The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-02-22
THE COURT HOUSE MATTER.
A Citizen OF Pioneer Expresses His View

Editor Netc North West:
Allow me through your columns to express
an opinion on the court house question. In
the beginning, would respectfully reInon'
strate against the building of a court house,
not only at pres ent, but at any time under
existing crcums tances. We are already
burdened with a debt of no small proper
I tons, and the financial outlook is by no
means encouraging. In his communication,
progress" admits the truth Of "Tax-Pay-
er's" assertion, "that times have changed
materially with the advent of The railroad, "
but fails to note the fact that the change has
brought with it q stringency of money mat
tiers, and a stagnation of agricultural and
other interests, from which | fear we will
not recover until we succeed in exchanging
many of our old ideas and views for the new
ones so essential to enable us to adapt our.
selves to the new order of things which &C
companies the Change As "change" did
not bring the millennium with it, we must
still eat and be clothed; therefore the mer-
chants are least affected by it, yet they COM
plain of dull times Said one of Deer Toige's
| prominent business mer last fall "How
could it be otherwise than dull? We are re-
| ceiving as many goods now, and paving AZ
| high freight rates, as we did before the COM
ing of the railroad; but the carriers make a
different use of the money. Under the old
| system, when we received ten or twenty tons
Of freight, of the three or six hundred dollars
paid for its transportation some was left with
us for supplies; our hardware men got por-
al. tba Of
for repairs; our hotels, stables and saloons
were benefited more or less, and our ranch
men had a chance of tapping the freighters
plethoric purse for the price Of few tons of
grain. Under the new system, our goods are
delivered by change Il. e. rallroad). He
wants no supplies on the back trip; he sends
his train to the company shops for repairs;
purchases his material phere we buy our
goods, instead of from us; dumps the freight
money into strong box and carries it out of
the country. They say that it will drift back
in the course of time, but the rapidity with
which it returns depends on the amount and
power of attraction offered"
The agricultural interests are the greatest
sufferers. Most especiallyis the farmer, who
depends entirely on the productions of his
ranch, left out in the cold. Already the
granaries Of the south are pouring their con-
tents into our markets at one and fourth
cents per pound-a price at which our farm
ers under the present system can barely
make living. And if the exigencies of the
case demand 1t, the imported article can be
reduced one fourth of q cent and still maxi
freight. In conversation with one of our
successful ranchmen, he remarked that "The
farmers who are in debt, and have no stock
or other interests, but are depending on the
productions of the soil for living, will find
their financial ability taxed to almost as
great an extent to meet the interest now as
1t would have been to pay the principal q
few years ago" There is no denying the
fact that our agricultural, by far the most
valuable interest of the county, is in Ian
gushing condition. As "Tax-Payer' truth
fully remarks, the bulk of our last years
crop is on hand, and while it is being offered
at ruinously low rates by the producer, the
demand is being supplied from abroad at a
still lower price.
The next most important factor of our
wealth is the stock interests, which being
movable property, will, If taxed too heavily,
be liable to seek other pastures remote from
court houses and high taxes. The yield of
our placer mines is generally gratifying, but
steadily on the decline. The value of our
quartz is prospective, and forms decidedly
unstable foundation for costly public build
ings. In the issue of January 18th, the COM
missioners are made to say that 1.-THE build
ing can be erected and paid for without in
creasing the tax levy" We have been pay
ing from fifteen to seventeen mills on the
dollar ever since the division of the county,
and we have failed to appreciately diminish
the existing debt. / for one am unable to see,
at that rate, how we could meet the interest
on Ito say nothing of liquidating) an extra
debt of seventy-fve, possibly hundred thou
sand, dollars, though am not a county COM
missioner. Large as our debt now is, 1t
would be baby By the side of the colossal
amount necessary to complete the new hall
ofjustice. ] have heard it argued that Deer
Lodge, the banner county of Montana, has
the poorest court house in the Territory. or
the eleven counties heard from, SIX enjoy q
lighter, one pays as much, and only three are
Lodge. Is not the term Banner county q
misnomer?
1t Is true that our population is increasing,
but the increase of the permanent kind is
moderate rather than rapid. The rapidly
accommodating belong to the class transitory,
and If this proposition to overtax ourselves
to build hundred thousand dollar court
hnp IL ta1 In Il 4 .
old residents win join that class. Progress"
makes the commissioners say that a "better
building Is an absolute necessity" It may
appear so; but sometimes we have to do with
out things that appear absolutely necessary.
Let us do SO in this case "The house IA an
old wooden building, liable to burn up" but
1t is remote from other structures; that is in
its favor. 1t has escaped so far, and may do
so for long time to come. The old barn
needs coat Of paint perhaps; give it one.
Wants a new roof; let it have it. Needs some
other repairs; make them. The whole thing
will net cost as much as the interest will
amount to in few months on the cost of
new one. The court room may be little
crowded ut times, but as rule there Is room
enough. Better stand little crowding than
assume burden that may distress us to
carry.
To the claim that larger depository for
the records is necessary, there can be no OBJ
lection urged. As to q safer one, allow me
TO say that when the present vaults were con-
structed they were considered safe, even
though the building should burn. They are
not less safe now and are therefore good IN |
the extent OF their capacity. During my res |
idence In the county have never seen the |
Heasurers office in the court house until the |
present term, IL some other room was se-
cured for the use Of the treasurer, the room |
now occupied by that officer might be made |
nre-proof and would hold the records for |
several years 70 come; or, substantial |
structure might be erected in one corner Of |
the court house square, without marring its /