The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-13
HAM|LTON'S HAPPY DAY
The Bitter Root Metropolis IL
Now a County Seat.
MOVING Is ALL FINISHED
County Onicss Now Open Al the New
Seat OF Government = Incidents OF
the Transfer - District Court
Convenes To-Day.

Hamilton. Dec. 12.-This has been an
important day in Hamilton's history.
1t was the date fixed by the county
commissioners for the formal transfer
of Ravalli county's seat of government
from the village OF Stevensville to the
town of Hamilton. and this place is
now a full fiedged county seat. with
the officers installed in comfortable and
commodious quarters and the district
court well provided for. As IL to prop
erly celebrate the removal and start of
the new condition of affairs I'm good
shape. Judge Woody will. i'm the MORN
ing. onven the December term of the
district court in the new room i'm the
Opera House block that has been set
apart for the judiciary.
There has been no formal ceremony
connected with the transfer of the
county seat, but there have been a few
cold bottles cracked quietly on the side.
and there is a broad smile all over the
town. Hamilton is happy. n has a
right TO be. She has a smile coming
and is enjoying herself thoroughly to-
night. The Copper City Limited
brought up TO Hamilton tonight a
large delegation of legal lights from
M~issoula, who are interested i'm the pro-
ceedings of the opening session of this
term of court. Judge Woody was one
of the party, n IL Is rumored here
that his honor purchased "a new suit of
clothes for the occasion. Judge Woody
was pleasantly welcomed. as were also
the other members of the party. which
included Colonel Marshall. Hon. Henry
G. Stiff. Hon. S. g. MURRAY and others
of prominence I'm legal circles. y. u.
Poinc was given the post OF honor and
enlivened the occasion.
In the Lucas Opera House block are
located the offices of the clerk and re-
corder. treasurer, assessor and clerk of
the court. The other bounty officers
will find quarters i'm the building Of the
Ravalli County bank. All are comfort
able. c~ommodious Offices. and the
change from S~tevensville will be APP
preciated. both by the officers and those
who patronize them.
The history Of the county seat fight
here is so recently made as to be IA
miliar to all. For several years. the
bulk of the county business has come
from Hamilton and the people tran
sacting IL a beer Inconvenience by
being Obliged to travel % miles down
the valley to ~Stevensville. a village dis
TAM from the railway and unsuitable.
by reason OF its geographical position
i'm the country. to he the seat of gov-
eminent. Hamilton people. pursuing
the course mapped out by law. set
about to secure, IL possible. n change
In the county seat. They were fought
at every step in the preliminary work
by thc SteVensville people. who ex-
hausted every available to de-
feat Hamilton's purpose. The matter
was taken 10 the supreme court and
then remanded TO this county. where Il
was finally decided in HamiIton's ia
vor.
Then began the campaign. on the
part of Hamilton IL was fought on
clean lines and only honorable means
were employed. OF a portion Of Stew
ensville's population the same was true.
but there was an element i'm the old
town down the valley hat hesitated
at nothing and that introduced unfair
and indecent methods into the cam
paign. They even accepted none from
w. A. Clark TO accomplish the defeat
Of Hamilton. hut their efforts were flu
tile and Hamilton received last month
a clear majority of the votes cast out
side OF her limits. Including the Ham
ilton vote. the majority received by the
valley metropolis was sos in "A vote of
1.150. Thus was the battle fought and
Hamilton is happy and Is dis
posed 90 let the past drop. although
she is by no means willing Ia forget the
men who introduced So much filth into
the campaign. Their day of reckoning
will follow later.