The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-03-17

| NJ. IS
AN ACT to provide for the creation. or
ganization and classification Of new coun
les. for locating the county seats. for the
election and appointment of officers. for
the adjustment and fulhllment of the
rights and obligations arising between
such new counties and other counties
and providing penalties for the violation
thereof.
BE Ii ENACTED BY THE LEGISLA.
TIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE
OF MONTANA
SECTION I. New counties may. from
time to time, be formed and created IN this
state from portions Of one or more counties
already in existence. in the manner set
forth in this act. provided. however. that
no new counties shall be established which
shall reduce any county to an assessed val
uation Of less than five millions OF dollars:
nor shall any county be formed which con-
tains an assessed valuation of property less
than four millions Of dollars as shown by
the last preceding assessment Of the coun-
ty OF counties from which such new county
is to he established, nor shall any line
thereof pass within eighteen miles Of the
county sea, Of any cosnty proposed to be
divided. and in every case where the coun-
~ seat OF the county sought to be divided
is situated al or within the boundaries Of
any ,nrnrpn,a,ai ,o,xn n, r.,x each .;,,,,,, a,
seat shall, for the purposes Of this act. be
held to include and to be coterminus with
the territory included within the boundar-
les OF the Incorporated town or city where
at or wherein the county seat Of the county
sought to be divided is situated. as such
boundaries are legally fixed and determined
at the date OF the filing Of the petition or
petitions referred to in Section of this
act: nor shall any new county be formed
which shall reduce to less than eight hun
dred square miles OF surveyed land the area
Of any existing county from which territory
is taken to form such new county. Every
county which shall be enlarged OF created
from territory taken from any other county
or counties shall be liable for pro rata pro
portion Of the existing debts and liabilities
OF the county or counties from which such
territory shall be taken. to be determined
as hereinafter provided.
SECTION ?. Whenever it is desired to
divide any county or counties and form
new county out OF portion Of the territory
OF such then existing county or counties.
petition shall be presented to the board OF
county commissioners of the county from
which said new county is To be formed, in
case said county is to be formed from but
one county. ar to the board of county com
mssioners OF the county from which the
largest area of territory is proposed to be
taken for the formation OF such new county
in case said new county is to be formed
from portions Of two or more existing
and such board of county COM
missioners shall be empowered and have
the jurisdiction to do and perform all acts
provided for to be done or performed IN
from which any proposed territory is to be
taken. and shall direct that a certified copy
Of all orders and proceedings had before
such board of County Commissioners shall
be certified by the County Clerk to the
Board of County Commissions Of each of
the several counties from which any ter
ritory is taken by the proposed new county
and all officers of any such county from
which any territory is taken by the pro-
posed new county shall comply with the
orders Of the Board of County Commis-
sioners in the same manner. as if said
order had been duly made by the BoaId Of
County Commissioners Of each respective
county from which territory is proposed to
be taken. Such petition shall be signed
by at least one half Of the Qualified electors
Of the proposed new county. whose names
appear on the official registration books
used at the general election held therein
last preceding the presentation of said
petition to the board of county commission
ers as herein provided provided. tina, in
cases where the proposed new county is TO
be formed from portions of two or more
existing counties. separate petitions shall
be present from the territory taken from
each county; and each Of said separate Pc
titions shall be signed by at least ore half
Of the qualified electors Of each of said pro-
posed portions. Such signatures need not