Year: 1879

MIR. EDITOR.


Understanding that the Sages of the
Commonwealth of our State, have Under
consideration two or three bills, for the
organization of the county of Big Stone;
one of said bills asks for the organization
of the county with its present territory; an
other asks for the consolidation of Big
Stone and Traverse counties etc.


Now for the benefit of your readers, |
wish TO give my views on the matter hav-
ing some knowledge Of the condition of
affairs in Big Stone Co.


The bill introduced for the consolidation
of Big Stone and Traverse counties, and
organizing the same under the name of
Big Stone Co., is the only one which has
merits sufficient to support its passage, or
become an act. because the Real Estate in
said counties are mostly United States
Lands with only Homestead and Timber
Culture filings thereon, and that it requires
considerable territory to support county
organization.


am cognizant Of the TACT that there is
not sufficient source of revenue to sup
port two county organizations, and by con-
solidating the two counties, for which pur-
pose petitions have been numerously signed
by citizens Of Big Stone and Traverse coun-
ties to support said act, there can be made
4 good county organization. The question
might be asked why not leave them un-
organized until they would become strong
enough for two county organizations:
Iwould say in reply that the flow Of
emigration is so great as to demand such
organization, for with an organization we
can have our County Commissioners to lay
| out and establish our school districts, TO
have our scholars by their attendance at
! school draw their regular app .rtionment
| of moneys from the school fund, and that
the districts may levy taxes for building
! school houses, and for other educational III
terests, and also 10 lay out and establish
! our roads according to law etc which Is
becoming at the present time an actual ne
ceSsity. and also by such organization we
can have our town organization and have
! town trustees to lay cut our numerous
! town roads and construct bridges, and oGr
| town assessors to correctly assess our prop,
erty both real and personal for the purpose
of taxation which will be q benefit not on
! Is for the township but county and state
also, and in order to be brief must say
that we will derive the benefits which all
organized counties receive, that we arc no"
| deprived of. In order 10 satisfy those
who doubt my sincerity that the bill for
the consolidation of Big Stone and Trav
crse counties, does contain the sucessory
merits aforesaid will refer you to the
| Governors Message where his eXcellency
Gov Jno. S. Pilsbury calls the attention
of the Honorable Legislature to Frontier
matters, he said considering the similar to
biography and identi Y of interests marking
our wide prairie areas, the multiplication
of small new counties bnrdens their inhab
itants unnecessarily with the costly ma
chinery of government. Large counties
like Kandiyohi, Stearns, and Otter Tail
while sufficiently convenient to all parts
of their territory for the transaction OF
business with the seat of government, dis
tribute the burdens of taxation upon larsel
populations, and thus lessen their hard
ships upon individuals; in considerations


touching the saleries of county officers ant
the expensive buildings and provisions re


quired for the care of county records, th'
advantages which large counties affort
over small ones without increase of tax


alton, arc worthy of attention


In hopes of seeing the consolidation bill
pass the present session of the Legislature


and a promise of future correspondence,


sign myself DC M.