The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-03-06
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6. 1912.
TWO e

/
The organization of the new coun.
ties Of Hill and Blaine the past week
10 an event in the history of northern
Montana that will be remembered as
the realiz alton of hopes long deferred
the reward of earnest and persistent
effort. For the past ten or twelve
years the matter of dividing Chouteau
county has been urged by many resi-.
dents whose homes we're remote from
the county seat. and the final success
of their endeavor is a tribute to their
loyalty to the interests OF their respec'
tive localities and to the performance
of work necessary to accomplish the
desired result.
Some nine years ago, the efforts to
form q new county from the northern
part of Chouteau county promised to
meet with success. A proposition to
create Bear Paw county was before
the legislative assembly. and was
recognized as such q %meritorious pro-
iect that it was passed by the house.
The c%ounty-seat question, however.
caused q conflict between the residents
of rival towns and the opposition thus
created was responsible for the defeat
of the measure by one vote in the sen-
ate.
The plan of forming two counties at
the same time eliminate some of this
county seat rivalry, and residents OF
the respective divisions reached an
agreement upon the question at q con-
ference held at Havre in the fall OF
1910. 1t was expected that q PROPOSE
ton supported by such mutual agree.
ment would find favor with the legis-
lative assembly, but a mysterious 10.
huence that was apparently opposed
to the creation of new counties in this
part OF Montana blocked the way.
The enactment of a new counties law,
framed with the intent to prevent the
creation of new counties, formed q
plausible excuse for rejecting the pro-
posed division of Chouteau county.
The best laid plans, however, some
times miscarry. There was such a
strong public sentiment behind the
Hill and Blaine county proposition
that the obstacles placed in the way
by legislative enactment were over
come. The unreasonable and com
plicated requirements of the law we're
met: the question was submitted to the
voters at special elections, and In each
case the formation of the new county
was favored by a large majority. The
desire of the voters, expressed In such
emphatic manner, now goes into effect
Each of the new counties possessed
ample with which to con
duct q separate government. operated
along conservative lines, without i'm
posing excessive burdens upon tax
payers. There may not be the pro
portionate decrease In expenditure
that has been promised by optimisti
enthusiasts, but there should not b
any large addition to the rate of taxa
ton. There will necessarily be Ger
tain expenses in the matter Of starting
housekeeping that will not be dupli
Gated at some future time, but tn
general running expenses of eacl
county should not exceed an amour
that can be met by a comparativel
low tax levy.
The two new counties begin bushes
under the most favorable auspices
and their progress will be a m after {
interest to all their friends and neigh
bors. The residents OF, the parel
county, especially, wish them pro-
perity and happiness and the flu
realization of the benefits that may t
obtained from closer association an
more intimate acquaintance with II
machinery of local government.