The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1897-01-01
DIVIDE THE U n

Before another issue Of THE NEW
NORTHWEST the fifth session OF the leg
i~slature OF Montana will have begun Its
work. AS a representative of a large
part of Deer Lodge county, we hope that
one of its acts will be a division OF this
county upon such a line as will give as
equitable a division of valuation and
population as is consistent with the con
yenience Of the people. Independent OF
any question of county seat removal, the
division of Deer Lodge county would be
productive of harmony between all resi-
dents of the present county. Now, the
elements composing it are not homoge-
neous. Anaconda, lying within five miles
of the south boundary of the county that
stretches 140 miles to the northward, has
a population distinctively its own, a ma
jority of whom know but little and care
less for anything outside of their OWL
immediate vicinity. How can they sym
pathize with the needs Of outlying dis
tricts, some of them more than 100 miles
away, and whose interests are as diverse
as possible from their own?
The voters of Anaconda and vicinity
naturally feel that their wants and wishes
are the first to be considered, and if those
wants are in opposition, as they naturally
will be. to those of the balance of the
county, the outcome will be constant
friction, chickering's and ill-feeling with a
settled condition of enmity in the end.
The reverse of this proposition is also
true. The people who are not living
tributary to Anaconda cannot under
stand the needs of the latter and are nat
urally Just as tenacious of their opinions.
though unable to enforce them through
lack of votes. Failure to obtain what
they deem their rights brings revolt Of
mind and action. Divide the county and
this lack of harmony disappears. Place
Anaconda and its n%eighboring interests
together and all are actuated by one pur-
pose, the best for all concerned, and as
their interests are common 50 the good
will be in common. The balance of the
county, being devoted to agriculture and
mining, will have a common interest and
act accordingly.
"A division will result in convenience,
particularly to the northern part of the
county, especially since the removal Of the
county seat will cause them a travel of 80
miles further and another change of cars.
If the argument, that Anaconda should
be the county seat so as to accommodate
the majority Of the people, was good then,
to give the people, who are compelled
thereby to go 30 miles further, a nearer
place, is good now, and division the logi-
cal result.
Economy in administration Of govern
ment would result by division. The ar
gument most used by the advocates OF
county seat removal was, that as the bulk
OF court business was from Anaconda, not
only criminal expenses, but civil as we'll,
were increased unnecessarily by having
the county seat at Deer Lodge instead of
at Anaconda. Let this argument, which
seemed to prevail, be carried to its legit-
innate conclusion and it is resolved into
this proposition: By placing the seat OF
county government nearer to the people
the court expenses are diminished. How
can this better be done than by a division
of the county, giving to each section its
own center? The nearer the responsible.
ity of government is brought to the peo-
pie the more careful are they of its ad.
ministration in all departments. This is
the theory of all self-government. 1t was
the argument Of our revolutionary faith
ers; it was used in favor of the admission
Of Montana into the Union, and is a fair
one to use in the division of the county.
1t will be as true for that part of which
Anaconda will remain the county seat as
of that part which may be set off. Both
will be benefited, and each having a com
munity interest will be better able to care
for its own. Let not prejudice warp
judgment SO that the real issues become
obscured, but let the democratic princi-
pie of local government prevail and each
section wish the other "God speed"
We would be glad to see a new county
created by the next legislature, with Deer
Lodge for the county seat. 1t is the only
county division scheme of merit in Mon
tana.-The Whole Truth, Dec. 26.