Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-10-23

UAiuik VI lie SdWmlll ana SNOW
storm concentration at that place; aI,o
due to the gradual cutting Of the tim
Der. II the county commissioners had
been able to keep the tax millaae
from increasing in the face of this re-
duction of assessed valuation it would
have been a good record, but thew
go that one better and even reduce the
tax levy by one mill
Thus it is that the whole Of Lincoln
county is to be congratulated on the
record that is being made in good
government. Remarkable nductions in
Troy, Libby and Eureka In cost OF
city government and like reduction
of county debt and cost Of doing bust
ness.
Here Is the Troy Story.
However. we started out to tell about
the record made at Troy Again 1t is
pertinent to say that the citizens OF
Troy are to be congratulated upon
the good showing made by their mayor
and aldermen in reducing their in
debtedness to a remarkable degree
closely paralleling that Of the county
commissioners.
Troy, up until 1926 was a busy lit
tie city humming with industry, shops
and mines busy, concentrator working
and sawmill buzzing, everyone at work
and doing well, the future bright and
blessed with about the best climate
taken the year around that could be
found out of doors, they were as one
might say, sitting pretty.
But in March, 1926, the railroad
shops were closed and railway terminal
abolished, moving quite few families
away to other points.
In the next year the concentrator
burned to the ground and more fam
lilies had to leave
During the summer of 1928 the saw
mill burned and still more families
migrated to other places
Three body blows like this would
knock the wind out Of any city and
optimistic Troy was no exception.
These kind of knockouts reduce as
sessed valuation, lowers values Of good
property, creates empty buildings and
decreased the population from around
1900 to little less than 500.
Quite enough to make anyone feel
discouraged
The ordinary running expenses Of the
city government which only include
salaries and street lighting averaged
$4,000 per month up to April, 1928.
and did not include the payment of
$1,74205 due every six months for
interest on bonds and other indebted
ness, leaving small chance 10 pay off
very many of the bonds that were out
standing
1t was evident that something had to
be done very soon. Troy was faced
with the possibility of repudiating a
part at least of their bonds, or seri-
Gus impairment Of their credit as a
municipality, precluding any chance
that might be had from the outside
in the way of financial relief. 1t seemed
apparent that the only thing to do was
to reduce expenses If possible.
Then came the spring election OF
1928 and DR.. W. H. English won the
doubtful honor of election as mayor
at such time, This man stepped into
office with good support of aldermen
that were elected and qualified to help
him and then, the spring pruning be-
gan.
Ordinary running expenses were re-
duced to S287.50 per month which has
not been increased up to the present
time.
Little by little the bonds were taken
up and confidence restored without
any hardship to any one, every item
OF expenditure was carefully watched
and soon one dollar would do the work
where formerly two dollars hardly
seemed enough
The total indebtedness on April 80,
1928, was S5806853 and on October /,
1880, was SAC, 1900, reduction of
S17599.53. Interest payments were also
reduced from s., 484.11 to $2,42814 per
year, another reduction of S1055.97
Not single warrant has been reg
istered for lack Of funds or any other
cause forever two years.
Public Spirited Citizens.
Robert Gregg, L. r. Whitney, Frank
r. Baggs and Martin O'Malley have
been aldermen assisting the mayor
during most of the past two years and
a half. giving valuable aid and much
of their time.
The present council do not consider
themselves the peoples choice entirely
but rather as the choice of necessity
for which the voters, in the final anal
ysis should be given all the credit due
them for their loyal support and hon.
est appreciation Of the good work done.
These men only did the best they
could running the city affairs as they
would in conducting their own bust
ness.
Troy, Montana, is known all over
the great Northwest for its vast but
only partly developed mineral and
numbering resources comparable and
likened unto the famous Occur dAlene
district as concerns mines and mining
and some day is bound to stage a
comeback, and be up and coming
again soon
The Western News extends congrat-
ulations to the people Of Troy for the
cood work their mayor and aldermen