and future welfare of Montana
depend upon the full development of its sew
eral industries and resources. They rightfully
assume that all distractions in the way of
this development should, as far as possible,
be removed. The Legislature as well as the
private citizen, feels called upon to aid in
this work. 1t is clearly within its province,
and in fact, one Of its duties. No one denies
this proposition. To come to the point, the
people of Butte are lahoring under one of
those disadvantages that may be removed by
legislative enactment, and they respectfully
ask of our legislature its aid TO relieve them
selves of it. They ask for the passage of a
bill providing for the division of Deer Lodge
county. In making this request they ask
for that only which is eminently just and
proper to all parties concerned. 1t IS hard
ly Necessary in this article to repeat the
reasons that have been advanced in favor Of
the measure. The one simple fact that the
largest city in Montana lies over ~ miles from
the county seat of its county and the people
compelled at great inconvenience and cost to
themselves to travel over eighty miles to trans
act their county business is a sufficient reason
for a division. When this division is attend
ed with no increase in the present rate of
taxation, and when the benefits derived from
it by the southern portion Of the county are
not at the expense Of The northern end, we
do not believe the legislature can see wherea
reasonable objection TO the measure can pos
sibly rest. Butte deserves some considera-
ton at the hands of our law makers. While
she has not all she has the principal silver
mines in the territory in her immediate vicin-
lty. II is through the energy, perseverance
and plnck of her citizens in developing them
that Montana has gained abroad all enviable
reputation as a silver producing country.
These mines are attracting thousands to our
borders who will make their future homes in
the territory. Any measure that VIII aid
Butte will also, indirectly, help the territory,
and when this aid can be bestowed without
injury to other portions Of the county it
should not be withheld.
Niewic9 the question as one that affects
the whole county we find a potent reason for
division in the fact that it is too large aud the
bulk Of its population situated at too great a
distance from the county seat to enable its
people to transact their county business eco
nomically and without useless loss of money
to themselves and to the county. The court
business of the county has accumulated to
such an extent that no ordinary term can be-
gin to clear the calendar. The last term of
court in Deer Lodge succeeded in trying only
three or four cases. TIL one that occupied
nearly all tie time of court originated here at
Butte. During the progress of he trial the
jury found it was necessary to come to
Butte and examine the mining property in
litigation. This visit was made at great ex-
pense which must be paid. In cases where
the expense is not chargeable to the county,
individuals must pay it. In either case it is
a useless expense-one that may be avoided
in the future by dividing the county. Before
titles to our mining property in Butte and vi
cinily are finally settled, it is possible that
juries may be compelled 70 visit many of the
mines in this vicinity. With the county seat
at Deer Lodge, this eau le accomplished only
at great cost to some one, and whether to par
ties ~Ftigant or To the county, the fact remains
the same, that the expense is one that can be
avoided in serving "a thousand other interests
of Butte by dividing the county.
We are informed that about three-fourths
OF all the civil cases and nearly seven-eighths
OF the criminal cases in the county originate
at Butte. The expense Of taking prisoners to
Deer Lodge for trial is one that the people Of
the county must bear. This expense, in a
measure, would be avoided by a division. a
glance at som of the tens of cost chargeable
to the county will convince any person of the
real necessity that exists for a division. For
the December term of court in 70 there were
drawn from Butte 6S grand and trial jurors
and 1903 witnesses. III the April term, 1880
p jurors and 81 witnesses were drawn; and
in the September term of the same year, II