davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
large during portion OF the year. It is
feared the tree claims in that part of the
state will suffer.
DON'T RELISH IL.

Government Officials Brought up
Standing by North Dakota
Bishops Sermon.
Bishop Stanley has stirred up the son.
ators in Washington by describing in
his sermon the hsrdships OF the Turtle
mountain Indians. The bishop delivered
this sermon in Philadelphia and the
result has been that Senators Teller and
Dawes have had to come to the rescue
OF the notoriously inefficient Indian
policy of the government, in speeches
that attempt to show Bishop Stanley
in error. The fact that the senate finally
agreed to an amendment. adding 5000
to the urgency appropriation bill for
these very Indians, shows that the bishop
has accomplished great deal by this
hasty visit. About $4, 900 have been sent
to these Indians through Father Stephan
and 5000 more are ready to be forward.
ed, while the government has only given
5000. Some congressman profess to
say that the destitution described by
Bishop Stanley is exaggerated. but they
have not visited the tepees when the
mercury was 40 degrees below zero, as
did the bishop, and of course know
nothing from actual observation. Con-
gressmen rely on the statements of
agents and post traders for their infor-
nation about the condition of Iudian
tribes, and these reports are naturally
colored to suit the greedy purposes Of
those officials. Bishop Shanley's plain
home talk fearlessly spoken is evidently
little rellshed by the indifferent officials
at WASHINGTON
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27

doors on which he had forgotten to can
Gel the stamp. Fox took the keg-he
had evidently been watching for such
q chance had Mr.. Kurth prosecuted
for the accidental neglect. While there
Mr.. Kurth says Fox was known to be IN
the employ of the Northern Pacific also.
There were two business men from Man.
dan in Helena yesterday who positively
asserted their knowledge as to Fox's vO-
cation. and who had known of jobs he
had done in Dakota for the company in
the capacity of detective and Of several
occasions when, while he was trying to
locate stolen snow fences, he had been
elected from the houses OF the farmers
by the wives of the latter, for entering
their homes. All the above is from au-
thentic and reliable sources, and even
more was told the reporter which did not
tell IN Mr.. Fox's favor.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
A Capable Legislator.

Senator Dlesem of LaMoure county,
left for Bismarck Tuesday to bring his
family home. They have been spending
the winter at that place. Mr.. Diesem
made one of hardest working members
of the legislature. He never let an op-
portunity escape to put in good work for
his county aud did the farmers service IN
many substantial, practical ways. To
such men as Mr.. Dlesem,the farmers owe
what little was accomplished in their be-
half in the legislature. Many OF the
measures they advocated and passed
have not become laws, but that is nc
fault of nearly tw"-thirds of both houses.
Mr.. Diesem's Judgment of what was the
best for his constituents was the opinion
of large majority of his fellow members
and the farmers in his county can rest
assured that time will show that his
iudgm ent was right.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
A James River Valley Farmer
Spent the Winter there
and Knows.
He says the Farmers there are
no Better off Financially
than here.
The Intricate Mysteries Of the
new Revenue Law Lucidly
EXpOunded.


Grand Forks Plalndealer: A matter
of present moment and one that grows
in importance with each succeeding day
is the exact provisions OF the new tax
alton and assessment law. Under its
terms it will be difficult indeed for any
property to escape paying it's just tribute
toward the support of the state, and the
county and the city or township where it
is located. The books and blanks for
each district and township are to be fur
nished by the county auditor. The reg
lister OF deeds must furnish to the auditor
on or before the last Saturday in March
of each year complete list of all per.
sonal and real property, SO that the andi
tor can fill out the assessment books. Up
on the real property assessment books he
must place complete list of al lands
and lots in the township or district sub
iect to taxation, with the names of the
owners and the number of acres; to each
personal property assessment book there
shall be appended list of all mortgages
or other real estate securities held, own
ed or controlled by the residents Of the
town or district, showing the names of
owners or agents alphabetically arranged
and the amount due on each separate
instrument. These books according to
the law should be ready for delivery to
the assessors on the last of March, but
some days of grace must be allowed
this year owing to the late date, March
IL, upon which the act was approved.
When the books are received the as
SCISSORS will meet with the county audi
tors aid county commissioners for con-
ference. The assessment is done IN May
and June. The township assessors are
compelled to prepare tables of the foot
ing of each page, and also Of the correc-
tions made by the township board of re-
view. Full instructions are given as to
the duties of the county board of equal
ization, and the state board in addition
to the governor, state auditor and attor-
ney general, is composed Of one qualified
elector from each judicial district, who
are to be nominated by the governor and
approved by the senate and hold their
Office for two years. Personal property
taxes become delinquent March l and
taxes on real property June l.
This last provision, which follows the
repeal of act extending the time for the
payment of taxes, may cause some sur
prise when it is known. It makes an
other reason whya a big crop this year
should be a godsend to North Dakota
farmers.
Attention is also called to the fact by
the Bismarck Tribune that under the
new revenue law deed or other instru-
ment transferring real estate can not be
filed for record unless accompanied by a
certificate from the county auditor that
the taxes on the property have all
been paid. Certificates of delinquent
tax sales are hereafter to be made by the
county auditor. Another change is that
each commissioner district is to have an
assessor-thereby doing away with the
present county assessor system
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
Political Points.

Hon. Jud LaMoure of Pembina coun-
ty, one of the staunch republicans of the
party, goes on record in the Grand Forks
Plaindealer as utterring the following
characteristic sentiments:
"Yhose mortgage bills stirred people
up some here" suggested the scribe.
$50 I hear, and also that Governor
Miller vetoed tn. extension of redemp-
ticn provision. favored giving the
farmer two years to redeem his real es-
tate after foreclosure, instead Of one, be-
cause 1t would give him another year to
try this country before he packed up
and left. He might have a poor crop
this year and lose his land, when, if he
could-try it one year more, he might get
"a good crop, pay up, b come perma-
nent settler, and the loan companies
would get their money all right. AS
regards the requirement that wives shall
sign chattel mortgages, voted for that
so that farmers who come to town and
get half drunk, cannot buy machinery
they don't need and give I; big mortgage
for it. The wife is frequently the best
business man of the two. If man has
no business sense the chances are his
wife has. It isn't often that both are
fools on money matters"
will the re epublicans be able to agree
on good m n for governor?'
"Sure, not the least doubt of it. We
shall nominate a man who is not crank
and elect him. The old guard is still
the party, despite the efforts of a GER
tain crowd to read us out of the ranks.
We won't be read out, that's all. We
have no idea of supporting split ticket
or affiilating with the democrats. We
don't have to. We can elect a straight
republican on straight republican
platform"
will Governor Miller show strength
as candidate for re-election?"
Q"None except what he can draw from
the irresponsible, non.taxpaying class.
His opponents will represent three
fourths OF the property OF the stale.
The material interests of North Dakota
will be almost solid against him. He
has tried to run personal administra-
ton, and rs result his best friend IS
John Miller. Personal politics can't be
successful long,
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
WILL HUSTLE THEMSELVES.

South Dak0ta Farmers Doubt the
Promises of Gov. Meliette and are
Afraid of Trusting to Elevators for
Seed Wheat.
The Mcpherson county farmers who
need seed grain have determined not to
rely on the elevator companies or Cover
nor Meliette, who has been splurging
around in Chicago and St. Paul, making
a great fuss tout guarantee funds etc.
The farmers will hustle for themselves,
and the following from the Leola Blade
shows how they propose to do it:
The meeting held Saturday afternoon
under the auspices of the Leola board of
trade, was attended by over hundred
FARMERS from the different townships in
the eastern half of the county. After
clear and complete report OF the Huron
convention by Mr.. Tooker, who attended
the meeting as q delegate from this
county, and general discussion of the
seed and feed question, on motion, vote
was taken on the advisabillty OF issning
county warrants 10 the full limit (S9,20O)
allowed by law for the purchase of seed
wheat. Tellers were appointed, the
crowd divided, and by a small majority
the meeting decided that the commits
sioners should be requested to furnish
seed wheat for those who are unable to
do SO indlvidu ually.
Last week we called attention to the
enormous loss Of property in this county
from prairie fires. This, together with
the total failure OF crops last year,
brought on hard times, and it has been a
serious question whether this county
could get along without some outside
assistance. There has been reluctance
to call for aid which is commendab]e,
but the meeting Saturday decided that
the time lad come when friendly aid
should be invoked and most gratefully
received. Accordingly. Messrs. Rev.
Hickman, B. +. McCullom and Sam
Wunder were duly elected to solicit aid
throughout the neighboring states. A
collection amounting to $36.l9 was taken
up to help defray the expenses Of this
committee
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
WORSE THAN THE LOTTERY

A Farmer Thinks That of the Seed
Wheat LaW..-.Now is the TiIne to
do SOmething---Not Promise Every
thing.
A farmer of La Moure county makes
some points to consider in a letter to his
home paper, the Chronicle. He is writing
from his homestead on the prairie, after
the winter has nearly passed and the
necessities of spring stare him in the
face. He must put in q crop and his
family must live. But how is he to
do it?
The writer has, beyond question, q.
keen realization Of the present needs Of
the farmers in his vicinity; one that no
town dweller living on steady income
can have. His case and that of his
neighbors will be found duplicated in
every county west of the boarder coun-
ties along the Red river. He says that
it is high time boomers went to the rear,
and facts get to the front. Last fall the
four times the amount of wheat harvested
in some localities. Prominent men have
crowded disagreeable truths to the rear.
The seed wheat bill is good evidence of
crop failure. Yet in La Moure county but
small amount of seed wheat has been
applied for under the law. The farmer
says that it is not because it is not need
ed, but because people hate to make atli
davit to being destitute, as if it was to
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
BLUE IN KALAMAZOO.
4 North Dakota Man Returned from
Michigan says Things are Mighty
Dull There.

\ North Dakota Man Returned from
Michigan says Things are Mighty
Dull There.
Uncle JEFF Smith of Grand Rapids,
La Moure county, has returned home
after spending the winter in lower Michi-
gan, his old home. He says farmers are
complaining there as much as any where
over the low prices of farm products,
that farms are mortgaged heavily and In
two of the best counties OF the state,
jackson and Kalamazoo, he was told that
if better crops and better prices did not
prevail during the next two years, third
of the farmers would be sold out by the
sheriff.
"They refer there says Mr.. Smith,
ito the hard times in North Dakota, but
just recalled to their minds the fact
that not long ago people were sending
supplies to Michigan for the destitute,
also that Kansas has been an object Of
public charity for years. told them we
we're all right in North Dakota Of
course we were hard up now. Last year
I only got 200 bushels of wheat Off of
400 acres, but the year before I raised 62
bushels of oats to the acre and my wheat
crop averaged 19 bushels | said our
land is as good as any land and with rain
| will raise as much as theirs in Michigan.
Why. remember When an 80 acre tract
of land in Michigan was given away by
man who could not stay on it for the
ague and the climate. and tins land after
| wards brought S75 an acre. In the Jim
| river valley we don't need outside help,
we can care for onr poor-we have them,
the same as they have in Michigan. Our
country IS gong to be all right and the
| man who sticks it out is bound to sue
ceed."
Uncle JEFF remarked that the mer-
chants in the stores with piles of unsold
winter clothing were feeling very blue
down in Michigan.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
District Court.

The Barnes county bond case was
again brought before Jldge Rose Thurs
day to argue points of special findings in
the verdict Messrs. Andrus, Scott and
Camp appeared for the plaintiff, and
Messrs. Young and Winterer for the de-
fense. General Sanborn of st. Paul was
absent. The judge denied the defend
ants motion for judgment. 1t is yet
uncertain whether the result will give
the plaintiffs final Judgment or the case
new trial.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
DETECTIVE MIKE FOX.

He Is Badly Pounded In Helena-..
Denies that he is a Secret Service
Man.
The Helena Journal of the 10Th instant
has the following to say Of one of James
towns old citizens:
Mike Fox, the man who received Il
severe drubbing Mt the hands OF Georg Q
Hall, called at the Journal office vester-
day and made statement of his side OF
tie case. He said he was not detective
for the Northern Pacific and never bad
been, although be had been in the service
of the company in the capacity Of watch
man, and carries an annual pass which
states his position. He was employed on
the idaho division and came to Helena
only a fow days ago He had letter of
introduction from a man named Hans
com of Spokane Falls, which conveyed
the intelligence that Fox was all right. y
He states that he gave Mr.. Hall no pro-
vocation to trim up the Fox countenance
IN it's present decorated condition, and is
to this moment ignorant of the cause for
Halls mjstaking him for foot ball. lie
feels much hurt--that is in addition to
his wounds over the effects of the letter
of introduction. The reporter gives Mr..
Fox the benefit of his version.
The same paper of the next day con-
tains another article about the Foxy de-
tectlve, showing that his story is not
true and that he is in the secret service
OF the road. From the issue Of the thir-
teenth this paragraph of local interest is
taken:
Among those seen yesterday, who say
that Fox is in the business he is accused
OF, was Mr.. Kurth, a butcher near the
Northern Pacific depot. He knew Fox
at Jamestown, N. d., where the latter
was deputy sheriff, and used to make a
practice Of bumming drinks from Mr..
Kur,h, who then ran saloon. One day
Mr.. K. put an empty bee. keg out OF
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
improvements for Dickinson.

Stark County Herald: Supt. Phelan
has received instructions from the gen
eral manager to proceed with the work
of putting in the new yards. They will he
located back OF the coal sheds and So, ,OOO
has been appropriated for the purpose
Ten thousand will be spent in filling up
bridges and colverts, and we understand
an appropriation has been granted for
an artesian we'll at Medora.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27

be doubted, and get two Of their neigh
bors to act as smelling committee to
look over their premises, IN order to tes-
tify to their poverty.
There was much unnecessary pub.
licity connected with aid people got
from that county last fall. Reflections
were cast on some who were worthy 10
every way OF proffered help. Others
we're too proud to ask it or let their
neighbors know how they lived. Some
raised few hundred bushels, and we're
honest enough to pay their obligations,
by selling all they had. Some Of them
had limited amount of staw--little or
no grain to feed their stock. Fortunately
an open winter helped them through.
The Writer Continues.
"Now, what are these people to do for
feed? Teams cannot work on enthusi-
asm. No feed, no credit; little can be
put in by the farmers in this condition.
Again, do We all remember we have mil
hons of gophers in our midst? Do We
remember the destruction they wrought
IN our fields last year? Boomers car
keep we'll to the rear-hard facts to the
lIOub DdhOId syCOpAduUS unoy unuo!
take to deny unpleasant truths, or admit
them in a drowsy way, but they stand
conspicuous to all careful observers. We
say again we thank the legislature for
trying to pass the lottery bill. it it was to
help the destitute farmers Of North
Dakota. We know of men that voted
for prohibition that were in favor OF this
lottery. Self preservation is the first law
OF nature, and We that endorse the legis-
lature's movement in that direction are
not thugs, nor do we belong to the worst
class of society. and are slow to believe
that the legislature is composed of
blatherskltes."
The farmer evidently does not care
whether the editor is for or against lot
tory, or for or against any other legisla-
tion. The point he brings out strong is
that some ething should have been done
for him when the opportunity
was at hand. That is lost, but the next
thing is to do something else now,
not some other spring.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27
4 U. S. Supreme Court Decision
on Railroad Indemnity
Lands.
It Affects n, II. Lands in North
Dakota on Which Taxes
are Unpaid.
Purchasers Have no Legal Title
Except from tho Railroad
Company.
Not Taxable Yet.

A decision has Just been hanOed Gown
by the supreme court OF the United
States, which is likely to prove OF great
Importance to the counties Of North Da-
kota containing lands within the inden'
nlty belt OF the Northern Pacific railroad
company.
The decision was rendered in the case
Of Wisconsin Central railroad company
against Price county, and the court,
through Justice Fold, says: "Until the
selections were approved by the secretary
of the interior, there were no selections
in fact, only preliminary proceedings
taken for that purpose, and the indem-
nifty lands remained unaffected in their
title. Until then the lands which might
be taken as indemnity were incapable of
Identification; the proposed selections
remained the property Of the United
States" The court referred to cases
sustaining this position, and held that
until the selections have been approved
by the secretary, the lands are not tax
able.
The same is doubtless true as to the
indemnity lands Of the Northern Pacific
railroad company, clear across the state
Of North DaHbta. The history of these
indemnity lands is interesting. Justice
Lamar, when secretary Of the interior,
attempted to throw open these lands to
settlement. Attorney General Garland
advised that the secretary was in error,
but the ruling OF the attorney general
was not given to the public for many
months after it was made, being held
back by the democrats for certain cam
paign purposes, perhaps in the hope
OF carrying Minnesota for that party
in the presidential election The delay
in reversing Lamars order opening the
lands caused great expense and trouble
to would-be settlers; hundreds OF them
had been mislead by it and many sunk
all they had in attempting to settle on
these indemnity lands.
But since the opinion OF Mr.. Garlaud
has been published and accepted as the
law, there would seem to be no reason
tar further delay in approving the selec-
tions; yet the approvals do not come.
Unless the approvals are made prior to
the date of assessing lands this spring
the counties and the state will lose the
taxes on one thousand square miles of
land east Of the James river and on a
larger amount of less valuable land west
of that river. The total valuation is
probably not less than three million dol
lars, on which the state tax alone would
amount to twelve thousand dollars, and
tho county taxes to p ,rhaps four or five
times as much. Certainly it would seem
that If the Hon. Secretary's attention
we're called to this matter he would ap-
prove these select ons without further
delay. Most of these lands east OF the
James river. at least, have been sold by
the railroad compouy and there is surely
no reason why the purchasers should not
pay taxes like other folks.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-03-27

Benson County News: Governor
Miller made arrangements by which the
farmers can get seed wheat, and the lot
terry fellows are 'in the soup"
The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-08-01
Card.

The following card appeared in last
weeks Mercury:
Editor Mercury: am happy to see that
the editor of the GRAPHIC. after three
weeks absence has returned, refreshed and
fnvigorated and has resumed the editorial
chair again, as Is shown by the half column
of selinity aimed at "old Decency, Gin lnst
weeks issue. am, however. too busy In an-
other direction at present to stop to kick
esery littis dog that barlxs at me.
DEcEScT'-
"Decencyn comes into this COM
munity stranger, and before he has
been here long enough to know the
different points of the compass, he be-
gins to voice the sentiments of the
''ring" without adequate knowledge
or an intelligent conception of what
he is talking about, and after becom-
ing tangled and tripped with his own
logic, he suddenly remembers that he
has no time to spend on "iittle
dogs. -
We have noticed that all. or nearly
all, superanuated canine mongrels sell
dom eYince any particular fondnesS
for the Juvenile portion af the family
and ''Decency'' is self cOnfessedly no
exception to the general rule. AS for
time, he has at his command about all
the time there is, afid if he has any
vocation in life other than airing his
opinions in the Mercury to the extent
of three or four columns per week; no
one knows of it. His mode. of. egress
is through tery, VERY small holeE
but small as it is it is amply large foT
the exit of person of his calibre.