The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-01-25

Here we have shown that over a quarter Of
a million of dollars has heen paid in taxes by
the people Of Deer Lodge county during the
last four years and still the county is not only
in debt, but, according TO the report of the
territorial auditor for the year 1880, it has in
creased its indebtedness from $47,l74.O7 in
1877 to $G2, 1926 up to March LIST 1850. al
increase of $l4:9+7.63 within four years.
During the same Time the increase in ASSESS
able property has been $2,3S4,462.
There is 40 'gettIng away" with the above
statement. 1t deyelopes cold facts by colder
figures. They prove our assertion that under
the present situation of affairs we cannot
hope to get out of debt. While our taxable
property for the years named has increased
over 81 per cent; our indebtedness is 81 per
cent. more than it was in 1877. There is
nothing encouraging in this outlook for our
taxpayers. They are throwing their molr1
away every year il supporting the present Or
sanlzatlon OF the county. The northern Dor
ton suffers as we'll as the southern. The
people of Deer Lodge, phillpsburg, New
Chicago, Blachtoot aud other parts are equally
Interested with those of Wonderlich's Silver
Bow, WalAervilIe and Butte in devislng a
rclrcdy Tor this wasteful expenditure of coun-
ty funds There is one ard emily one RENE
dy, and that is IN the division of the county.
Butte with her large aud constantly ~increas-
ing population must be set apart from the old
county and "a new one fOrmed. Her distance
from the county seal necessarily imposes a
heavy lax upon the people to prosecute the
criminal and civil eases that originate i'll her
Vicinity. Tho NeU Nestle West of the 2lst
inst. says: 'FIhe expenses Of Butte to the Old
county have fully equalIed, if they have not
exceeded, the entire revenues derived from it
TO the connty. As long e. Butte maintains
its present status or continues to grow, this
condition will not materially change, except
for the worse" The conclusion must force
itself upon the minds Of every thinking man
that the revenues derived from this portion OF
the county by taxation are literally thrown
away. Over 100000 in taxes were collected
for the year 1880 from the ~taSpayers of the
proposed new county. Sixty seven firms anc
residents Of Butte and vicinity paid over $3S,
900 of this amount. The balance was pait
by the smaller property holders. What have
they to show for i? Nothing. No courts
here. No conveniences for !ransacting coun
ty business. No probabilities of settling
titles to property for years to come should
resort to our county courts become n~ecessar,
for this purpose. What has the county t.
show for the large sums wrung from the tax
payers Of this section? Simply nothing but
an increased Indebtedness which bids fair tx
swell to larger proportions unless the count.
be divided.
Citizens Of Butte and vicinity how do yo'
like the prospect? Are you prepared to fol-
your arms and SIT idly down and Sc
yonr substance swallowed up year after yea
without making an effort to save it? Ar
you content 10 pay tribute to an organization
. that affords you no relief, but on the contrary
is sinking you deeper and deeper in the mir
of debt? We think not. With the facts ALI
figures before yon We believe you will SCI
that your present and future interests deman
united, emphatic action on your part to Sc
cure a division of this county and the forms
ton of a new one.