The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-05-11

81 to the thousand were not worth
So per M. in the Mime apolis
boom. The chairman also in
formed Mr.. Clark that it did not
make the slightest difference
whether logs we're worth SIS or SIS
per M. in the boom. The ques-
ton at issue was, was the auditor
justified in selling 100000 feet Of
logs at private sale for 50 per NJ,
when if the same had been offered
at public sale at least 81 per M.
could have been realized? That's
the whole question in a nutshell.
The chairman produced reliable wit
nesses who swore that the timber
was not endangered by fire; that
it was an extra good quality Of
timber; that it was well worth 81
per M; that they stood prepared
to bid 81 per M. for it; that tim
Der on an adjoining township Of a
poorer quality had. been sold for
81 per M. last winter, and that
too on an eight mile haul; and that
they stood ready to bid over 81
per M. for the timber remaining
Uncut on the school section in
question. The auditor did not at
tempt to disapprove of any of this
testimony: He produced no testi.
mony to show that the timber was
endangered by fire, or that he had
taken any steps to ascertain that it
was so endangered. He admitted
that he had not complied with the
law in having an appraisement
made and the damages estimated,
consequently neither the governor
nor the treasurer could indorse
their approval on the appraisal as
required by lay. (See Sec. 4,
Chap. 269 of the general laws Of
1857 There is no use of beating
around the bush. The sale of the
pine stumpage on section SO, town
42, range 26, to G. A. Smith &
Co. was either legal or illegal. If
illegal the sale is void, and the
State can collect the full value of
the stumpage that has been cut,
and what has not been cut can be
) sold at public sale as provided by
law-we will wager $500 against
$50 that the pine timber still stand
ing on the said section will bring
at least .25 per M. at public sale.
We hold that there was no sale,
!; that the pretended sale was illegal,
:, hence it is void, and G. A. Smith
, & Co. are simply trespassers.
''Some of the State papers" will
:, say that the UNION is raising q
great hue and cry over a small
matter. To be sure a steal Of
, $4,000 is not much of a stea]
= these days. But how many such
steals have occurred in this State
! during the past Is years? How
= many such steals we're perpetratec
y last year? The sale Of the pine
: stumpage on this particular section
+ was Investigated because there was
! something tangible to investigate
6 because we knew the case could be
~ proved and the interests of thu
o State could be protected. This i
. the only Legislative investigation
y that we are aware of where tn
y State will be gamer if the execu
. . tive officers do their duty. Othe
y Investigations have cost the Stat
:. thousands of dollars and nothing
! was accomplished. This pine in
q vestigation has so far cost tn
n State less than 5000, and need no
cost 5000 more, and the Stat
J school fund will be $4,000 richer
- Another important fact mus
q not be lost sight of. State audi
- tors have exercised too much dis
is cretionary power heretofore, and i
- is high time that the precedent wa
" established that mere clerks of tn
State cannot dispose of pine tim
Der to their favorites for a 1.-THE O
it's value and in fragrant viols