The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-02
RENO

Against tho Bill fs rthe Creation of Sweet
Grass County.
To the members Of the senate and house
of representatives, Third legislative assem-
bly, Of the state of Montana: Gentlemen
Whereas. there has been introduced and
is now pending before you for considera-
ton senate bill No.. for the creation of
the county Of Sweet Grass out of a portion
of what is now Park county; and whereas,
the creation of said county is in our opln-
ion unnecessary and would be detrimental
to the best interests OF Park county and its
inhabitants.
Now. therefore We, the undersigned IONA
hde residents and taxpayers of the present
your honorable bodies to refuse to pass
said bill, and do hereby protest in the most
earnest manner against it's passage. and in
support of this our petition and protest,
present for your consideration the follow
ing.facts:
First. That tho present county of Park
WAS created in 1887 out of the then county
of Gsllatin; at that time the then county of
Park contained about $500 inhabitants.
with an assessed valuation of about $3,00O.-
600. IL assumed 81 a portion of the in
debtedness of the then county Of Galistin
$4,000, none of which has yet been paid.
Second, That at the present time the
SoabsV Los ~ n Cot otcpO
Its present Indebtedness. including bonds,
warrants and outstanding obligations. is
about $l5O.0 600; Its assessed valuation Of
property subject to taxation only amounts
to about $4,000, 600. The present tax levy
of fifteen mills does not raise sufficient
revenue to pay the expenses OF She eounty
and interest On debt and provide a sinking
fund for payment of outstanding bonds; the
county has no public property except d Jail
worth about $4,000, and lots for court
house site worth about 81. 800, and two poo,
farms worth about $4,000. The present in
debtedness and expenses of the county have
been found TO be a serious burden for ouI
people to garry, and efforts to bond for tbs
construction of public buildings have beer
recently defeated owing to tho feelins
against increasing thoas burdens.
Third, That the county, while large il
area. is sparsely settled in tho country dis
tricts and contains largo territories of land
unsuitable for farming or other settlement
The population is massed In small district
such a. Livingston, Big Timber. Horr
Cokedale, Red Lodge. Cooke, Boulder anc
Melville.
Fourth. Tha. the future prosperity OF tn,
county depends upon the development. o
Its mineral rssouroeS and agricultural val.
levs. ihs pending bill takes from GU
county the coal tsidS of Rcd Lodge ant
the Agricultural regions of Melville
Sweet Grass aud the lower Y%sllowston,
vailey. Inc Agricultural regions included
in it are among the most fertile in on
boundnli les. and those within which Their
are the beat prospects, for settlement ant
growth in the near future. 10 thus dis
member the county Of Park is TO greatl'
injurs lis present. prospects and deprive i
of any substantial hope of future growth.
Fifth, That she only persona to be bens
hted by the creation of the new count,
would be the inhabitants OF the town O
Big Timber and only by the increased prio
which they might be able to obtain TO
their town lots. owing to tins location O
the county seat at TINT place.
Sixth, That the efieot of the creation O
the new county would be to about doubl
the burdens OF the Inhabitants without an
material increase In their ability to bes
theIn.
The above facts are submitted for you
consideration in the confident hope ths
Won will NOT permit this great injustice I
be dom a.