The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-04-24
Outline of Grasshopper Law.

Inc following Is an outline OF the
grasshopper law, the method of procedure
in making complaints and the powers of
county commissioners outlined:
One. The board of county commits
sioners at any regular or special session
are authorized to hear and consider COM
plants relative to any land claimed to
be infested with grasshopper eggs. 1t is
advisable that the complaints be accom-
panied by certificate from the entomo-
logist stating to what extent whether a
decided menace or not the land COM
planned of is infested. This certificate
is accepted by the county commissioners
as pTima facie evidence of the facts
therein stated. The complainant may pre-
sent his complaint without the above
certificate, leaving it to the county COM
missioner to secure the same. The land
complained of, is of course examined by
the entomologist before certificate is
made out.
Two. The person complaining shall
cause notice to be served upon the owner
of such tract or his lessee zen days or
more prior to date of said meeting of
commissioners, describing tract COM
planned of, nature of complaint, and the
session of the board when application
will be made for such hearing of COM
plant, naming the date of such session.
Three. The board of commissioners
if convinced after hearing the complaint
that such lapd is nuisance on ac-
count of its condition as indicated in
the certificate of state entomologist shall
make and file its order to that effect,
directing that the owner or lessee pillow
the same within the time stated in the
order to pillow. Copy of such order must
be served upon said owner or its agent or
lessee within such time as the board shall
direct, not less than twenty days from
the date of such order. Copy to be serv-
- N the same way that summons is
served IL civil actions. If owner or
lessee resides Iii another county service
may be made upon agent OF such owner
or lessee if any residing in the county,
and if owner is not resident of the
state or if his residence is unknown
and he has no representative in the
county, then service may be made by
publication for two weeks in the local
newspaper printed at the county seat,
the last of which publications shall be
made not less than ten days prior to the
date when the blowing is required to be
commenced
Four If the owner or lessee of land
complained of, after being served with
order to pillow as above outlined, shall
fail 90 pIow he shall be deemed to main
tain a public nuisance within the mean
ing of the act and to consent that said
land may be plowed by the county. The
board of county commissioners shall
then cause the land to be plowed and the
expense so incurred shall be paid out
of the county treasury upon warrant of
the county auditor in favor of preson or
persons entitled to the same.
Five. When such blowing shall be of
value to the owner or lessee in the rails
ing of crops in the season Immediately
following such blowing the owner or
lessee is liable to the county for the
value of such blowing and when the
board of county commissioners is of the
opinion that such liability has arisen
they are authorized to direct the county
auditor to demand the immediate pay
ment thereof into the county treasury.
If the same is not paid upon such de-
rnand it is the duty of the county attor-
ney to bring civil action in the name of
such board against the party so in de-
fault for recovery of money and interest
on the same from date of such demand,
and any amount so determined by the
board Of county commissioners shall be