Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1886-09-17
Why Not Plant Some Trees

AS many OF our citizens are apparently
not aware Of the liberal provisions of the
territorial laws giving a bounty for the
cultivation of trees, we extract the fol-
lowing concise information regarding the
matter from the Pierre Free Press:
cat this season of the year we believe
it important to call the attention Of our
readers to the liberal provisions made by
the laws of the territory to encourage the
cultivation of timber.
Chapter 145 of the session laws of 1885
provides that any person planting one
acre or more of prairie land, within five
years after the passage Of this act, with
any kind of forest trees, except black
locust or cottonwood, and successfully
growing and cultivating for three years,
shall be entitled to receive for ten years
thereafter an annual bounty of two dol
lars for each acre SO planted and cult
waited. to be paid out of the territorial
treasury; but such bounty shall not be
paid ..ny longer than such grove of trees
is maintained and kept in growing con-
dition.
"In order that our farmer friends may
get the proper idea of the manner in
which 10 get the bounty referred to in
the 1885 laws, we quote from the session
laws of 1881:
"Chapter 113. Be it enacted, That sub.
division IA of section 2, chapter % of po-
litical code, entitled Revenue be
amended by adding thereto the follow
ing: Provided, however, that no person
shall derive any of the benefits as set
forth in subdivision IA, section 2, of chap
ter 20 of the political code, until such
person shall file an affidavit with the as
SCISSOR that he has in every way complied
with the requirements of the law made
and provided in such cases wlereupon
the assessor shall make on his list a uotc
of the facts, and shall therein state in
effect the following words, to-wit: En-
cmpt from taxation by virtue of tree cul
ture.' and shall describe the particular
tract. or tracts Of land so exempt.
THE code of the territory further pro-
vides that any enc-fourth part Of any
quarter-section OF prairie land, the same
being legal subdivision, on which five
acres of timber shall be planted, either
by sowing seed or by setting trees or cut
tings, and the same to be kept in growing
order by cultivation, and not to be more
than twelve feet apart each way, together
with all Improvements thereon not to eX
coed in value $1,000, shall be cx-
empt from taxation for a period Of
said timber, and any change of owner
ship of such land shall in no way affect
the exemption from taxation as herein
provided.
"All improvements made on real prop
erty by setting out either forest or fruit
trees, shrubbery or vineyards, shall not
be considered as increasing the value of
the land for purposes of taxation"
The Free Press then goes on to remark
as follows, and its conclusions apply
equally to this county, which, like
Hughes, borders on the Missouri river:
"The people of this county, and the
farmers in particular, should attend to
this matter. The cultivation Of the tim
Der as aforesaid not only reduces the
amount qf tax that must be paid but it
beauties the home and very materially
enhances the value Of the land or lot.
The trees can be obtained of dealers at a
very low price, and, if the farmer should
not feel disposed to purchase the trees,
thousand of seedlings can be pulled
along the sand-bars of the rivers and
streams of this county. A few days de
voted to this matter this spring will bring
in many dollars in the course of the next
ten years. Gentlemen, we ask you to in
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