The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-03-14

Some Things said to the County Commits
sioners.

The County Commissioners having desig-
mated Friday afternoon last rs the time when
they would hear any citizens of the county
having suggestions TO make concerning the
project OF building a new court house, some
fsrty or fifty petsons assembled at that time
in the court room.
Mr.. Batterton, Chairman of the Board,
stated the views of the Commissioners; that
tn sy had given the matter OF the insecurity
and inadequacy of the present building care
full consideration had considered the cost OF
erecting such building as the county re-
CURED and the means by which it could be
done without increasing the tax levy. The
Board had instructed a competent architect
to submit plans and specifications for build
ing that would not cost to exceed $4,000.
The plans had been received, examined and
found in accordance with their suggestions,
and he believed contemplated such build
ing as required. Two parties, at least, had
prepared bids for the building and accompa-
MED them with the required forfeiture, but
the Board had concluded to make 4 slight
change in some material and TO extend the
time for receiving them. Neither of these
had also before it a responsible offer to take
all the warrants issued for the building at %
cents on the dollar. But the county had now
considerable cash on hand, and he believed
by bonding the present debt, for $50 years,
and using the cash on hand, the remaining
warrants necessary could be cashed at a stii!
better figure. At most, there would not be
over $40 900 of warrants to discount at five
per cent. The assessment this ear is estima-
ted at nearly or quite four million dollars.
With this assessment one mill can be taken
of the school levy now made and lar
ger revenue than at present still be derived.
The Commissioners had also succeeded in re-
ducing the rate of pauper maintenance from
$40 to Sc per head per week, which would
make large annual saving on that fund.
There has also been extraordinary expenses
for the boundary survey, safe and Jail at
Anaconda. The Commissioners were salts
fed that they could erect the building and
provide for the payment of the debt without
increasing the amount of taxation per dol
lar, and the necessity for it was matter
which every one could see for himself The
Board, however, was open 10 conviction,
and desired any one having adverse views to
offer to do SO. Remonstrances signed by a
considerable number Of citizens of the coun-
ty had been presented to them, and they
would be especially glad to hear any gentle
man in support of them.
Morgan Evans, Esq, of upper Warm
Springs, responded that he represented a
portion of those circumstances, and that the
people who had signed them were opposed
to the contemplated action of the Commits
sioners. The present court house had an
swered the purpose when there was more
business transacted in it than there is at
present. 1t was only lately that complaint
was made that it was not roomy enough. If
the papers and records were not safe, pro-
vide for them in some other way, but do not
put this county under larger debt than 1t
ever had before without consulting the peo-
pie. Submit the question to them and let
them vote upon it. That was what his con-
stituents asked.
Mr. O'Bannon followed, calling attention
to the fact that there were but two small
vaults in the present building. They were
now crowded to their utmost capacity with
Records and papers, and many others of great
value were excluded from them. The vaults
that existed would not save q single paper In
case of fire. The Probate Judge, IN whose
court estates were adjusted, had no vault or
safe, and every paper in his office was ex-
posed to loss neither was his room adequate
in size to hold a trial, and when the District
Court was In session there was no room ut
his service. The Clerk and Recorder had
not an offlce of sufficient size, and the Com
missioners none at all. There was no Office
for the County Surveyor or Assessor, and the
Judge, who had much business to transact
"in chambers" was necessitated TO use lit
tie room in the Jail for his library and the
transaction Of such business.
Mr.. O'Bannon further objected to the mis-
statements in the headings of several of the
remonstrances, wherein it was set forth that
the court house would cost 100000 or
MORE" and suggested that perhaps If the
facts had been properly presented very many
of the persons who signed them would not
have done so. Ii was stated by the Commits
sioners that they had never contemplated a
building to cost exceeding $4,000 that they
had bids to do it for that amount or less, and
that such representations as appeared in the
remonstrauces had therefore been mislead-
ing Mr.. O'Bannon, in referring to an init
nation that the Commissioners had been
urged to this measure by citizens of Deer
Lodge City, said he had not heard the matter
mentioned for several months, and had not
even bad an intimation that the matter was
under consideration by the Board until after
they had taken the present action and or
dered the plans. Messrs. Irvine, Mills aud
Others avowed they had heard nothing of it
and the Commissioners stated that no citi-
zen of Deer Lodge had urged them to their
action, and they had talked principally about
1t with residents Of other portions of the
county.
Mr.. Evans, replying TO the 100000 bust
ness I'm the circumstances, said there was no
intention to misrepresent, and that 1t was
believed the cost would be as stated. He
further said they hal secured the best legal
advice, were Informed the commissioners
had no right to take this action, and that
they proposed to contest it,
Mr.. Vineyard, ommissioner, responded,
nave hhh iOi "has
/ considered the best interests of the people
in this matter. / have nothing to regret,
and if anybody runs bluff on me it don't
60"
Mr.. Mills said he had been slow to approve
this project. He did not Relieve in erecting
in well established and permanent commit
mites any but adequate, good and durable
public buildings. That is the condition of
this county and the Territory. The day of
temporary structures, and the idea of "mak-
ing home stake and getting out of the coun-
try" had passed from Montana. 1t is good
country to stay with, and we are here to
build our homes and to stay. We know this
to be true, and we should act in view of the
fact. 1t especially never paid to piece and
patch up public buildings. His indisposition
to favor the present scheme had been based
upon the facts that the financial plans and
methods bad not hitherto reached condi-
ton and been announced by the Commits
sioners, SO that citizens could intelligently
he