The Mineral argus., 1884-10-30
SOLID FOR DIVISION.

Editors MINERAL ARGUS:
Since the conventions in this county
/ have received several letters from
your section of the county in regard
to my course in the legislature, lin
case Of my election on the question
of county division, which appears to
be the main issue hat will control the
voters of Meagher this year in their
choice for the legislative ticket. In
fact, it would seem, from the great
interest manifested in this matter, that
party fealty and party feelingi is entirely
thrown aside as far as regards this
part of the ticket, and the division
question is made to take precedence of
all party issues. AS, both from bust
ness and family reasons, ! have been
unable to visit your portion OF the
county during the present campaign,
and as a reply by letter to these in
terrogations would only reach a few,
l beg leave to trespass on your kind
ness and space to define my position
on this question, knowing that in this
way it will be made known to a much
greater number than l could possibly
reach by mail; and believing, also,
that the people should be informed of
the attitudes of the different candi-
dates who are seeking their support so
that they can intelligently express
their will in a matter of such vital inn
portance to all.
1t is generally admitted that the
coming legislature will have to deal in
some way with the question of a
general remodelng of county lines
and boundaries. When the present
boundaries were fixed much Of the
territory included in some of the
present counties was u~ninhabited,
except by a few adventurous whites
and rowing Indians, and while these
counties were admittedly too large ii
area, the outlying portions were toe
sparsely settled to admit of them sus
tanning county organizations of then
own and they were therefore thrown
in with more thickly settled portions
for judicial and other purposes. In M
portion of Montana did this state o
affairs exists to a greater extent thar
in eastern Meagher county, which
until a very few years ago, was al
almost uninhabited region, a hunting
ground for the Indians who made an
nual trips there for this purpose, and
resort for trappers, Indian traders ant
illicit whiskey dealers. But in thes
last few years all this has been changed
The magnificent sections Of Montana
known as the Judith Basin, and tn
lower Musselshell, have been rapid
settled up by stockmen, rapchmen AM
the hardy prospector and miner
where once only the buffalo and In
dian roamed, may now be seen we
cultivated farms, prosperous towns AM
mining camps, vast herds of domesti
cattle and multitudinous bands c
sheep, and the settlers of that region
whose great distance from their pres
ent county seat works a great hardshi,
upon them when their presence ther
is made necessary, are asking, an,
with justice, for a change. With thi
request | may say | am in full accord
but whether the change is to come a
the present time must be determine
by the people themselves. l believ
it is time, at least, to take the pre-
liminary steps, and to place it With
the power of the people of this count
to say by their votes whether OF nc
the county is to be divided. But | d
not think the Legislators should arrc
gate to themselves the power of arb
trarily changing county lines or settin