The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-02-01
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
A Tax-Payer's Views on the Subject

A Taxpayers Views on the Subject.
STUART, MONTANA, Jan. 30, 1884.
Editor Netc North Vest:
You will please allow me small space in
the columns of your valuable paper to ex-
press my views in regard to building new
court house in Deer Lodge. 1 being tax
payer, am decidedly opposed to the project
until the county is out of debt, and we are
better prepared for the burden of taxation.
Since the advent of the railroad into our
midst 1t has changed the times materially
To-day we find the bulk of our produce on
hand, and what we have disposed of has
been nc reduced rates-from one-h half to three
fourths the former price-and scarcely any
sale at that. Since the early days of Mon
tana, we have all lived more or less extrava-
gantly, consequently we have got to come
down to States prices and economy, or be
sold out by the sheriff. The people are less
prepared for the burden than they have been
at any time during the past five or six years,
from the simple fact that hard times and low
prices came upon them when they least
looked for it. have spoken to great many
people In the past three weeks about build
ing court house, and I haven't found the
first taxpayer in favor of 1t. They NIL say,
wait until the county is out of debt, and
times are better; then we will be better able
to bear the burden. If you please, inquire
of the merchant or the collector, and I think
you will find more delinquents than there
have been In the three years past.
The great cause of the hard times liz, the
people haven't learned how to live and prac.
tice economy; consequently the lesson Is
going TO be hard to learn. came to Deer
Lodge county in III; our taxes have been
high every year since, and to-day finds us
thirty thousand dollars or more in debt.
Look at it IL you please our county has
never been out of debt since it first was or.
ganized. WHAT do you think of it for the
banner county of the Territory? And still
there are few aristocrats who want to over
ride the county with seventy-ive or one hun
dred thousand dollars more, and by the time
the building is completed you will find the
county one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars In debt, which the school boys Of the
present day will not live to see obliterated
hear some say our court house Is not ft for
use, liable to be burn up, and SO on. Our
court house has answered all purposes for
fifteen years, and think we had better be
satisfied with 1t for two or three years longer,
rather than to saddle the county with a debt
that won't be wiped out in . life-time Some
will say we can build and pay for the same
In five or ten years ut most. The past tween
ty years of prosperity finds us heavily in
debt, and We haven't spent exceeding forty
thousand dollars in court house and Jail.
will venture to say that nine tenths of the
taxpayers outside of Deer Lodge city would
vote against building court house at the
present time. admit that 1t would be nice
thing for Deer Lodge city. It would make
times lively while the building would be IN
operation Il would be grand ornament TO
the city, but very oppressive TO the balance
Of the county. wonld like TO hear frog
other parts OF the county. TAk-PAyEa.
II