Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-06
An Alert Reporter Goes to the
Court House ON u Tour Of
Investigation.
Steps Taken to Exterminate
GOphers-COnditiOn of the
COunty's Finances.
Complaints of Feigned Poverty
Tree Claim PrOOfs--Chattcl
Mortgage Releases.
Caught at the Court House.

~'A~AAo~os
Brand is presiding over the clerical work
of the office. The auditors department
is visited by quite number of farmers
who call to inquire about various matters
of business, the latest legislation. and
indulge in a little gopher gossip. etc.
Gopher Gossip.
Speaking about gophers, it is seen by
the offer Of strychnine made again for
this spring that the commissioners be-
lieve in the good results Of the expendi.
ture in the past. Mr.. Eddy says that a
drive in Wells county where the poison
has not been put out, will show what a
difference there is in the number of
gophers compared to fields that have
been thoroughly baited. Even in neigh
boring fields in this county, a noticeable
difference is seen in the number of the
pests on ground that has been ''poisoned"
and on that which has not. All farmers
are urged to get the strychnine early
and as soon as the little destroyers come
ont of the holes after the snow has
melted, tempt their hungry stomachs by
plentiful piles OF poison-soaked wheat.
The County's Exchequer.
A chat with Treasurer McGlrnis de-
velopes the fact that the finances of the
county are closely watched and are kept
in admirable condition for hard times.
The treasurer states there are over
$4,000 in cash in the bank and over
$4,000 of this is the county fund. The
bulk of the taxes paid by outside holders
OF realty have been remitted. About
half the city tax has been paid, but not
that proportion of the county tax. ine
per cent month is now added to delin-
quent payments. After October 18th the
5 per cent penalty will attach in addition.
The heaviest tax payer is the North
Dakota Loan II Trust company, which
paid Sligo. The Russell Miller company
also is a heavy individual contributor,
It's bill being over S6UO, which has also
been paid. A number of other heavy
taxpayers, however, have yet to step to
the desk or to remit. It is satisfactory
arrangement for fortunate holders of the
cOnnty's warrants to be able to pass
directly into the treasurer's office and
get the cash for his bit Of paper. This
is what has been done for the past three
months. There 1s scarcely another
county in the state OF which thus can be
said.
Regarding Complaints.
The commissioners desire it stated
that any complaints from citizens that
"poor persons have been given aid they
are not entitled to, will be considered
promptly, if put IN the proper form. A
statement from responsible sources that
parties have misrepresented their con-
dition for the purpose of getting county
supplies will be sufficient to cause the
county to bring action against the
offenders. There has been but one case
of this kind so far as heard from. The
commissioners are aware of the temrta.
tion to exaggerate in applications of this
character, and they ask the assistance of
all in obtaining facts where doubt exists.
Successful Tree Claims.
In the Office of Clerk of Court Branch
it is learned that little business was
being done in the way OF final proofs.
The most important event in that line
has been the recent proving up upon
four tree claims in the county, and the
owners receiving their receipts from the
land Office, which will finally be followed
by the patents after the usual delay.
These tree claims belong to Charlie Frey,
who has some unusually large trees ON
his claim; to James Herbert, who has
fine claim adjoining his farm about six
miles from Jamestown; to Charles Clark,
travelling man whose claim is near
Eldridge and whose signature on the
Gladstone hotel register always shows be
halls from that par; of the universe; and
lastly, to G. W. Hendricks, the well known
farmer just outside the city's southern
limits. Among Mr.. Hendricks trees,
which are admired by all who have
noticed them, are successfully growing "a
number of gOoseberry and currant
bushes, and pinm trees. All of these
claims we're filed upon in 1878. They
will be among the early patents of the
county.
The prevailing opinion, according to
MIR. Branch, seems to be that five acres
Of trees are too many for any one farmer
to get successfully started in one season
Even with wet weather and other favor.
able conditions, one acre is enough to
properly care for. There is no doubt but
that nine, tenths of the farmers favor
either the entire repeal of the timber
culture Law or that it's provisions be rad
ically modified. Mr.. Sanford's idea about
the WISE policy Of reduction in the
number of acres has been somewhat
widely and favorably commented on.
The Alert would be pleased to receive
any other suggestions or information
from any source bearing upon this sub
ject.
Releasing Chattel Mortgages.