davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
FORCED CERTIFICATES
How Crafty Sargent County
Citizens Are Said to Have
Made Money.

Sargent county Is having lots Of
trouble over the discovery that q num-
Der of gopher county certificates were
forged. 1t seems that the officers of
each township made out the certificates
to the person who slew the gophers.
As reHardfor killing the flicker tails,
payment of two cents per tail was made
on present ting the certificate to the
county auditor. In number OF cases
it is alleged that figures indicating the
number OF gopher tails presented we're
changed to larger ores. This would
give the party claiming the the bounty
more than lie was entitled to.
Anumber OF the township officers are
involved in the affair. The county was
buncoed out Of many thousands OF dol
lars, 1t is claimed The guilty parties
viii be vigorously prosecuted An in
stance of the amount which some Of the
citizens of the county received is the
case of one man who claimed to have
killed 5000 gophers in one week. He
received AS bounty SlS0-a good
weeks wages.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17

OF equalization raised this to 1921 an
acre or % cents more than fixed by the
county officials. AS there are, in round
numbers, about 100000 acres of land
in the county the increase as made by
the state board in the amount on which
taxes will have to be paid is about $780,
900.
The Alert was informed that the in
crease was 20 cents an acre, although
careful to say that no official figures had
been received, as yet. AS the exact raise
is Said to be % cents instead of 25 cents
an acre the Alert's statement that quar-
ter of a million dollars more in the val
uation of land would be subjected to
taxation Was therefore only $500 out
OF the way.
The average land valuation of s. G6
an acre last year was made, it is stated,
for all tha lands and lots taken together
in city aud county by the assessors and
acre. 50 the raise by the state board
is cents 40 AGRA over last years Value
ton 90 the lands or % cents an acre
over this years valuation OF land.
When the taxpayers come to walk up
| to the captains Office to pay taxes they
will find no willful misrepresentation"
then as the Alert has been charged with
making 10 reporting the matter.
Another injustice done this county, as
| we'll as other western couD ties, in the
matter Of land assessment, is seen by
com pairing our valuation with that OF
such Red river counties as Pemblna. II
land in Pembina county, which sells for
from $50 to $50 an acre cash, is assessed
at 81. 10 average value, lat can be said
OF the equality of the assessment OF
Stutsman county land at S2.51 al acre.
Pembina county soil IS good average
Red river land, boasted of AS being the
best in the world for wheat raising A
large part OF Stutsman county is simply
stock or grazing land, and the more r.
man has of 1t for farming the worse be
Pembins county land is only worth
S4.l9 all acre for taxation purposes, our
land is no. worth 81 90 an acre for the
same purpose said this real estate
man and land owner.
1t is easy to understand why the taxes
will be higher in Stutsman county, but
not 20 easy to understand why the state
equalization board adjusts values with
such glaring partiaity. 1t may be
that the board does not want to arouse
the ire OF the populous part OF the state
and will "stick it into" the western ana
thlnly populated part OF the state, on
the theory derived from experience that
| they are all good patriots who will never
kick, and if they do it would do no good
as long as the people IN the Red River
valley are serene.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
WILL ENLIST RECRUITS.
Lieut., Duncan Arrives and Will
Enlist Men tor the Reg
ular Service.

Lieutenant Duncan of the United
States recruitingservlce arrivedIuesday
and will make jamestown his head
quarters for four days. He says be has
been successful in securing recruits, ob-
tanning 26 men on three days trip IN
the northern portion of the state. Men
are being recruited for service IN the
Philippines and as fast as sworn IN will
be sent to join the 33rd in Texas or the
35th in Portland, Oregon. The men
will be sent to Manila on the same
transports on which the volunteer regi-
ments return. The lieutenant Is stop
ping at the Gladstone.
One recruit was sworn in by Lieuten-
ant Duncan Tuesday evening. He IS q
we'll built young man and halls fron
Broadhead, Rockcastle county, Ky. He
arrived yesterday from Valley City and
states that be had been working for q
farmer near Wimbledon for few days
He gave his name as Thomas Capps
ard states that his father fought in the
Northern ranks during the civil war
He has carried revolver since he was
a child and says "he reckons be can
shoot few" when be reaches the Philip
pines.
Lieut.. Duncan went today to Caring
ton but will return tonight. He will
also visit Mandan and other towns in
the western portion OF the state.
O. 0. Russell WAS an applicant for
enlistment this forenoon. He is from
Iowa and came to North Dakota during
harvest and threshing. He did not
come up to the standard of physical
perfection required by the departme Mt
and was not accepted. W. W. Wilcox
is looking after the recruiting office dur
ing the absence OF Lieut.. Duncan.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
Date of the Festivities.

The committee IN charge Of the fee-
tlvlties in honor of Company b. state
that the date OF the Celebration has not
been definitely fixed but that it will oc.
cur between Sept. 18th and October 1st.,
the latter date being the most probable
as the troops will be delayed in Frisco
three weeks at least. Work is progress
ing plcely, sub-com mittees have been
appointed and harmony prevails.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
One Hundred and twenty-five
Thousand Acres Destroyed
in CaSS and Traill
Foster, Eddy, Griggs and
Portion of Barnes County
Suffer.
Heaviest Hail Losses Ever
Experienced in the State
In Any Year.

\ severe hailstorm ragged across the
northern part of Cass ard the southern
part of Trail counties ] st before noon
Thursday Farms from Casseltol and
Hunter, east of 6 srune:. Grandin acd
Hillsboro suffered heavy losses. and Tie
first reports stated that $4,000 &C es OF
ripe grain was destroyed.
At Gardner IN Cass county, the path
of the storm was ten TO twelve miles wide
and the loss Is from 40 to 50 per cent IN
that area The length of the storm IN
this state was about ten miles before 1t
passed into Minnesota. At Grandln
this state, 70 to 100 per cent of the crop
was destroyed. The storm extended as
far north as kelso, 10 Traill county. as
the hail was heavier further north.
The big Grandn farm, IN Trail coun-
ty, was struck and the crops totally de-
stroyed Much damage was done by
the wind and rain in addition to the
h ill. Reports of the acreage lost IN
crease and may be 100000 in North
Dakota. Very conservative estimates
make the loss 80 per cent on l25,OOO
acres IN Cass and Traili counties, with
% to 100 per cent loss on 10000 acres IN
Eddy county. The Mpnesota losses in
the valley seem equally heavy. The pro-
bable loss in Cass and Traill will be over
10000 bushels, with the heaviest DAM
age IN Cass.
A nail storm struck four miles north
OF San born about s o'clock Thursday
morning, and did fearful execution in
the grain fields. Among those reported
cleaned out are: Malone, Fred Brews-
tor, Hazeltlne, Hamilton, Blegs, S1ith,
Grspnis and all in that neighborhood
The storm moved eastward, and it is
said that all the grain in its path IS a
total loss.
A destructive hail storm is reported to
have swept over Eddy, Foster, Griggs
and portion of Barnes county Wednes-
day. The storm originated near New
Rockford, according to reports, and FOL
lowed the line Of the 500 to Rogers, IN
Barnes County. A report from New
Rockford says the damaged grain
| amounts to about 10000 acres, which is
! ID jured from 25 per cent to total loss
\ hail storm is also reported from
Mnnewsukap, but details as to the
amount of damage are lacking. 1t is
thought that the big storm may have
originated at that place.
Out of 90 hail losses in Pemblna
Walsh and Ransom counties the losses
adjusted were $500, Many losses
claimed are said TO be on the outskirts
OF the hail belts and the loss is said to
be caused by wind and not hail.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
A Heavy Hail Season.

The severity of the hail this season is
seen IN the fact that there we're. $50 az
plcations for hail insurance in the AL
lance company Of jamestown and the
losses so far have been AT, over % pei
cent. The adJusters have found the
worst destruction however and are
rapidly cleaning up the unsdjnsted bus
mess. The last big storm in Cass
county was not N portion OF the state
where the Alliance company had placed
much insurance.
1t is stated that the losses of the St.
Paul Fire and Marine IN the Pembinq
county storm of July 81 were Sl5O,OOC
or more than ever before N any one
year in the state by all other companies
1t is reported that William Leasure
OF Melville, one Of the we'll known farm
ers OF that locality has insured bis grain
for II years with the exception Of this
year. He never lost crop before bu,
was struck this year and lost all but
about 40 acres. His son Will, lost SOC
acres OF fine wheat 100 OF which was in
sured in state company.
The hail in the Oass county storm
was 90 large that the stones killed chick
ems.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
Bothered With Our Money.

The Wahpeton Globe man from his
stand point O. great prosperity TINS in
terprets the peoples, wants: The ques-
tion OF what to do with the enormous
mass of silver piled up in the treasury
at Washington will soon become "A
national problem. 1t is source of ex-
pense to the government, the people
don't want it and there is no way to get
rid Of 1t without loss"
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
Taxes Will Be Higher.

Although the taxes Tor jamestown
and Stutsman county were considered
high last year, they will be higher this
year, owing to the raise in valuations by
the state board of equalization. No otfi-
cial figures have yet been received at
the county auditors Office OF the exact
amount Of the increase by the state
board over the valuations as fixed by
the county equalization board, but it ls
said thet IN personal property OF James
town, in the item of goods and mer-
chandise which was raised so per cent.
by the county board over the city asses
sors valuation, there has been Il still
further raise Of ) per cent. by the state
board, and that all other items OF per-
sonal property have been raised 20 per
cent. by the state board. The personal
valuation of the city WAS already very
high IN proportion to some other cities
aud towns, but the state board furnished
no relief.
The lands of this county have also
! been raised 25 cents an acre and as
! there are nearly one million acres, much
OF it only grazing land, the raise will
mean nearly 2230,0O0 more for farmers
to pay taxes on. They are in the same
catalogue as jamestown residents in the
matter of higher taxes The reason fol
| this is that the state officials must have
more money to meet the increasing ap
preparations !by the Legislature for al
sorts OF purposes-many wholly unneces
sary and most of them in excess OF wha
is needed and many passed into laws fol
purely political purposes.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
A Pusher Gets His Work In.

Hon. Jud LsMoure IS credited witt
getting the state board to first reduce
the Penn blna county land sssessment
from 81 80 to 81 81 An acre, on accou t
OF his general persuasiveness. Then tt
hail storm struck and Jud got anoth
reduction to $4.l9 making Sl3l,65l r.'
his credit in the assessed valuation le
for his farmer friends to pay taxes on.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
The Increase in Assessments
On Railway Property
Unexpected.
Assessed Values Of Red River
Valley Real Estate In
creased,
More Money Necessary. Fig
ures Of 1899 Compared
With 1898.

Governor Faucher was unable to at
tend the meetings of the state equaliza-
tion board on account of illness. The
other members Of the board we're Attor-
ney General Cowan, Commissioner
Thomas, Auditor Carlblom and Treas
urer Driscoll.
The increase OF 80 per cent. in the
railroad assessment came as decided
shock to the railroads. After last years
raise it was thought the figures would
not be disturbed for some yeBrs.
1t was found, however, that the state
would be in hole unless values were
boosted. The limit as to the rate had
almost been reached and no relief could
come from that source.
The increase in railroad valuation will
make Great Northern and Northern Pa.
citc assessments $4,000 per mile. The
Milwaukee will be the same on the
branch into Fargo and $3.50 on it's
other branches ID the southern part of
the state. The 500 will pay $3.50 on
its main line and ST $50 on the extension
we=t of Hankiuson. The Northwestern
will pay the same Oh its short line IN the
southern part Of the state
Last year the total assessed valuation
of all the railroads and side tracks in
the state was S12 .76699O. This yea- it
will be Sl6,6O7 ,OS7. Tue increase shows
up big.
Real estate seems to have attracted
the attention of the board next, and the
increase in assessed values is some
thing like $6,50O,OO0 through the state.
Increases were made in nineteen of the
counties of the state, ranging from tC
80 per cent.
Cass county was raised the highest
50 cents per acre from 1892 to S6.54.
Trail county 81 cents, from Sc % to
1854.
Richlsnd IS cents from SIS 80 to s5.92
Walsh % cents from S. 81 to $500.
Grand Forks % cents from s.. 46 tc
$500.
Pemblna 20 cent from $500 to $4.19
The assessed values in the valley seem
to differ largely IN the counties. There
IS no doubt but that Trail county haf
the best land in the state and 1t is giver
the highest assessment with Sc 81. Casf
is a good county and comes next with
1854. There is quite drop to the next
-Richland-at S595. Grand Forks
comes fourth and escapes with s. s.
Walsh gets off with $500 and Pembint
is away down with 81. l9.
One of the other big raises was Wells
county, 81 cents, from SET to So 81.
There were two radical reductions
Williams 33 cents, from $2.A to s. o.
and Steele Is cents, from S266 to 81 81
Billings and Kidder we're not increas-
ed, the former getting away with 81
cents assessment per acre.
Burleigh and Gr,gRs we're each raisec
cent, Logan and McHenry were re-
duced q cent per acre each.
The figures for '99 as compared Will
those of '9S are given below:
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
Those Increased Taxes.

From figures obtained at the county
auditors office, the county equalization
board left the average assessed valua-
tions OF Stutsman county lands this
year at 50 q an acre. The state board
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17

The Forman srtesisn we'll is plugged
and new one may have to be drilled.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17
PERSONAL PROPERTY

Stutsman county, g assessment Is re-
luced Is cents an acre.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17

The tax levy for the ensuing year for
general state purposes was fixed at 3.S
mills and for bond interest, O.o mills
The wolf bounty tax is o. mills. The
amounts raised under this levy will be
rs follows: General purposes. S43l, SIS.
Bond interest, $5e,Slo. Wolf bounty,
S22,727. Total tax for all purposes,
S5ll,363.
Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-08-17

PERSONAL PROPERTY.
For the assessment of horses the state
was divided into three districts, as fol.
lows:
FIRST Distrct-The counties of Case,
Grand Forks, Pembina, Rchland,
Steele, Trail and Walsh.
Second DISTRICT The counties Of
Barnes, Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Foster,
Griggs, Nelson, Ramsey, Ransom, Ro-
lette, Sargent, Stutsman, Towner,
Dickey, LaMoure and Wells.
Third Dlstrict-The counties Ct Bill
ings, Bottineau, Burleigh, Dickey. EN-
mons, Kidder, Logan, McHenry, McIn-
tosh, Mclean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver,
Pierce, Stark, Ward and Williams.
Horses one year old were equalized in
the First district at SIS, in the Second
district at $l2, and in the third district
at $40.
Horses two years old were equalized
in the First district at 523, in the Sec-
ond district at $50 and in the Third dis
trict at SIT.
| Horses three years old were equallzed
in the First district at $39, in the Sec
ond district ut $40 and in the Third dis
trlct at S26.
Stations we're equalized at $3.50.
| Cattle one year old we're equallzeo
at $40, two years old at Sl4, and three
years old and over at $25. Cows were
| equalized at SIT, work oxen at $50, mules
and asses one year old at $l8, two years
old at $25 three years old and over at
$40. Sheep were eQua)ized at Sl.15
swine at So, organs at 500 pianos at $40
Farm implements and machinery are
raised 25 per cent. Credits are raised :;
per cent. Stock and furniture Of SAM
pie rooms, eating houses and billiard
rooms are raised 25 per cent. Bank
stocks are raised IN the following coun
ties by the per centage indicated: Bot
tineau, 25; Burleigh, 25; Cass, 80; Cava-
lier, %; Foster, 30; Grand Forks, 80
Kidder, 20; Morton, 25; Nelson, %; Penn
bins, 25; PIERCE %; Ramsey, IS; Ransom
25; Richland, 80; Rollette, 20; Stark. 25
Steele, 20; Stutsman, 80; Towner, 20
Trail, 30; Walsh, 10; Ward, 80; Wells
%.
Elevators. warehouses and grains
therein went up by the following pei
oentage: Barnes, 10; Benson, 20; Bot
tineau, 10; Burle,gh, Is; Oaes, 5; Csva
lier, 25; Diokey, 20; Eddy, 30, Emmons
5; Foster, 20; Grand Forks 10; LaMoure
5; McHenry, 20: Nelson 5; Pemblna, s
Pierce, 10; Ramsey. 80; Ransom, Is
Richlsnd, 5; kolette, 5; Sargent. 5; Stark
10; Stutsmsn, 25; Towner, 10; Trail, s.
Walsh, 20; Wells, 20.
Telephone and telegraph property was
raised 20 per cent. All other property
not elsewhere enumerated WAS raised 2(
per cent.
VALUATION.
The total valuation of all property ir
the state as equalized by the state board
is as follows: Railroad property, $l6,.
9S5,OS4. Personal property, $24,64l, 1856.
Real property, s72,0lO,059. Total asses
sed valuation Of all property, 5ll3,636,
299.
| TAX LEVY.
The tax levy for the ensuing year fo'
general state purposes was fixed at 3.e
mills and for bond interest, 0.5 mills
The wolf bounty tax is o. mills. The
amounts raised under this levy will be
rs follows: General purposes. s43l,Sl
Bond interest, S56,Slo. Wolf bounty
$22, ,727. Total tax for all purposes
|
The Portland daily press., 1899-07-15

Possibly there may be good reason foi
a change OF commander In the Philip
pines. Tbs campaign there has not been
up 10 expectations. bnt whetheri any iAci
Of skin n the part Of the commander
has contributed to this disappointment
Is not clsar. Undoubtedly Gen. Otis has
been over sanguins, but that Is not OF
itself proof OF Incompetence, nor does n
tend 10 show that any other commands,
would have done any better than be has
with the means at his command. No
American general has had any experience
In waging war under such conditions ne
exist In the Philippines II Gen. Otis has
made mistakes It Is not strange, nor
should 1t subject him 10 harsh criticism.
Any other commander would have made
mistakes TOO probably. But Gen.
Otis tas now gained experience, and
unless there is Iroof thst he is In
competent 1t would eeem to bs wiser to
let him remain and get the benefit Of his
experience, than snppiant him with
general who knows nothing about
tie philippines excepting what he has
read. Ger tainly It would be unwise to
do 50 for no better cause than the clamor
OF fsw sensational newspapers, which
have no knowledge of military matters
and ars bowling for Otis's removal sim
ply TO attratt attention to themselves.
The Portland daily press., 1899-07-15

The Republican state convention in
principles and policies proclaimed by the
last Republican convention. except as to
civil service. The last national conven-
tion, it will be remembered, pledged its
support TO civil service reform and prom
. issd to extend 1t wherever practicable
This the Kentucky Republicans don't be.
lisvo in. Apparently they want a return
to the spoils system. We do not believe
they viii e-gratined. No party will dare
70 face the American people with any
such programme.
The Portland daily press., 1899-07-15

.;ust whore the merits lie in the contro.
yetsy between Senators Chandler and
SRllinger We shall not undertake to de-
oide-perhaps there are no merits worth
considering on either side-but we have
no hesitation in pronouncing the outgiy-
jn5s of Civil Service Commissioners
Brewer as undignified and unworthy of a
man who holds the office which he does.
The court is expected to preserve. .decorum
even II the litigants and their. attorneys
do not But in this case the former ap-
pears to Le acting as rudely as the latter.
Pre ebatly Senator Chandler's intention
- tSy to have Brewer removed may not be
inspired by any special regard for the law
which Brewer is expected to protect,
rbus If the accomplishes it the law can but
b helped.
The Portland daily press., 1899-07-15

The next senatorial contest In New
Hampshire will be an interesting one.
1t can hardly be said that there are any
candidates avowedly in the field yet I;
Tut thres-or four are willing to get there
at the proper time" Chandler will
doubtless make fight for reelection,
and the Hon. Henry W. Blair is gradual
ly moving out towards the edge of the
woods. There ara people who think the
affair ut Concord before the civil service
commission was a sort of preliminary
senatorial skirmish. II SO it indicates
that the pitched battle when 1t comes
will be exceedingly hot.
The Portland daily press., 1899-07-15
LABOR COMMISSIONERS.
coneiuding Session of the National
Convention.

Augusta, July 1.-the last days ses.
sion of the convention of National Labor
Commissioners commenced at nine
O'Clock. Tie reports of the commissioner
and representatives of the different state
bureaus were completed.
Twelve states RI ported upon the work
done and in progress at the present time.
Lstters and reports from absent commits
sioners were read.
Hon. II. l.. Powers OF Minnesota the
chief statistician of the 18th census for
the, Agricultural department. gave q talk
upon the work and plans OF the census as
compared with the past.
General ]. W. Latta. secretary of the
interior Of Pennsylvania read In interest
ing paper upon "Are Economics of yalue
in the Philippine Islands," ~
Hon. Carroll ID. Wright delivered an
address upon the work of the United
States census bnreau.
The election of officers was made, re-
sulting In the choice of Carroll ID. Wright
OF Washington, ID. e., as presidents; Hon.
4. Z. Rixey of st. Louis, as first vice
president; Hon. John McMackip of Al.
bany, N. 4, as second vice president;
secretary. Hon. A. p. Montague of Rich
mond, Va, executive committee, Hon.
Halford Erickson of Wisconsin. Hon.
Martin McHale pf Minnesota, and Hon,
James S. Clark, Pennsylvania
As the place of the next meeting "A /.
wa1kee, Wis, was selected.
After the usual resolutions the oonven-
tion adjourned.
The commissioners will return to their
homes this afternoon.