Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-22
County Division.
Reprotluce,l from last week by request.

Reproduced from last week by request.
eeeause Judith Gap d opposed to couaty
division It this time, the Harinwton boosters
for the proposition threaten to make the
north boundary line Of the proposed new
couaty on the township line mile south Of
tows, leaving the township In which Judith
Gap b located In Meaxher county.
A. Il looks now, II fiasiowton b going to
ellalaate all antagonlstlc territory to county
division. the boundary liaes Of the new coun'
ty viii comprise the same boundary lines -
the present city Of t1arlowton.
Doesn't Il strike You, dear reader. -
childish proposition to cut off Judith Gap
aal leave ~ In dear old Meagher county In
strip rsnniag along the top Of the Little Belt
misntalns. over which contiguous territory
We could never have public highway to the
cosaty seat, just because there Is some op'
petition here to county division?
4. Because We won't agree to play the game
to the entire satisfaction Of the tiar'owton
chlldren, We can't slide down their cellar
deer aay more.
Whes the Harlowton people start to circu'
tate the petition for . special election they
will begin to realize that somebody has been
foollng them. The farmers are opposed to
the proposition At this time almost unani'
msssiy. They claim the country Is too new
to undertake such burden q the forming
OF Z sew county would entail. They know
that taxes are low In Meagher county; the
cousty Is in better financial condition than
any other county 10 the state. and they will
went to know where this 100000 Of a.
sessel valuation Is secured By the county d.
vislss promoters. and how that amount 9
arrived at. They are under the impression
that that amount Is secured BY increasing the
yaiuatlen Of improved farms from IS an &C.
re, the present valuation Of Meayher county.
to so Of SIS. They will be anxious to tlnd
out how much bonded indebtedness the new
county will need, and how much cash money
will have to be raised to grease the machin.
cry OF the new county and keep It In running
order the first year. They know now that
there Is no bonded indebtedness to pay from
future taxation 10 Measher county. and that
the tax levy Is IS mills on "a assessed valua'
of IS On acre.
They know that their taxes 10 Meaghef
Coanty will gradually decrease In the future,
and they will want to know why they should
be called spon to pay three OF fo.r times -
much to the new county.
They know that they will have to build
scAsel houses In nearly every township and
maintain schools, and that will be heavy
burden for them to assume In addition to
their present low county taxes. II they have
to pay the sew county three or four times
the taxes as At present and In addition to
that heavily tax themselves to educate their
CAudseu, the burden will be unbearable and
<hey Will have to sacrifice their property
na1 move out.
They Will want to know why they should
he askel to practically ruin themselves. ana
what viii the answer be9
First, that the present county seat b To-
Gated 80 miles from them, end b not easy Of
access" How many farmers have business
at The county seat that cannot be ATTENDED to
~ letter. except jury duty. and for whlca
service they get paid per diam and mileage
Second. that It Is almost impossible ia
get road work done In this end Of the coun'
ty when the officials are oil interested 10 thu
other end" The commissioners are do'el
their best to build roads In this end Of thu
cousty. and have not shown any disposition
to ccrlmp In the matter Of spending none,
eiouS these lines hereab0uts. The building
OF roads Is a slow process. and It Is up t
the taxpayers themselves just how mucl
money Is spent for this purpose. We ar
promised larger appropriation for roa'
work this year. but the taxpayers will hav'
to foot the bills. What can narlowton pro
mise better than this7
''Th,sd, that being located closer to tn
county seat. your land will greatly lncreas
IN value" AZ matter Of fact. land close 4
White Sulphur Springs Is cheaper than land
rear Judith Gap, and always will be.
Fourth. that it will not cost any more /
rua the proposed new county than the PR
sent old county," Itmay not cost any NOR
to run It after It gets In running order. bu
they Will not deny that It will cost abou
three hundred thousand dollars to get It !
ruaning order. This will be bonded indeb
edness largely. Why 30 to all this unnece'
sessary expense?
Who Is advocating this county division
anl why2
Let Us look the facts squarely In the fat
aad see Il We cannot lind the answer.
llasiowton b located 10 IN unfortuna
portion OF agricultural Montana. The tri'
utary farming country b limited and u
snfficlenf IN amn0Ort 6etOWn of the D1e9el