Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1885-09-16

Mics anu mJcS OIL poor rOaQS nave DeeT
improved and made into good ones. In
addition to this has been the expense OF
holding two elections, one of them, spc.
cial, and forced upon us by the legsla-
ture. Besides, Emlnons county has been
unfortunate in having had considerable
to pay in the way of legal expenses.
Especially has this been true in the LEM
murder case yet we do not believe any
one will claim that, on account of the
expense incident to his capture and pros
ccution, no attempt should have been
made to punish the murderer. The most
we have to regret is that much of the
money paid for fees, ,etc., has gone to
people outside the county. AS we have
no Jail, no court no place for Il court to
sit (unless 1t sit on lumber pie), no de-
cent offices, no county room of sufficient
size to hold a gathering of a hundred pco-
plc-for these reasons, every prisoner ar
rested has necessarily been taken to Bis
.marck, at considerable expense in the
way Of fees and pay for keeping. And
this state of things will continue so long
as we are without suitable courtroom
and Jail. ~,
But the money (or, rather credit
of the county has been we'll and care
fully expended. Of course IL new
county must obtain supplies and labor
on credit and, like private individual,
it must pay interest on the amount owed
for whatever is obtained. For time
after the county was organized warrants
sold as low as 60 cents. At present the
warrants bring from rs to 80 cents which
shows the stunding of the county now,
in the judgment of capitalists, as com
pared with Il year ago. Payment for
everything in the way of labor and ma
terial, in all new, unbondcd counties, must
be on basis of the amount of cash its
promises to pay will bring Those doing
work or furnishing goods make out their
bills knowing that they will be paid in
orders, and, as a consequence, the prices
charged are on a basis of what can be OBJ
tained for the orders in dollars and cents.
This has necessarily made the expenses
of the county, like every other county
doing business on credit. with orders, 4
great deal more than they would be were
our treasury possessed of cash. But this
is something which it is impossible to
shall allow the co'lnty to issue bonds.
The present debt is $4,000, and that it is
no more, when the facts are considered,
is a cause for satisfaction.
Another thing to be thought Of in this
connection is that in one sense Emmons
county is peculiarly fortunate in having
a large list of real estate subject to taxa
ton. Most of this class of property is
held by non-rcsidents, and the payment
of large part of the taxes by them is
only a partial recompense to those resi-
dent here who hold untaxed government
land, and who are putting their work
against the real.estate- payments of
outsiders in building up this country and
enhancing the property values of all. On
the contrary, outside of land grant limits,
in counties where few titles to govern
ment lands have been secured, all taxes
must be paid by actual settlers This
fact should he considered by those look
ing tor homes in Dakota.
Probably there is nota county in Dakota
but has one or more people who growl at
everything done, whether it be good, bad
or Indifferent, public orpriyate, in which
they are not'the ruling Spirits and objects
of observation. Sometimes the growing
is done to further political end-to in
jure some official whose success has pro-
yoked jealousy again it has no other
foundation than natural, born habit
of finding fault. And, in the settlement
of a new county, these same GROWERS,
though they most likely do not intend it,
do much harm, especially with strangers,
who do not understand the facts.
In conversation with newcomer, the
other day-one who had not yet located
the writer asked him how he liked En-
mons county. He said it suited him in
every way. But" said he, 81 am in
formed that the county is in debt, and
that is a bad thing" We asked him who
told him about the debt. He gave the
name of his informant. We then asked
him if the party who told him said any
thing about our assets and taxable real
estate. mo" said he 'hc only spoke
of the debt" We then told him of the
substantial improvements which have
been made, and of the large amount of
property subject to taxation. "This, "
said he, changes the face of things en-
tirely."
And, in conclusion. we can assure those
looking for homes that they will make no
mistake if they come to Emmons county.
With an intelligent class of people, de-
slrable settlers arriving daily, and right
in the path Of coming railways to the
Capital, the future unbounded prosper
ity of the people of this county is assured.