Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1889-10-17

/ Ensign declined to have his name present
ed for denomination, although he is a
! favorite with all people of the district.
The Republicans of the 4th commission
/ er district meet at Sweetlands school
| house Oct 26th to nominate candidate
| for commissioner. Messrs. Farri lgton,
! Sherman, Fly and Thomson are ameng
those talked of for that position. They
are all excellent men. There are per.
haps Others in the field we have not learn
ed OF.
The Office of county commissioner
is ordinarily one not to be greatly pre-
ferred to all others. IL is a thankless Job;
one of grave responsibility, some honor,
little pay, and no officer is more literally
ana persistently criticised. One would
| suppose to hear the free handed criti-
cisms usually rendered board of COM
missionCrs that the woods were full OF
good but untried commissioners. County
I histories do not support this theory how
ever. On the contrary it is found good
commissioners are rather scarce. Men
that possess qualifications for first class
county commissioner usually are 10th 20
take the Office because of the uncharitable
feeling generally manifested. In Hand,
as in many other Dakota counties, the
commissioners have had their mettle put
TO severe .ests-especially the present
board. Their jurisdiction has been over
an enormous territory of fortytownships
and the ordinary person knows but little
of the gigantic pile of work usually gone
through With at their regular meetings.
The proceedings published in the papers
do not tell Lalf the real work done Many
are the cute but fraudulent schemes
worked to get taxes remitted. Erroneous
assessments is a common source of trou-
ble. 1t takes time and much labor to in
vestigete, ascertain the truth and see
justice is done. Our present board passed
through great crisis in April last in a
most commendable manner. The great
prairie fire had spread charred mantle
over the south half of the county. Desc
lation reigned supreme, and mems souls
We're tried as never before. A special
meeting of the commissioners Was held.
Citizens from all over waited upon and
petitioned the board, ana bounded them
with all sorts of schemes calculated to
help out individuals in the great emergen-
cy. Some estimated losses at more than
double what they really were. Some
wanted the county to issue bonds in the
sum of $4,000, and so on. The board
listened patiently and ccurteously to all
In the meantime it went to work
while many we're spreading their sympa.
thy around SO profusely. Commissioner
Thomson's district was the heaviest loser
ana he rode day and night ascertaining
us best he could what was needed and
gave orders for immediate relief, and
there is not much aoubt but if he would
district would heartily tender it to him.
Commissioners Major and Ensign each
dld heroic work in their respective dis
tricts for fire sufferers and the people VIII
remember them if an opportunity ever
presents to do them public favor.
In the meantime commissioner Rudd
was established with headquarters at
Miller and was kept very busy for many
days. Commissioner Elder faithfully
performed all the work assigned to him
also. But the county was not bonded
there was no extnvagant and injudicIous
outlay Of county funds. The fire stricken
people were well looked after.
By strict attention to economical and
judicious methods the board is enabled
this year TO reduce the county tax one
and one-haIf mills. This reduction will
be felt and greatly appreciated all over
the county next year when the annual
visit to the county treasurer is made.
1t would indeed be difficult to pick ont
FIVE farmers who would manage the affairs
of this county in better shape, and we
believe the people appreciate their SER
vinaa