The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-10-08

en- counties in the state by republic
can officials and the s., 500 short
age of republican state auditor J..
E. Nipple which has just come to
light, the republicans stand up and
through their p%rejudiced and dis
honest press shout Stop Theft
Gaze on the spectacle!
MOI content with parading it's
brazen inconsistency and dishon-
esty in the discussion of state af-
fairs, the Times has the
following to say of Pennington
county:
Recently the Harvey Peak Tin company,
which expended from two to three millions
OF dollars in its operations about Hill City
and then went into the hands of a receiver
without ever having produced a dollar of in
come for its stockholders, made an offer to
pay oyer 50 per cent of taxes which lad &C
crued during the period of litigation. some
$4,000. These taxes were in considerable
part made up of extravagant levies upon tin
claims of no value. Ignoring the fact that
there was small prospect Of realizing an equal
sum in any other manner the grave popocrats
who misgovern unhappy Pennington Kissed to
each other, "Robber corporation" and de-
clined the pro(ler. The county treasurer was
then instructed to levy upon the goods and
chattels OF the tin company. His first move
was to employ two attorneys to advise hun,
evidently forgetting that there is such an Off
Ger as states attorney, who receives a regular
salary for looking alter the c%ounty's legal
business. He then levies upon the property
and as the Pioneer Times Is credibly inform
ed employs three deputies all valiant pops
to look after property which had hitherto
been in charge Of a single custodian. The
company has brought injunction proceedings
against the treasurer to restrain the sale. If
successful in this suit. a large and unnecessary
bill of expense will be thrown upon the al
ready heavily burdened taxpayers Of Pen
nington county. With such fruits of popu-
istic rule in state and comfy government, be-
fore them, every true citizen will hope that
the still gathering wave of prosperity may
speedily wash away the last vestige of such
disagreement.
In the above the Pioneer Times
either displays a total ignorance of
the matter 1t attempts to discuss,
or else it is a wilful falsiher, The
UNION cares not which, for that
paper has played in both roles to
perfection in times gone by. Now
as to the facts.
The Harvey Peak Tin company
owed Pennington county m
thing over $19,o in taxes and Of
fered the munihcent sum of S., 500
in full payment of the bill. This
was every solitary dollar that this
corporation offered. Under the
circumstances, would the
commissioners of Lawrence county
have accepted the proposition?
The Pioneer Times knows thew
would not. Pennington county is
not responsible for the worthless
ness of the tin claims referred to.
nor is it to blame for the fact that
the Harvey Peak Tin company
to convert these claims into
money-making investments. How
did this poor, abused corporation
come into possession of so manv
worthless tin claims? THE UNION
will gladly enlighten the organ of
''national integrity at Deadwood
since it has preached the subject.
purchased on the &c
ommendation of parties who got a
"rake-of" from the price of each