The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1915-01-08
MAP MAJ Of 81 MONTANA MONTANA
GREATLY CHANGED

Since Montana became state, over
twenty-five years ago, with only l6
counties, there have been many chan
ees in it's political subdivisions.
Starting in with only 16 counties, it
now has 80, with several more sched-
u7ed for the near future. The origin
nal 16 counties were, Beaverhead, Cas-
cade. Choteau, Custer, Deer Lodge,
argus, Gallatin, jefferson, Lewis and
Clark, Madison, Meag:ler, Missoula,
Park, Silver Bow and Yellowstone.
Silver Bow county is the only one OF
the first 16 still holding its original
territory, it being too small at the be-
ginning to stand any slicing of terri
tory. This was not the case with the
big majority of the other counties,
MANY of them being larger than sew
eral of the eastern states, notably Gus
ter, Dawson and Missoula counties.
Few new counties were made until
within the past two years. 1t was
necessary, according to law, up to two
wears ago for new counties to be Gre
atad by special acts of the legislature.
During the session of two years ago
this winter the legislature passed law
leaving it to the people within the linn
its of any proposed new county to vote
t.oon and organize new counties, and
in this way Sweetgrass, Big Horn,
Toole, Stillwater, Sheridan, WibauX,
Teton, Hill, Richland, Fallon, Blaine,
and Mineral counties have been form
etl Flathead, Broadwater, Rosebud,
Valley, Musselshell, Sanders, Ravalli,
Carbon and Lincoln counties were
formed by the legislature, making a
total at this time of 80 counties in the
state.
At the present time there are sew
eYal new county propositions being
considered, some with good prospects
of success. The politicians of the
state are becoming alarmed at the in
crease in counties and an effort will
be made during the present session
OF the legislature to pass new law
or amend the old one in such way
as to make it impossible for any more
new counties to be organized. In this
respect the Helena Record of a recent
doJe speaking of new legislation, says
1T is likely the new counties law
will be amended, making it more diff
cult in the future to create new dl-
visions than it has been in the past
Some members favor not only increas
ing the valuation required-now S4,
00o,OO0-but also increasing the mum
Der of petitioners necessary to secure
vote on the proposition, and also
amending the law SO as to preven
ge1rymandering."
It has been understood for some
time that an effort would be made tt
amend the new county law The old
er counties are prone to lose their rev
el7ue producing territory, especial.
where the revenue can be collected
from year to year without the expen
diture of county funds in the district
from which the funds are derived. |
is this state of affairs that has beel
responsible for the organization of tn
many new counties during the pas
two years, and in the interest of tn
future development Of the state it i
best to allow the present law to stanc
Every one will admit that stat
senate composed of IL state senator
is much easier controlled and manipu
lated than state senate composed 0
80 state senator's, which fact explain
the desire of the big interests an
politicians to prevent the organlzatio
of more new counties.
The making of new counties incl
Gates the growth and development c
the state and every new county form
ed assists in the future developmer
and population of the state, and th
means increased wealth and taxab]
property and gradual reduction c