Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1896-03-12
HOW WILL YOU VOTE.
The Commissioners Have Called An Election
For April 18th.

Thursday afternoon of last week
the committee which had been
appointed by the meeting of citizens
to take the necessary steps toward
the Incorporation of Lewistown.
appeared before the board of county
commissioners and presented "A petit
tion signed by 104 taxpayers of the
proposed municipality and asked
that the board appoint some one to
take a census OF the residents of the
territory therein described and after
receiving such report call an cleo
tion for determining the question of
incorporation. The board are quite
anxious to get Lewistown off their
hands and manifested pleasure in
complying with the request of the
committee. Upon the suggestion of
Mr.. Hilger the board appointed Mr..
W. f. Cort to take the census and
that gentleman went to work at
once and with the aid of the school
census completed his task and re-
ported to the commissioners Monday
afternoon.
The census returns show "A pOpula-
tion within the designated bounda-
rics of the proposed town of 716.
This is considerably less than was
anticipated by many, but it must be
remembered that the boundaries do
not include X. Il. Jackson. Frank
Day. j. L. Crowder or John Crowley.
from which il will he seen that the
lines are closely drawn to the actual
town property. The commissioners
accepted the report Of the numeratOr
and ordered special election to he
held at the court house Oh April l4tl
AMI appointed Judges and clerks for
such election, at which time all
qualified electors at "A general cleo
tion ana who are residents of the
proposed town may vote upon the
question of Incorporation. 1t is
hoped that everyone will vote so
that the decision, whatever Ii may
he. will he a just one, The number
of qualified electors enumera ted il
about 300 and Judging from the fact
that 100 signed the petition for in
corporation it seems as if the propo-
sition would carry, for il il reason
able to believe that there are as
many who did not sign the petition
that will vote for incorporation az
there are those who. though sub
scribing their names, will east
negative votes. At any rate the vote
will he close.
From a careful examination of the
assessment hook for the year 1885
it is found that last year the prop
erty which would have been liable
for taxes within the proposed town
of I-ewistown amounts to- $6a5. .9:Si
and this year the assessor thinks
that the Lewistown assessment will
probably reach about the same figure.
SO this amount may he safely taken
az basis of calculation. In these
columns last week appeared a list Oi
the officers and the maximum sala-
ries allowed to the same in cities ol
the third class. but az a census has
developed that Lewistown could
only incorporate as a town the list
and salaries must he materially
altered. The elective officers of a
town are "a mayor and two alder
men from each ward. none OF whom
can receive any compensation foI
their services The mayor and
council may appoint a clerk and .ex
officio assessor and pay him a salary
of not to exceed $100 per year, one
treasurer and ex-officio tax collector
at a salary Of not to exceed $500 pei
year, one marshal and ex-officie
street commissioner at not to exceed
SO per month The council may