The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-03
SURVEYOR GETS
NO EXTRA PAY
But His Salary May Be In
creased by Legis-
lature.

In on opinion given to the board Of
county commissioners yesterday AS
sistant County Attorney O'Neill held
that the county surveyor was not en-
titled to additional compensation for
making town plats under the direction
of the county auditor when he has al
ready drawn his salary as allowed by
law.
1t has been the custom for many
years for the county surveyor to re-
ceive pay for this work in addition to
his regular salary, the money thus
paid coming back to the county in the
way of taxes. Mr.. O'Neill says, in his
opinion, that the bills allowed for this
work are Illegal, and holds that the
county surveyor is entitled only to the
amount of his salary, which, at the
present time, is 1900 per year.
County Superintendent Irving ex-
planned that much of this work had
been done by him after his days work
for the county had been completed,
but Mr.. O'Neill holds that a county
official cannot charge for overtime"
AS a result of the opinion, the COM
missioners ordered a bill drafted for
the purpose of raising the salary of the
county surveyor from $1,000 to $4,000
per year. This present legislature will
be asked to pass this bill In accord
ance with a resolution adopted at the
last meeting of the commissioners,
County Surveyor Irvine reported on
the amount Of work accomplished by
his office since Feb. Z, 1901. The report
shows that in White Bear, Mound
View, Rosetown and New Canada, a
total of 118 miles had been measured
and run, SO corners had been re-estab-
lished and SO monuments had been re-
set.
William P. Westfall, examiner Of til
ties and legal adviser to the register of
land titles under the Torrens system,
appeared before the commissioners
yesterday with a request that he be
paid a fixed sum for his work At
present he is paid on a fee basis He
represented to the board that his work
required a vast amount of research in
order to comply with the strict terms
of the Torrens law, often requiring
trips to remote parts of the county and
spending of much time in ascertaining
who is in actual possession of property
under consideration. The proposition
was referred to the committee on rec
ords and reports, together with the
county attorney.
A communication from the county
surveyor informed the board that the
arteSian well at Wildwood, which had
been sunk at the expense of the county
for the purpose OF raising the level Of
White Bear lake, was on the property
of the Twin City Rapid Transit COM
pany. 1t was suggested that complica-
lions might arise in the future should
the company refuse the county access
to the well. The county attorney sug-
gested that committee be named to
consult with the management of the
company for the purpose of securing
a perpetual right to the use of the
well.
The committee appointed for the
purpose of considering the contract for
a roof for the coal bunkers at the new
jail, recommended that the contract be
awarded to j. H. Donahue at $3.50. This
bid was turned down by the board
when first submitted, being considered
too high by some of the members. 1t
was reported that work on the new
Jail was progressing Satisfactorily
A committee representing the Real
Estate Exchange was at the meeting
for the purpose of securing information
regarding the report that the abstract
Office was to be abolished. When the
committee was informed that it was
the intention to merge the office with
that of the register of deeds the move
was favored, and when the proposition
has been fully explained to the mem
bers of the exchange it is thought it
will not be opposed by the real estate
| men. The board will meet again Thurs
day.