Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-22
BY G. w. JEROME
Editor, Popiar Standard

\ 1lght winch is now unueF WY bluo
fair TO go down into history as one
of the most interesting battles that
has been waged in northeastern Mon
tana for the last decade. The contend
ing towns are Poplar, which is the
present temporary county seat, and
Wolf Point. which seeks TO wrest the
permanent county seat from its neigh
Dor contestant.
1t may not be amiss to first give a
brief summary of the forerunner of
what is now about to be finally de-
cided by the November general cleo
ton. 1t will be remembered that sew
eral new counties were created by the
sixteenth legislative assembly, and that
Governor $. V. Stewart permitted the
bills to become operative in the stand
that he took in refusing to either APP
prove or veto the same. The bll
creating the county of Roosevelt was
one of these enactments. In that bill
it was provided that the temporary
county seat be located at Mondak, a
small town near the North Dakota
boundary line, and in the extreme
southeastern corner of the county.
At the last general election, under
the law, the question was submitted
10 the voters relative to where they
desired to locate the permanent county
seat. The result of that election was
n plurality vote for Poplar with Wolf
Point running second. Upon the can
vass of that vote, the county seat was
removed from Mondak to Poplar and
has remained there for the past two
years. Poplar not having received a
majority vote, but having received only
q plurality vote. the case is now about
to be submitted to the electors again
as to whether or not the permanent
county seat should remain at Poplar or
be removed to Wolf Point.
Poplar Claims Central Location
Poplar contends that a county seat
that is centrally located is most eco
nomically conducted and thereby best
serves the interests Of all the people
! of a county. Poplar challenges that
she is the only logical place for the
county seat for many reasons. In the
first place, Wolf Paint is located IN
the extreme southwestern corner OF
the county. while Poplar is advantage
DUSTY situated in almost the exact
center of the county. both geographI-
cally and as to the population of the
county.
Being favorable located as it is,
Poplar submits that it naturally fol-
lows therefrom that it is most accesi-
bic TO the people of the county as a
whole. The economical deduction
therefrom is that it always costs far
less to conduct the governmental at
fairs of a county when the county
seat is centrally located. This, be-
cause of the saving in mileage of wit
nesses. jurors, sheriff and other
county officials. Wolf Point is %
miles from and west of Poplar: with
the bulk of the population of the
.,,r+ o-tnpiip1 from pnnlar east
ward and north. Computed at the
legal rate of 10 cents a mile going
and 10 cents a mile returning, that
means $40 extra milage for each
and every witness, juror, sheriff s
fees, commissioners mileage, etc. for
every term of court, If the county
seat is removed to the extreme corner
of the county.
It is estimated that if Wolf Point
prevails in the election. that 1t Will
cost. conservatively estimated, approx
imately $1,000 additional in mileage
that must be paid by taxation. inns
extra expenditure will be permanently
fixed and has far-reaching results.
Furthermore. there is the expense of
tearing down at Poplar and rebuilding
nj Wolf Point. 1t is appropriated that
such cost will amount to at least S4u,-
600 which the taxpayers will have TO
foot and pay the bill therefore.
3 County Buildings at Poplar
At the present time, the county OF
ficials are located at Poplar. in a large
and commodious brick building which
affords all modern conveniences. ms
building was used for school purposes
before the county seat was removed to
Poplar, after which time it has been
used exclusively for county offices. Pop
lar having another school building,
erected A few years ago. which is one
of the most modern and ample school
buildings in the state.
Upon acquiring the temporary county
two years ago. the school district IN
charge of the building since occupied
by the county. permitted the county to
use the same free of all charge and
rental, save the nominal expense of its
upkeep. the building being unnecessary
for school purposes. \ county jail
being necessary. the county commits
sioners had a model jail building erect
cd adjacent to the county offices, so
that now the county seat in Roose-
yeit county in the way of accommoda-
lions and quarters, far surpaSses those
of any of the surrounding counties of
Daniels. Sheridan, Richland or McCone.
In this connection it might be said
T01I tIUOStNtlI NphAt1 10 a 'piiIdlh Il
lively new county and was created out
of a portion of Sheridan county. The
people of Roosevelt county have just
cause to be proud of the county seat
accommodations at Poplar and, there
being no definite assurances that such
accommodations can at the present
time. or for a long time to come, be
duplicated or equaled at Wolf Point
without expenditure of public
money. the general feeling seems to
prevail to '1et well enough alone and
leave the permanent county seat at
Poplar. Poplar's campaign throughout
IS based solely and entirely on the eco
nomical feature of the issue and their
appeal is directed on the basic thought
that a county seat that is centrally
located is most economically conducted
and results in an annual saving to
the taxpayers of thousands of dollars.
!. Fort Peck Reservation Headquarters
} Poplar is a city of approximately
1000 population, has all the modern
improvements of any large city, with