The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-01-14
Blaine County Statement.

OSCh wv NAS esUIS w HASC ~ CA1ouSA
the kindness Of Treasurer Kenyon.
The statement shows some very in
teresting facts that cannot be denied
and how much cheaper smaller
county with lower valuation can be
run than a large county. Blaine
county is in the sixth class counties,
Valley in the fifth class, while the
new proposed county Of Phillips will
be in the seventh class, and the ex-
penses much lower than in that of
Blaine. According to the classifjca-
tions it costs Blaine county $2,150. 90
less for salaries of their officers than
it does the taxpayers of Valley coun-
ty for the same officers, and for the
same officials it will cost the taxpay-
ers of the new proposed county Of
Phillips $2,4O0.00 less than it costs in
the county Of Blaine.
As to the salaries Of deputies and
clerks it is very hard to draw a com
parison between the two counties of
Blaine and Valley. The financial
statement of the former does not give
the amount paid out for this purpose,
but from the number of clerks and
deputies employed in Blaine county
the expense cannot run very high,
while in Valley it runs up to some
thing better than $50 100000 Il year.
There is but one or two offices in
Blaine county that has q deputy, and
there is none in Valley county that
does not employ from one to dozen,
and in some cases more. In the new
county there would be very few dep
uties and if any at all they would he
in the office of sheriff.
Daring the year closing Nov Both,
1914, in Blaine county there was paid
out in the general fund the sum of
SH ,63o.o7, while the amount paid out
OF the same fund in Valley county
was SIP, ,63O.47. This shows an enor-
nous saving in favor of the smaller
county, and if it will work out this
va. - Blaine county why not d
greater reduction in still a smaller
county where the valuation is not SO
great9
In the road fund OF Valley county
t'or the same period the sum of s52,-
539.6 was expended for improvements
on the highways, and out Of that sum
the people in the new proposed coun-
Jy received very little and far less
than their proper apportionment. In
Blaine county for the same purpose
and during the same time the sum of
Sl4,O3S.45 was expended, and those
living in the east end of Blaine coun-
ty have some work at least to show
for the money spent for this improve
ment. When little over Sl4 100000
will do as much road york in Blaine
county as was done for the year Just
closed what would the same amount
do in a county as small as the county
of Phillips will be? In very short
time we would have the best roads in
eastern Montana and the money spent
would be the best investment the
county commissioners could make. |
Time is too valuable to waste in i
over bad roads, and with
good roads comes a good market The |
cost Of good roads is less than the !
tan Of bad ones.
GOOD schools and good roads are
the most valuable asset to any county
and go hand in hand. In Valley
county for the fiscal year closing
November 3oth, 1914, the sum of s136,-
4663o was expended for district
schools, While the expenditures for
the same purposes in Blaine county
We're $40, 766.71. The schools of Blaine
county are just as good as those of
Valley, and they have just as many
schools in that county as. there is in
y alley for the area of the two coun-
t'es. county superintendent is re-
nuired to visit all country schools
certain number of times each year,
and large amount OF. money eNpend- |
ed i'll Valley county goes to pay for
such visits, while if the county was
smaller the visits could be made at a
less expense and the money used to
give the people of the outlying dis
trlcts more and better schools, In
any office in the county where trav-
el'ng expense is paid it is to the
interest of the taxpayers to have the
county Just as small as possible.
Especially is this true of the Office of
county superintendent and that of
sheriff If the people of the new pro-
posed county of Phillips want better
roads and schools it will be to their
interest to get out and vote for co,,n-
tN division on February End.
There are many items of interest