The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-11-03
ina, Art.slan wellstatement.

/ That Arteslatl Well Statement.
We could make no reference last week
/ to Mr.. w. G. Morrison's communication
in the Index Of the week previous, criti-
cising the statement OF the cost OF the
artesian wells, compiled by o. A. Stuart,
one of the Republican members of the
county board, and w. II. McKittrick,
clerk OF the courts, under the direction
| of the commissioners, without leaving
out much matter in type already up for
the issue named. And we should not
now at this late day make reference to
1t we're not Mr.. Wilkes opponent peddling
MIR. Morrison's article all ever the Fourth
commissioners district as one of the
reasons why he should supplant MIR.
Wilkes. We understand that Mr.. Morri-
son disclaims all intention of making
political capital out Of the matter, but
the concluding paragraph of his commu-
nicaticn, "Now, gentlemen, if you want
these men to handle your hard-earned
dollars, vote them in; ii not, come to the
front aud investigate this business"
gives him completely away.
1t is we'll known that of the three wells
in Torrey Lake, 'Willow Lake and Ola,
drilled by ClemiDger & Morrison for the
county, but one has been accepted-the
other two being failures-and that some
months ago Mr.. Morrison and his part
ner began suit against the county for
small balance due on work. He there
fore has it in for all of the board, for
Messrs Gunderson and Stuart, the two
Republican members, as badly as the
others. 1t happens, however, that Mr..
Wilkes is the only member UP for re-
election, hence it is a very good opportu-
nifty to get even by maliciousness with
one of the members OF the board where
he cannot through the courts.
Mr.. NIorrison's communication points
out alleged errors in Messrs Stuart's and
Mckittrick's report in the matter of the
apportionment OF the pipe and coal to
some Of the wells. Had he stopped there,
as said, no one could object to it, for no
one has ever claimed that the statement
was infallible. and no one would have
been more pleased to have had errors
pointed out than the commissioners
themselves. MIR. Stuart spent an entire day
in kimball getting from C. S. BIodgett
and John Parker u statement of coal used
at the wells and which of course was
compared with the vouchers on file in
the auditors Office. If there has been Il
mistake made. Mr.. Morrison, Mr.. Blod-
gett, Mr.. Parker, Mr.. Stuart. and Mr..
Mciller--all five good Republicans
should straighten out their own errors.
Ii Messrs. Blodgett and Parker have Civ
en- Mr.. Morrison one set Of figures on
coal and Mr.. Stuart another and Mr..
Melller can't straighten it out, it would
appear to the ordinary man that there
could Aothlng be made by adding
another Republican (AIr. Wilkes oppo-
nenD to further NIX up matters. Mr..
Wilkes has nothing to do with the mat
ter; Mr.. Morrison's malice is therefore
all theHnore. dispisable and Mr.. Wilkes
opponents use of the Index article in
his campaign all the more stupid And
ii Messrs. Stuart and McKittrick havn't
properly apportioned the pipe to the
different wells, that is no reason why
Mr.. Morrison should insinuate that any
OF the pipe is lying back of certain
commissioners barn or that he has eaten
1t.
4 Undoubtedly much of the artesian
we'll work has been characterized by
loose methods, beginning when the board
was anti.lemocratic and Mr.. Gregg was
chairman, and to the tune of several
thousand dollars thrown away in futile
experiment. But in view of the fact
that there was one constant clamor for
wells-and isnow-and that the best
business men in Chamberlain and Kim
ball and the heaviest tax payers stood
hehind the board and virtually said: go
ahead and get the wells, never mind the
law and d-n the expense, it is wonder
that even looser methods have not pre-
vailed. The board would gladly drop
their part in the artesian well work and
refer the matter where it properly
belongs, to the respective townships, but
so long as petition after petition comes
in and they are forced into the business
J by public sentiment that same public
sentiment can we'll afford to overlook
J the slurs for political effect Of a malig-
, nant contractor.
No one regrets, probably, more than
J the commissioners AIessrs. Cleminger &
Morrison's hard luck with their artes ian
we'll venture in this county, but the
leniency of the board which made it
possible for AIR. Morrison and his partner
to saddle upon this county two holes in
the ground at cost from 81 600 to 5000
with no benefit to taxpayers and no re-
source should protect the commissioners
from any adverse criticism on the part
of either OF the sole Observation-Disclosures
Cleminger & Morrison. And if ever the
gentlemen come to tile front and inves-
tigate this business" the result will not
be such as Mr.. Morrison is looking for.
1t would take N 100000 people to col
sumo the wheat which was exported
from the United States last year. 'Bnt
, hang on little longer" says smooth
Gov. Sheldon, 'and we will soon find you