The Dickinson press., 1904-11-05

otC ouiy <45 ldA pdyCiS III tiHo county,
County records, however, will soon set
him right. as the books show 1886 school
poll tax payers and 27Stax payers who are
either nonresident or not paving the
school poll tax. making total Of 613
tax payers. So here again our MIR. Tax
payer had an other optical delusion
and divided the number by about three.
The ones opposed to the issue of bonds
seem to think the rate Of taxation would
be raised to too great a figure to meet
the present financial conditions Of the
country. We will agree at first sight it
would seem to be a burden on the people,
but by using little insight you can
readily see that it can be met with, prac-
tically speaking, very little additional
taxation. The present valuation of the
county is ST,388,ooo. Now 10 pay the
interest and sinking fund to raise the
$4,000 in twenty years would only re-
quire one and one-tenth mills on the
present valuation of sI,388,ooo. Figure
it yourself. Then please remember the
valuation is continually on the increase,
we are about to extend our boundaries,
all this will 60 to increase the valuation
and decrease the rate OF taxation. and
approximately speaking we would be
safe in asserting it would average no
more than three-fourths mills for the
twenty years. Now Mr.. Taxpayer do
you not feel able to meet this very IN
significant raise or are you financially
embarrassed? Then too. we are not
squandering this ST 1000, bu, will have it
invested in property, which will not only
increase the valuation Of our county bu,
will in a measure help to demand the
respect due US and put us on a basis that
we can at least make our prctentions
with other counties. Gentlemen, we are
in the Bad Lands but we have the goods,
why not produce?
The most foolish and absurd statement
our Mr.. Taxpayer makes is when he
says Sentinel Butte withheld their peti-
tion for moving the county seat. after
having secured more than the requisite
number of signers, because they did not
consider the county financially in con-
dition to make the change. How plous!
How considerate! How conscientious!
To think how the good gentlemen have
come to our rescue, citizens of Billings
county, and rescue you from the sudden
destruction of having an up.to. date court
house and place in which to represent
the people of Billings county, such as
she would deserve. No, Mr., Taxpayer,
we are not Indians or idiots either, nor
can YOU ever, though your voice is smooth
as water, your utterances pious as those
of monk, deceive the voters of Billings
county by making such ridiculous state
ments.
The statement has been made MANY
time by the supporters of those who
wished to change the site of the county
seat, that they would even hold special
election and erect court house worthy
of the name. This was few months
ago when Sentinel Butte was in her
glory, and everything looked bright to
you. You made haste to see that the
town site was placed in the hands of
those most grasping, however, you have
recently discovered she has reached the
summit, the debts have ascended to a
point the credit can never hope to reach.
You realize you have started boom
where such cannot exist and you have
suddenly awoke to find that economy is
next in order. But alas! Too late! You
have met your Waterloo.
Now my main object in answering Mr..
Taxpayers article was to prove him a
deceiver and misre presenter. Now vot
ers, are you going to allow yourselves to
give to such a falsitier least consider
alton? If he will willfully deceive you,
it is for some purpose and that purpose
would neither hel p you nor |, conclusive
it may be himself. Now voters awake
and arise one and all, cast away the
upstarts and support the so called
Mossbacks, and allow the cross to ap-
pear before bond issue for court house.
Kindly notice, have a certified state.
ment from the county treasurer affirm
ing the truth of all statements fnan-
cially mentioned herein. Now MIR. Tax
payer, draw in your horn.
will not do as our Mr.. Tax payer but
sign my name. w. A. Brubaker.
Medora, N. D., Nov. Ist, 1904.
To whom it may concern:
l hereby certify to the above state.
ment regarding the financial condition
Of Billings county and also as to the
number of taxpayers.
HARvE ROBINSON,
County Treasurer.