Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-04-17


Of the territory Of Montana" which
was read the first and second times,
and considered as engrossed. Rules
were suspended, read the third time,
and passed by a unanimous vote.
It will be noted that the speed In
putting through a bill by the council
chamber was in harmony with the
rapid procedure of Vigilante commit
tee in trying and disposing Of road
agent"
First Map Of Montana
Baggs introduced the following reso-
luton: Resolved by the council (the
house concurring) that in order to ia
cilitate the districting of the territory
Of Montana, committee Of one from
the council and one from the house
be appointed to employ a competent
person to draft a map Of the territory
at as early a date as practicable.
Which resolution was adopted and the
council adjourned.
Monday. Dec. 10, 1864EThe council
met pursuant to adjournment. By Mer-
riman: II hereby give notice that I
will on tomorrow introduce a bill
granting a ferry charter across the
Big Horn river at or near the mouth
of the Big Horn canyon, or Pompey's
Tower" Merriman also gave notice
that he would later introduce a bill
for granting a ferry at or near the
mouth of the Yellowstone canyon.
Our highways then were just as ma
ture had made them and our highway
committees had to deal only with such
questions as toll roads, toll bridges and
ferry charters.
In 1860 steamboat traffic was mi
tiated on the Missouri river and a
| little later on, the Yellowstone was
navigated by stern-wheelers; however,
at this time, the steam railway, the
electric railway and the automobile
had not married the beauty of the
Indians happy hunting grounds" in
Montana.
First State Library
That our forefathers were more or
/ less amateurs at this law-making bust
ness will be noted by resolution in
Bagg offered the following: Resolved,
That the sergeant at arms of the
council procure the number of three
copies of the bound volumes of the
late Idaho law statutes for the use
and benefit of the members of this
council with as little delay as possible.
That the first legislators were eco
nomical in their expenditures is self
evident. and our present governor by
reviewing our first session, could find
additional arguments of economy to
present to a goth century legislative
assembly.
Another instance of economy may
! be cited on JAN 4, where Thompson
of the committee on ways and means
reports: That they have had under
consideration council bill No. As, an
act to provide increased compensation
to officers in this territory, and have
taken into consideration that this ter
ritory is just starting out as a body
polite, with an empty treasury. and
| that a great share of the means of
its population is expended as soon as
produced, in developing the resources
of the country rather than at present
reproducing capital, and foreseeing the
deplorable state of affairs which will
exist if the legislative assembly should
mwisely saddle upon the people of
, the territory a large debt at this ses-
sion, would recommend that all after
| the enacting clause be stricken out
and the incloSed sections be enacted
| In their place.
On Dec. 20, 1864, the next matter to
occupy the attention of the council
! was a resolution by Merriman: Re-
solved, That the sergeant at arms pro-
cure a curtain forthwith for the front
window of the council chamber. Mo-
ton adopted.
Apparently Old Sol was working
overtime and the radiance from with
out exceeded the heat from the box
wood stove within the council cham
Der.
Dec. 2. 1864-Bagg Of the special
joint committee made the following
report:
THE special committee appointed to
employ a suitable person to draft
map for the use Of the assembly OF
Montana territory begs leave to report
that he, in conjunction with the house
committee, had employed Capt. w. w.
DeLacey, who is to furnish map OF
the territory of Montana within Is
DAYS from the 22d inst. for the sum
of 5000; which map is to be further
perfected after the districting of the
territory by the assembly, and to be
placed in the office of the secretary OF
the territory"
Capt. w. w. DeLacey was brilliant
military man and engineer; he had
seen active service throughout the
Mexican war, helped subdue the In
dams in the southwest, then saw SIM