St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-28
NOTES BY THE WAY.
A Badly Managed County - In
vestigation Proposed.

n 6aOiy managed county - IN
yestigation Proposed.
Correspondence of the Globe.
After reading the GLOBE of late, and
noting its fearless course on all subjects
and matters of interest to its thousands
of readers, l thought l would send a
few items which may be of interest to
at least some of its readers.
1t is really astonishing to note how
thriving and business-like number of
the little villages along my route seem
TO be, while others are as dull and silent
almost as cemeteries.
Big Lake. Elk River. Becker and
Clear Lake all are apparently doing
fairly well in a business point of view;
but Sank Rapids, the county seat of
Benton county, is about as nearly at a
dead halt as any place from st. Paul 10
Oregon. AS nearly as | could learn
from those with whom | talked, Sank
Rapids has been very unfortunate be-
cause of mismanagement of county az
fairs, and unless there is a change in
some of the county officers at an early
day very little property in the county
will be worth the taxes which have to
be paid on it. Every year the tax levy
increases and the value of the real
estate decreases. Just why the tax
levy should increase when very little
improvements are being made through
out the county is a puzzle 20 all
who have to ante up the tax
money. A number of the county Off
GERS run real estate offices in connection
with their official business, and l am
told they make it point to prevent any
sales of real estate unless they can
make percentage on the transaction.
The fact of the matter is, people who
have money do not care to invest it in
any way in counties where the affairs
of said counties are III SO muddled a
condition as are those of Benton county,
aud a number Of the heaviest taxpayers
OF Benton county are about to take
means to have the affairs of the county
fully investigated That there are
some very incapable and INSCRIPTIONS
persons holding Offices in the county is
fully believed. and the only way 10 do
is to have their books carefully eXam-
ined by competent accountants, and
then let The taxpayers know who are at
fault and who are not. 1t is said by
those who ought TO know that one at
least of said county officers is incapable
of performing the duties thereof. or any
part of them. Being interested to a
small extent in land i'll said county, |
am anxious to see something done to
Tighten taxation. and l hope those OH
whom the burdens fail SO heavy will
cause the affairs OF the county to be
looked into at once.
At Rices, fifteen miles above Sank
Rapids. on the Northern Pacific, lively
business is done every day. Merchants,
hotel keepers, and, in fact, almost every
one, seem to be doing well. as also do
the inhabitants of Royaltpn, some miles
further on. Yet Sank Rapids is the
county seat,.and none seem to be doing
we'll except county officers; and they, L
am told, are all getting wellOff.
a big snow storm came along this
way OH the day before Christmas, and
the consequence is the street cars and
about all teaming has been stopped
But little will be done until the roads
are broken and the tracks cleared.
Very many of the poor people in vari-
Gus places up this way were provided by
liberal people with good, substantial
Christmas dinners, and were conse-
quently happy. REX.