The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-05-10

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Before the election last fall settlers in
Lyman County discussed the question of
submitting the question OF continuing
free range in that county to Il vote, which
Is provided for under the law granting
the privilege. They allowed the move to
die i'll the discussion stage, and cannot
now vote on the question until the next
general election. But tho settlers are be-
coming more numerous and stock running
at large is breaking down fences and
invading fields which have been put into
crops. Now the people are holding indig-
nation meetings and have raised a fund
to carry the matter to the courts as a
test of the constitutionality of the law
which allows the free range. If they
had carried the matter to a vote last fall
they would by this time have probably
settled the question in all the range
counties, as the abolishing of the free
range in one county west Of the river
practically wipes it out in all of them,
as a steer will not recognize a county
line, and if his owner is called upon TO
pay trespass damages several times, it
will take away his desire to pasture his
stock on the land of another.
Last March the legislature passed a
law, drafted by the attorney general, to
protect the public against the operations
of companies which collect money from
the people on the instalment. plan and re-
quiring that before they shall be quail
fed to do business in South Dakota
they shall comply with certain provisions
relating to inspection and service. A
man will stand it to be swindled out of
$50 or $40 before he will go to another
state to start a suit. Hence the law
requires that such companies shall have
AT office and a personal representative
and property within the state. The law
was passed to protect the people, and
il was a wise measure. 1t is declared
that On outside company is now operat.
ing in the state without having com.
piled with the provisions of this law. The
matter has already been called to the
attention of the authorities and 1t is
likely that a halt will be called. 1t is
mentioned that this company has operat,
ed or is operating in Vienna, Water
town, Clark, Webster, and other towns
The returns which have been made t.
the state LAM department from the salei
W. S-~AlNOi anu luOI AilObNh cbo"
that of the purchasers % did no,
care to carry any of the purchase price
as they are allowed to do under the pro
visions of the sales. That number paid
in full rather than carry the deferred
payments at 6 per cent. Nine of the
full payments were mado in BonhOmme
County, four each in Hanson and Hutch
Iinson, two in Lake and one each in la
vison, Turner and Moody. When it iy
considered that these sales were made
to farmers holding adjoining lands it will
show that the South Dakota farmer is
getting along all right and piling up
surplus cash these days.
Maj. Charles Byrne, OF Fort Crook,
was in Pierre last week on his inspection
tour Of a portion Of the militia compa-
MES Of the state, to inspect Troop b.
He was accompanied by Adjt. Gen. En-
glesby. Gen. Englesby says that while it
will be necessary to use a portion of
the state apportionment fund of about
$4,000 from the national government for
shelter tents and field equipment, most
of the amount will be taken as cash and
used in the expenses Of the encampment
this year. For that purpose Maj. j. e.
Plat, of Clark, paymaster of the guard,
has been appointed as disbursing officer
to handle this fund. which will be placed
at his disposal for the purpose for which
it is desired.
The state has received a small check
from Forest Ranger Bullock, in the
Black Hills forest reserve. for the sale of
dead and down timber Oh the state lands.
An arrangement has been made with
Mr.. Bullock by which he looks after that
portion of the states interests just as he
does the governments interests on the,
reserve and handles it under the same
rules and regulations. While the amount,
secured each year is not large, the ar
rangerlent means the same protection to-
the state timber as is given to the gov
ernment property, and any remittance is
that much gain.
An application has been made to the!
war department to have Capt. Geo. B..
Geyer, now at BroOkings, detailed as,
military secretary to Gov. Mrod. The
last officer to hold this position was Col.
Frost, who was stationed at Pierre dur
ing the administration of Gov. Lee. His
detail is at government expense and does
not come out Of the state military fund.
The pay rolls are being made out Mt
Cheyenne River agency for the distribu-
ton Of 100000 in payment for lands,
to the Indians on that reservation.
About the same time they will receive an
equal amount for lease and trail money,
which will mean the distribution of $780,