The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-01-14

year and It's continuance the occasion o.
r these festivities which acquired for II the dis
3 tnctive title of "The Social City," Helena
has more people, a larger and more diyersi
fled business, and times are different now
from what they were when placer mining
was the great and almost sole industry and
the miners devoted the summers to work and
the winters TO enjoyment. --.. ...a..s.
The organizations were effected speedily
and In day or two both bodies will have
adopted rules, Committees will have been
appointed and the machinery of legislation
be ready to turn. Aside from the revision OF
the Comfy Codiication,t there does not appear
to be much legislation contemplated, al
though doubtless the usual large number OF
bills will be introduced. The appropriation
for this session was made when the session
was limited to forty days and made on that
basis Late in December bill passed both
Houses of Congress extending the time to
sixty days and It is presumed 1t has been ap-
proved by the President. The general ex-
preston, however, at present Is that forty
days Is sufficient time in which to transact
all the business and that the wisest thing to
do Is TO transact It and adjourn. What the
impression will be when some legislative
bone of contention Is thrown in and the fight
wakes warm may be an entirely different
matter. Territorial Legislatures seldom ad-
journ until the limitation Of time has been
exhaufted. | believe the better thing for
Congress to have done would have been to
limit the time to thirty days and double the
pay Of the members. There has never been
session but one in this Territory that could
not have transacted all necessary business In
less than that time.
| THE DIVISION QUESTION.
A question that has been pretty thoroughly
discussed is the division of Deer Lodge coun-
| ty. But while we have had the issue agita-
ted and discussed in the public prints, other
schemes of addition and division have been
considered and perhaps are as fully, If not as
publicly, developed. The Sun River people,
eighty-five miles from Helena, think they
should have a new county. Jefferson coun-
ty people living within three miles Of Helena
regard this as their natural county seat and
desire annexation. A portion Of Meagher
county lying this side Of the Belt range is
talked Of as compensation to Jefferson and
various other suggestions are made and COM
batted. think the sentiment is that adj
vision" Is rather dangerous animal to turn
loose at present unless delegations agree be-
| fore hand, and that If IL is once started there
will be a general overhauling Of county lines.
TERRITORIAL FINANCES.
The Message of the Governor which was
read in the Council this afternoons brief and
practical, directing attention to the financial
condition Of the Territory and suggesting de-
sirable legislation on several matters. AL
though we have an outstanding seven per
cent. bonded debt of $4,000, there is suffi-
cient money in the several funds to reduce
the debt to net amount of S20,946.7l. All
warrants are paid to January /, 1881, and at
that date there were $40, 1896 remaining in
the Warrant fund. and $1,000 in the Sinking
fund. This Sinking fund is the overplus Of
the fifteen per cent fund after paying the in
terest coupons on the bonded debt and is set
aside by law for It's redemption. As these
bonds cannot be redeemed until Jan. /, 1883,
except by voluntary surrender by the holders
1t is suggested that the money be invested
until that time. The Territorial expenses
were last year over $4,000 and will reach
500, 900 this year. The expense of maintain
ing convicts and insane alone is about 5000
per month, while keeping convicts after SEN
tence, transportation to prison, salaries of
Territorial and District officers, rewards and |
other expenses make up the additional |
amount. The net decrease Of the debt dur |
ing 1880 was $4o,946.71. BY using the mon
ey now on hand to pay current expenses, and |
issuing no warrants, large saving would be |
made in interest. II Is thought also the Ter |
ritorial levy should be reduced from three |
mills TO two mills, and that with this, under |
ordinary circumstances, the debt can still |
further be reduced.
THE WEATHER.
The ordinary topic of formal courtesies is |
getting to be one of vital interest. The es-
verify of the early winter, the depth Of snow,
and the three winter months yet impending |
make combination Of evils not contenpla-
ted with serenity by stock men and their dis
tress, II It shall be such, will he felt by all. |
The reports received here from every part Of |
the Territory are very discouraging. Even
In the generally open country east and north
Of Fort Shaw the snow Is reported foot |
deep and crusted. The owner Of a large band
in that region offered his stock to-day at %
per cent off market rates and could not sell.
There is apprehension Of losses in stock that
we do not care to express in figures, hoping
they may not be realized. The new beati-
tude expressed, Blessed is he who ownetb
not horn nor hoof."
IN GENERAL.
Mr.. s. s. Huntley was here few days
since and has gone to California. He denies
absolutely that he ever said he had paid hotel
or other expenses for the Governor Of Mon
tana and AYERS that the reports which reached
here In the eastern papers relative thereto
are without any foundation in fact whatever.
Major w. G. Barley, formerly Territorial
Treasurer, having been absent three or four
years at Deadwood and elsewhere, has re-
turned to Montana and is at present in the
Capital. He states that Clagett q Dixon
were preparing to leave Deadwood for New
York City with the purpose Of establishing
as mining attorneys in the great metropolis.
The amusement business has not been
provided fer here during the present winter
as has been customary. The Blaisdell Corn
pany has been running TO a losing business
since Its return from Butte and closes Its
season this week. Manager Blaisdeil pro-
poses going east for number Of new people
but will not probably return here before the
session adjourns. If Paul Blum would turn
up now with good company he would take
In the shekels. "a
Among the Deer Lodgers in the Capital
are Judge Galbraith, Judge Knowles, J. G.
Robson, ESQ.,, Hons. A. ii. Mitchell and X.
@. Humber, The first three, In attendance at
Supreme Court. .ala