Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-04-27


lowest possible rate of taxation must be
exacted until each individual is we'll es-
tablished in his home and personal fort
unes. If the county then desires to
erect county buildings it can do SO, but
private interests must first be protected.
It is the duty of each individual voter to
see that the business of the county is
properly and honestly conducted. The
people of Meade county are aware Of the
disadvantages that Lawrence. county has
always labored under on account of the
enormous debt contracted during the
first few years of it's existence as county.
A large amount Of capital has been
driven from that county on account of
the high rate of taxation, and much
greater amount has been deferred from
coming in for the same reason. Let
Meade county be warned by past ex-
perience and not locate her county seat
where large amount of money will be
required to erect the necessary buildings
for courts and the accommodation Of the
various offices of the county.
Will it be good policy to interest all
of our county officers, who wiH neces-
sarily make their homes att the county
seat and acquire property, in booming a
townsite principally owned by foreign
corporation? Can we afford to hazard
our financial credit on the start by lend
ing our aid and influence to boom town
lots by locating the county seat at Til
ford, on property owned by the Pioneer
Town Lot company? If this scheme is
accomplished and their plans succeed
how long will it be until this same in
huence, augmented and strengthened,
will compel the levy Of tax of $4,000
for the purpose of erecting court house
and jail? The erection of public build
ings upon the townsite of the Pioneer
Town Lot company's property at Iilford
would more than double the value of
their possessions; whereas, their proper
ton of the taxes would be nearly nothing,
NOT more than the amount required to
be paid by each farmer who owns like
number of acres Of land in the county
In fact, as long as the company's lots re-
main vacant they are not worthas much,
and will not be valued as high as good
agricultural lands.
Do the farmers of Meade county wish
to place themselves in the hands Of, and
under the control of foreign corpora
ton whose interests are directly opposed
to the interests of the bona fde residents
and tax payers of the county, or do they
rather prefer to keep the management of
the affairs of the county in their own
hands?
IF you favor the latter proposition
your vote will be cast for Sturgis for the
county seat, where the property is prin-
eipally owned by the residents of your
county, where the property has real
and tangible value for taxation, and
where, if public improvements are de-
sired, the residents will be compelled to
pay a fair and just proportion Of their
cost
Work for home interests, for the well
fare Of our own people, and in opposi-
tion to all foreign corporations, combines
and trusts, who care not for our welfare,
prosperity or success, but only for the
money they can extract from us. If we
do this the future OF Meade county, rich
in her natural resources and in the en-
terprise, virtue, honesty and integrity Of
her people, is assured.
"eUR FRIENDS, THE ENEMY
The opposition 0& residents OF Law
renee county to the organization Of
Meade county is now and has ever been
confined toa very few people. What op-
position there is has not been in the in
terest Of Lawrence county Or any con
siderable number Of its inhabitants, but