Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-11-01
Montana Chosen as Name for Territory In
1864 Through the Efforts of j. M. As6leg

: and less than six months since ON
territorial organization, and now ",
rival the Oldest Of our sister territorie.
I in population, and are inferior to nons
in future promise" Because Of the
I territory's rapid increase in population
4 the governor predicts, "At no distant
! day our population will not only war
rant but require our admission as
I ore Of the states of the American
i union"
j The next subject discussed by the
4 message is the need Of a road that
would bring those dwelling here into
more direct communication with the
] east, and recommending that the legis-
lature ask congress for an appropria-
ton to open such a road. The one
suggested was post road from Sioux
City, via Yankton to Gallatin.
Mining interests are then dwelt up-
on. including the contemplated tax
I alton and disposal of mineral lands
under consideration by congress, which
the governor held to be unjust as
it would work great hardship on the
miners, and retard the. growth of the
territory.
Following this the governor urges
the encouragement Of agriculture, as
most Of the neceSsarieS of life have
heretofore been brought from the
states or Salt Lake valley-hundreds
Of miles over mountainous roads. This
has rendered prices almost fabulous
taking from the miner much of his
hard earnings. Our population is in
creasing with such rapidity that we
cannot longer depend upon foreign
supplies. We must look to ourselves
and as soon as possible become a self
sustaining people"
Education is the next topic treated.
The legislature is advised that ut win
devolve upon you to devise some sys-
TEN of education to meet the i'm
mediate wants Of our people.
I'm free government like ours, where |
public measures are submitted to the
judgment of the people, it is Of the
highest Importance that the people |
should be so educated as to understand |
the bearing of public measures. A !
self-ruling people must be an edu-
Gated people, or prejudice and passion |
will assume power, and anarchy will /
soon usurp the power of government /
Children are in one sense the prop
erty of the public, and it is one of
the highest and most solemn duties
Of the state to furnish ample pro-
vision for their education. It has been
said by a distinguished jurist that it
is cheaper to educate the boy than
to punish the man, and if the edu-
cation of the boy is neglected, the
punishment of the man may become a
for crime and ignorance go
hand in hand"
Better Mail Facilities
Better mail facilities were asked for;
an equable and just tax law recon-
nended; and that the national cur
ency be adopted. Some provision is
advised for the building of a peni-
entiary, there not being at that time
ny safe place for the confinement
f criminals. The Civil war was
ouched upon at considerable length,
he prospect ofspeace briefly, and the
Message ends.
The message did not tend to calm
ectional feeling, and the southern
lement represented in the legislature
yas not slow to voice its disapproval,
Though it took great pains to so
yord its objection that it could not
e construed as disloyal
fold Merry Fr0Iic
Adjournment of the legislature took
lace Feb. 9, 1865, and was attended
18th much hilarity, judging from the
oise heard. 1t was said that on this
ccasion, the members of the house
ut such members of the council as
ley could catch, into one of A. j.
'liver's large coaches, and hauled
lem up and down the street, ending
le serious business that had engaged
lem for two months, with a boyish
'olic.
Among the acts of this first legisla-
We assembly was the adoption of the
srritorial seal, designed by Francis
I. Thompson, one of the members of
he council, and the provision for a
.hOol system.