The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-08-07
A WORTHY MEASURE.

\ petition is being circulated
among the taxpayers of the county.
addressed to the county commission
ers asking them to appropriate $1,000
for the benefit of the F'lathead coun-
ty fair and $500 to be used in erect
ing an exhibit hall at the state fair.
which is to be erected Jointly by Mis-
soula, Ravalli and Flathcad counties.
MissOula county has oft red to nav
one-half The cost OF such building if
Ravalli and Flathead counties to-
gether will pay the other half. AT
first glance. some Of the taxpayers
may inclined to doubt the wisdom
Of such expenditures, especially in
view Of the fact that much money
is needed for road work ana for 9th
er improvements in the county. How
ever. when the matter is fully and
fairly considered there viii be but
few. if any taxpayers in the county
to object to the proposition. The tax
able wealth Of the county is over S.
100000, and an appropriation of
Sl.50o would require an increased tax
levy of only 3-16 of a mill. In other
words the man who pays taxes on
property assessed at 81 600 would be
required to pay but 1915 cents addi-
tional in taxes. Considering the ben
fits 10 be derived from both, the
county and state fair. Il is doubtful
if there could be found a single tax
payer in the county to object to the
appropriation. There are a few. per
haps. who will say that we should
take care Of our county fair. and let
the state look out for it's own but
this is very narrow and selfish
view, for while good buildings and
fine exhibit at the county fair will
stimulate our people to better eff
forts and in some measure advertise
the possibilities of the county. more
real benefit is to be derived from
creditable exhibit at the state fair
because it will be viewed bv thous-
ands Of outsiders who now have but
a vague idea of what this county can
produce, and it is among people who
reside outside the county that we
must find market for our products,
and from whom we must draw new
residents and capital for the further
settlement and development of the
county There are many residents of
Butte and other Montana cities who
are investing in farm and orchard
lands because they want some place
that they can ultimately call home
At the pres nj time nearly all of
such investments go to Missoula
county or the Bitter Root. because
that section has been widely adver
tised as the fruit and garden belt OF
Montana. while this valley is prac
tical'v unknown. Without diaparag
ing any other section. it can be trul,
said that this valley is unapproached
either in the extent of its fertile
mellow soil. its wealth Of beautiful
scenery, or its matchless climate. fol-
here the most bountiful crops of al
kinds are produced without Irrigation
and no other county has so much tt
gain by making a good display at the
state fair.
The county commissioners have {
!audable desire to keep the county ex
penditures down to the lowest posi-
BILE point but money expended in the
manner proposed will be returned
many fold and the matter should
not be considered in any spirit o
parsimony.
The state legislature recognized
the desirabilty of encouraging The
holding of county fairs and passed
law authorizing the expenditure o
money for such purpose by the
county commissioners. The offe
made by Missoula county is a mos
generous one and we should NEE
them half way and when it comes t
making the exhibit. let us be Their,