The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-03
OPPOSED TO SWEET GRASS.
Strong Delegation From Park County
Fight the Mensurc

Strong Delegation From Park County ia
Fight the BsAsurc.
A strong delegation from Livingston ar
rived last night to reinforce those already
hers In opposing the pasaaae OF tho bill
creating the county Of Sweet Grass con-
sisting OF Ex-senator Thompson. Edto
Anderson, OF tho Livingston Post. Attorney
IL j. Miller, City TroAsarsr Maurice Roth
and Messrs. A. j. Campbell, W. Fl. Camp
bell. Il. Goughnour and i. G. Day. The
Day was seea by sn INDEPENDENT reporter
last evening, and expressed himself upon
the subject as follows:
Our delegation 10 here for the purpose OF
laying before the senate com mittee on towns
and counties our views upon this measure
Our senator being ths author Of the bill
We are without representative on the floor
and this IS the only way left for us to gain
hearing. We desire to simply present the
facts of the case to tho senate and leave IL
to their sense OF right to determine wlaat
policy Is best to pursue. he county of
Park Is compar ratively new county and il
just becoming prosperous. We nave been
laborinR under great many disadvantages.
Our mineral regions on account OF their re-
motencss are as yet undeveloped, and it 10
only in the last few years that there has
been much done towards the su uocessful Gull
tivation OF our agricultural lands. 1t is
true that our growth Ill the past three yeara
has been very rapid, and there is every
reason to believe that this growth will con-
tlnue.
but as the county is now constituted it
10 not too largo for the population. We
have as yet no public buildings Of any con-
sequence. and our tax rate has been very
high on account of the heavy expenditures
needed for putting our roads in shape and
| o. ~ Ia nh t,paC
| with the increase in the wealth of our
people these burdens will become lighter.
The population and present taxable prop
erty OF the new county is taken almos!
entirely from Park. Tho portion of the
Crow Reservation included within the pro-
unsettled, and the larger portion of ii ia
unfit for any use except grazing purposes.
| The creation Of the new county will result
in simply doubling the expense withou,
any immediate recompense. The town OF
Big Timber, the proposed county seat, is
| only distant by rnil one hour from Livings-
| ton, and half Of the wear there IRE two daily
passenger trains each way between tho two
places. so that IL can readily be seen that
the people OF that nsighborhood are within
easy access OF the present county seat.
"Ihe people Of Red Lodge have undoubt-
edly been put to much expense and trouble
in reaching the county seat, but ! have
every reason to believe that they are not il
sympathy with the present movement. and
since the introduction Of the bill opposi.
tion has spI ung up against it even among
| those who are to be included in it. l have
heard that the chief argument used by the
friends of this measure is that our present
tax rate is due to mlsmanagemento of county
affairs. II this is SO, these people have only
themselves to blame as they have assisted
materially in eleotinQ the officials whose
acts are complained of. and there are nc
signs of change OF heart. We are max
ing this fight solely upon the grounds that
there is no reason for the creation of the
new county. 1t ia not demanded by the
circumstances. 1t is injurious to the best
interests of all concerned, and. if We have
only the time. we expect to show that If lef,
to vote of the people it would be defeated
even in the districts included in its pro-
posed boundaries.'