The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-25
MIGHTY HUNTERS
LOSE PROWESS
Bounties Paid in Utah for 1905
Amount to Only $145.
GRATING SEEMS CHECKED
COLLECTION IS HEDGED WITH
MANY REQUIREMENT.

When the last legislature enacted the
present bounty law siekening blow
was dealt to thriving industry OF the
state. The records in the office of
J. A. Edwards, state auditor, show that
only S145 has been disbursed for boun-
ties on wild animals so far this year.
Last year the total ANNUAL apDropri-
alton of $4,000 was exhausted long
before August rolled around and the
same was true in years prior to
that.
The enforced retirement of some of
the states foremost bounty hunters
had has much to do with the falling
off in the bounty business. but there
is reason to believe that even if Mr.
Jones' and his skilled associates were
at liberty to follow their late vocation
they would be likely to give up in dis
gust 1t requires trouble almost in
finite to collect bounty money under
the new law
Much Swearing Needed.
In his affidavit, the man who applies
for bounty payment must virtually
give his entire history from birth The
affidavit must be accompanied by an
affidavit from a reputable citizen -
who has known the applicant a long
time and is willing to swear that the
applicant is a good, honest, truthful
citizen and that he killed the animal
in question The applicant then gets
his certificate.
When all this is attended to. the
county clerk calls in another county Of
ficer and gravely sewers the head of
the hide in the presence of this other
officer. Then the clerk, having re-
corded the history of the application
and severing, holds the hide FOR several
days and calls in the county com
missioners. To them he exhibits the
hide, tells the story of it and if the
commissioners are satisfied that every
thing is all right they direct the clerk
to destroy the hide.
Next the State Auditor.
After issuing the certificate. the clerk
forwards to the state auditor the af-
fidavit of the applicant. the affidavit
of the applicants corroborative wit
ness and a copy of the original certifi-
cate. Then the applicant is at liberty
to show UP before the state auditor
and claim his money. The applicant
certificate is compared with the COPY
forwarded by the clerk and If every
thing is all right the auditor issues
warrant. Armed with this, warrant,
the applicant may proceed to the office
of the state treasurer and demand his
81 for the death of the coyote II the
money IS in the treasury, he gets it:
otherwise he may sell his warrant for
what il win bring
Last year, certificates calling for
from SO to $500 were the rule in the
auditors office, but it is different this
yeaf--s Now the average certificate calls
Tor from 81 TO 81. Recently one calling
Tor S2l came in and caused great con-
sternation among Mr.. Edwards office.
There was some talk of consulting the
state treasurer before acting on the
matter. but careful checking up
proved that the claim was all right
and It was passed. Last year that
claim would not have attracted notice.
unless, indeed, its smanness provoked
comment.
Auditors Father Collects.
The latest claim to go through the
auditors office is that of John L. Ed
wards of Willard. father of the auditor.
A. w Valentine chairman of the
board of commissioners of Box Elder
county and twice mayor of Willard.
swears the senior Mr.. Edwards is a
good man and true and that he, the
said a. w. Valentine, knows Mr. Ed
wards killed the coyote and is there
fore entitled to 81.
Mr.. Edwards, aided by his dog. slew
the animal ln-hiS pasture one evening.
Mr.. Edwards is a pioneer of Box Elder
county. and the hide of the animal was
| displayed as trophy in the Pioneer
Day parade at Brigham City July "a.
Mr.. Edwards affixed it to the end of
his old wagon. but neglected to inform
his neighbors that the age of the fierce
! beast at the time of its death was only
two months.
Box Elder county holds the record
for the year, with seventeen claims
filed. Salt Lake county. which made a
splendid record during the closing
months of 1904, with several thousand
! coyotes, wolves, bears, mountain lions
etc, killed. has had only one claim
| this year. II was presented by George
L. Davis. ~ II. Steele is Mr.. Davis
! corroborative witness and the claim
ant win probably get his money unless
he loses interest in the matter
The record of the year so far makes
1t reasonably certain that the present
appropriation of $4,000 annually will
be more than sufficient.
Pure Food, Good Health and snrnett,s
Vanilla are sVDonvfnouz No communicable,