The roundup record. [volume] (Roundup, Mont.) 1908-1929, 1909-03-12
WILL ROUNDUP
INCORPORATE?
Special Election Ton7or-
row to Decide Lncorpo-
ration Question
VOTERS SHOULD TURN OUT
Only Those Registered at Last
General Election Able
to Vote

At the special election to be held
in the new school house tomorrow,
Saturday the voters of the city of
Roundup will decide whether or
no to incorporate. The matter is
one Of great moment to the city as
a whole, and no citizen having
vote should overlook his duty in
casting his ballot. As only those
will be qualified to vote who regist-
cred at the last general election, it
is expected that only between 100
and 115 votes will be cast. There
are 1913 names on the registration
list in thfs precinct: but this num-
Der will be cut down materially,
there being nearly SO Of these who
will not be qualified to vote for the
reason that they live outside the
limits Of the proposed incorporation
or have homesteads. A number
have also moved away.
The matter is being discussed
quite generally and it seems to be
the prevailing opinion that the ma
jority of the voters with whom the
question will rest are sufficiently
awake to their own interests and the
welfare Of Roundup to be in favor
Of the proposition. The arguments
for incorporation are strong ones
which no one can gainsay, while
there is practically only one valid
argument against it-that of
increased taxation. 1t hal already
been stated in the Record that the
tax levy for city purposes could not
exceed one per cent, and it undoubt-
edly would be less. With a system
Of water works in operation property
owners make saving Of at least
two per cent in insurance, there be-
ing then still a difference of one per
cent in favor of the property owner
between the saving in insurance and
the tax levy. In addition to this
it must be figured that the tax levy
is based on about one-half the actual
value of property while insurance is
invariably paid on three-fourths Of
the valuation.
A system Of water works and
electric lights are two Improvements
much to be desired by city the
size of Roundup. Altho we have
an electric light plant now in pro-
cess of installation, it would be ex-
pecting too much to have some
company provide us with a water
plant with the city still unincorpor-
ated and the matter of franchise
for such company very mucn in
! doubt. An adequate water supply
I is essential to every city, not only
as a means for fire protection, but
{ to prevent typhoid epidemic ir
supplying pure water for domestic
purposes. In this connection il
may also be stated that the sani
tary conditions of the city are il
grave need of being improved, anc
incorporation offers the only solu
{ ton of this problem.
{ Hardly anyone denies the fact tha
{ we need better street and sidewalks
I and all must reylize how helpless
I the city is now to do anything il
I this respect. To have uniform
I sidewalk it is necessary to be able
( to compel nonresident lot owner!
I to build walks. With local govern
{ ment in force this becomes an cas-.
{ matter.
{ One of the strongest argument
{ in favor of incorporation at thi
{ time is the fact that if the PROPOSE
: ton is defeated two years will hay
{ to elapse, or until another registra
{ ton takes place, before the matte
{ will come up for vote again