Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1888-11-29
Statement OF the N. P. Tax Matter.

!
is the question of the taxability of Nor
thern Pacific lands. The railroad com
pany seeks to enjoin the collection Of
taxes for the year 1887, on their lands In
the original grant and ii the indemnify
belt. The territory claimed that the
lands were taxable and the entire earnings
OF the road also under the gross earnings
law The supreme court Of the territory
held as to the earnings tax that only
those earnings could be taxed which
were for traffic beginning and ending
within the territory-only local traffic.
AS to the land tax, the court expressed
no opinion.
After the decision of the supreme court
the railroad company offered to pay the
amount of gross earnings tax originally
demanded by the territory if the coun-
ties would abandon the attempt to tax
their lands. The counties along the
line where most of the railroad lands had
been sold and which would consequently
get more out of the gross earnings tax
than from a land tax agreed to accept
the offer. Other counties which contain
more unsold railroad lands but do not
share in the benefits OF the gross earn
ings tax refused to let the land tax 60.
The company being unable to settle with
all of the counties on the basis proposed
at the recent Bismarck conference has
settled with none but has brought suit
against all the county treasurers along
its lire to stop the sale of its lands for
| the taxes.
Several counties are actively hghing
The case among them, Wells, Foster and
LaMoure The cases are beicg argued
today. The matter involves the taxes
OF 1883 as well of those Of 1887 and the
amount of tax depending on the result
is probably not less than half million
dollars.
John &. Bu]litt, Jr, of st. Paul, assis-
tant counsel of the Northern Pacific and
JnO. S. Watson appear for the railroad
company. The various counties are rep
resented IS follows: Wells and Foster
by e. W. Camp and Heber McHugh;
Oliver and Morton by Attorney Ricetof
Mandan: LaMoure and Logan by J. NJ,
Bartholomew, and Barnes by G.. X. An
drus.
Sociable in District No. +.
EDITOR ALERr:-I see by your vaIu-
able paper that all the school districts
around the county are having sociables
and entertainments and that all the
school marms are rnstling to sSeWho
can Dc the best. so ''we'uns," thought we
would stir up our teacher and have her
rustic with the rest. After due delibera-
ton, our District No. made up it's mind
to have sociable under the direction of
that able and accomplished teacher. Misses
Emma Mosher So on Friday night the
old folks and the young folks gathered
together to spend a few social hours in
pleasant enjoyment at the Woodbury.
school house The program was:
Opening address Master Eugene
Ringnett.
Tableau, Morning, Noon and Night,
with Miss Georgia Woodbury., morning,
Nellie Pendray. noon, Miss Emma Mosh-
er. night.
Song "The little ones at Home"
Recitation, ''The Light on Deadman's
bar" Maggie Pettigrew.
Recitation, Little Floy's Letter." Vio-
let Pettigrew.
Recitation, The Blacksmlth's Story" !
Nellie Pendray
Tableau-Angels of Prayer Maggie
and Violet Pett1grew.
"Blidget's investment" a dialogue.
Georgia Woodbury.. Tom and Nellie Pen
dray
Song. Babes in the Wood" by the
children.
Tableau Three Graces- by Miss Mel
lie Pendray as friendship; Georgia Wood
bury, love; Maggie Pettigrew as truth.
Recitation,' The Ride of Jerin McNeil'
Maggie Pettisrew.
Recitation. The Polish Boy Georgia
Woodbury.
Tablean Simply to thy cross 1 cling
Violet Pettigrew
Supper was then announced. Quite
number were present from Melvin, Ed
Lldge and the city. We noticed our old
friend County Comm issioner Geo. Wood
bury with his honest smile which since
election is as large again as formerly.
After supper the young folks amused
themselves playing games and the old
soiks swapping stories. Mr.and Mrs. Hay
len and the Misses Melvin favored the
audience with a number of fine musical
selections
The meeting closed with singing God
De with You I'll we meet again" Miss
Mosher leaves at the close of her school
or her home in Minnesota, where her par
ents reside. The district is very sorry to
nave her &C and they all hope she may
return in the sprilg. JACK.
Valley City Democrat: The errors of
spelling IN the resolutions of the school
BOARD. printed in yesterdays Democrat
are not to be attributed to that honorable
body. but rather 10 the Intelligent COM
oositor and wTetched proof reader. One
s already hung, and The other will be
hung up next week. We hope 1h.s is
sufficient apology; If not, next wesk ue
will hang the devil and The .:cEsss isfE