Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-10-26

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having any prticular force of charac-
ter. He is lacking in decision and firm
ness, something very necessary in the
marks of this kind can be heard nearly
every day.
The sincerity of the Whistle in its
howl about the way the roads are neg
lected by the county commissioners is
shown in the circular printed by it
this week for circulation among the
farmers. In that, instead of complain.
ing that not enough Is done on the
roads, it walls over the fact that the
Spring creek road was opened up: af-
ter misstating the cost of it, the circu-
lar makes the lying statement that
not one team in twenty coming from
that direction uses this road. The facts
are that the commissioners were be-
sieged by farmers and stock men who
come into this city from Mcdonald
creek, Maginnis and all the eastern
part Of the county for a road that
would enable them to get to the de.
pot without driving stock and sheen
right through the heartt of this city.
1t was necessity, and that's why the
road was built. AS to the improve
ments on the old road. every man who
has travelled it knows that up to a
short time ago it was, at some places.
so narrow, being between bluffs and
the creek, that teams could not possi-
bly, pass and in those places 1t was
widened out But the circular is OF
a piece with all the Whistle has to
say about the road question. It's mis-
representations will not go down with
the farmers, for they have some in
! formation of their own on the subject.
| A prominent business man Of this
city, who is interested in the coming
election, but only as one who seeks the
cOunty's good, has written a commun
ication to a friend in the country
which gives such a clear, fair and
truthful view of the situation that the
Argus has asked permission to print
It. The letter Is as follows:
Dear Sir: l wish to call your al
tentiOn to matter that has an i'm
pOrtant bearing on the result OF the
coming election. One of the most i'm
pOrtant questions before the people oi
this county in the present campaign
is that of the election of the best pos
slble board of commissioners. Nc
question so directly affects the pecu
nary interest of our taxpayers. 1t is
the board of county commissioners that
directs and controls county expendi
lures and thus determines the rate OF
taxation. Under the administration OF
a Republican board the rate has stead
lily decreased from a rate Of II mills
for county in 1899 until at the present
time the levy Is but liz mills; also
we are now providing literally by g
levy Of 1R mills for county high
school, which Is included in the 11H
mills, which in the first year mention
ed was not in existence. Not only
that. but the county finances are In
better shape today than ever before
better than those of any other couD
ty in the state, except Silver Bow. We
are prepared at the present time to re
deem, II it were possible to do so, un
der the terms on which they were as
sued, more than one-half Of the $50.
100000 bonds issued In 1892. and We
are practically out of debt The road;
Of the county are in better shape ir
either dry or wet weather than ha:
been the case in former years, and IL
fact, little or no complaint has beer
neard from any quarter on that score
A summary would read about as fol
lows: With one of the largest coun
ties in the state. sparsely settled. will
roads more extensive than is the cas-
in all but few counties, ald there
fore more expensive to bring up to
satisfactory condition. and keep in r,
pair, with the added burden of lev
of 1k mills for the support Of tn
county high school, the present boar
has been able by prudent management
not only to provide for all expenses c
the county, including the erection c
eleven steel bridges and between }
and 40 pile bridges of considerabl
size, to maintain a high school c
which all may be proud, to erect
county Jail costing $10,000.OO, to pu
the roads in excellent shape. but t
reduce the tax levy for county take
from II mills to l1A mills 1t seem
to me that this is a remarkable show
ing
my reason for mentioning thes
facts is that your attention may b
called to the record of the presen
board of Republican county commi;
sioners, which in certain quarters
being viciously attacked and misreE