Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-21
ARemnrI,nhle smindle.

n hCmHEAADIO SWIuOIBs
The Lafayette Und.) Journal states that
gigantic swindle has been perOetrated in
Iowa upon the nonresident land owners
The plan of operations is stated to be "that
companies of six to twelve sharpers have in
many instances gone out into the unsettled
uistlicts of Iowa, organized counties, elected
themselves county officers, levied exorbtsut
county taxes on the lands principally held
by non-residents, collected and disbursed
the money for their own private advantage.
With County Judge and County Board
selected from among themselves, it is an
easy matter to make appropriations for
services never performed, work never done,
material never needed. In certain couaty
north of Fl. Dodge in which heavy taxes have
for several years been levied, collected and ex-
pended, we are informed that last year there
were cast but nine votes, and these all by |
office bOldeTs, who of course voted for |
themselves. The distance at which the own
eIs of the lauds live from them has afforded |
to these rascals every advantage in the con-
summation and prosecution OF their robbery. |
| 10 most cases the money for the payment of |
| taxes is sent to tax paying agents, who are
| generally interested in sustaining the fraud
and dividing the proceeds. Vague reports
| come back, in answer to complaints, of
schools being built roads being constructed,
| public buildings being erected. lnyestiga-
| ton shows that these are mere pretexts.
|
to some of these wild counties to build roads
equal to the Simplon and not inferior TO the
| Appisn Way, all over them. The school
houses and court houses prove to he chateaus
en Espagne, or castles in the air, for either of
which Iowa school. houses will hencetorth be
synonymous terms.
The above is strictly true. But the writer
has not told one half. During residence of
three years in Northwestern Iowa, the
writer of this was knowing to the operations
of such scouDdres and swindlers mentioned
above. The laws of Iowa are rather loose in
relation to the organization of new counties,
and these unprincipled fellows had just
enough law in their favor to prevent them
from being sent to the State prison, where
they ought to be. Another reason why they
were not arrested waa that no one person
was interested sufficiently in the taxes which
we're levied to cause him to prosecute the
guilty parties. 1t would cost more to in
vestigate the swindle than it would to pay
the unrighteous tax. Hence the scoundrelS
escape.
Sioux and O'Brien Counties, in the ex-
tIeme northwestern part of Iowa, were
"organized" by band of adveuturers, when
there were not half dozen bona fds resi-
dents in the two counties. In O'Brien
County there was but one actual settlement,
and in Sioux there was nonei and we believe
there is not farm opened in that county to
this day. And yet both of these counties
are organized" takes are levied, and those
who own land there are called upon to pay,
| nd &c fhau do THAR land 10 aHv
tised to be sold. In fact, so much of the land
in the counties organized as above becomes
delinquent for non-payment of taxes, that
an enterprising printer put small printing
press and some types into wagon, and took
them up into that "district" for the express
purpose of getting the job of advertising. He
made fat thing oft; and as soon as he had
advertised ali the delinquent lands and got
his pay, he put his press into his wagon and
moved it away. This paper was called the
. Peterson Democrat, and was supposed to be
printed at the county. seat of Clay County.
We think there were four numbers issued.
Most of the county officers of Sioux and
O'Brien Counties make their head quarters at
Sioux City, in Woodbury. County. They
provide themselves with a weeks rations
once in while, and 60 up into these couu
: ties to inspect the "publio buildings" and
rbridges" being built with the money raised
; by taxing the lands of non-residents. Those
!. who own lands in Northern Iowa may en-
tighten themselves somewhat by examining
: the official vote of Iowa. They will fine
that in 1861 there were cast in Clay County
twenty two votes; in Cherokee, eleven votes
, in Ida, fourteen votes; in O'Brien, eighteeI
votes; in Sioux, eight votes, &c. WeVentur
the assertion that not one dime of the money
raised by taxation in some of these couutie
: is expended in any improvement within th
county. 1t is put into the pockets of thos
: fellows who elect themselves County Judges
5 Treasurer, Clerk &c. 1t is not unusual 70
= one person to hold two or three Offices, fror
8. the fact that there are not enough adults I
= fill the Office.
: 1t has been the case that there were nc
s. enough competent" persons in the count
- to act Is judges and clerks of elections. An
it is notorious "up there" that Judge Hui
bard has been compelled to omit holdin
J. Court in some counties in his district bC
, cause there were not males enough to forl
jury. In Plymouth County, in 1860, mu
Oh der was committed, but there were nj
to enough residents in the county to form
Grand Jury to indiot the murderer.
= In word the "organiz zation" of most
the northern counties of Iowa is a swiudliu
n. farce, and the levy and collection of taxes
nd done there is no better than stealing tn
/. amount of money from land owners. 1t is
- matter that should receive the attention
!! the Legislature of the State, as the thievir
operations OF the selfconstituted authoriti
of these counties is well calculated to retal
J emigration to the State and to keep Cspits
lists without its borders.
n THH DEVIL NO SoLDIER.-At the funeral
the late Sergeant Dixon, who was murder
by soldier in the Seventy eighth Regimen
a at the camp at AldershOtt, Rev. Mr.. Heall