Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-12-14

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TT the prospective legislation along
,bo limos of supreme and circuit court
districts is carried out by the coming
legislative session the judiciary OF the
tate will show numerous changes oe-
fore the end of another year regard
less of the fact that no Judlclal cleo
tons are to be held for seVSral years.
One Of the propositions when Is re-
eeiving a great deal or afternoon Al
legal circles is the increase OF the Su-
spreme court from three to five mem
bers, which will mean redistricting the
state for thai When that
comes up for action that par OF the
state west of the Missouri will demand
two Of the three districts, on the OASIS
of material progress to follow the diff
ferent lines of railroad extending into
that part OF the state. Such a division
would give three districts to the state
east of the river, which now has two,
and would mean the appointment OF
q judge on each side of the river. Or
dinarily such appointments would be
made from members of the circuit
bench, but west of the river this would
present a problem. The older
ties would ask for a division which
would include some of them In each
circuit, and as Judge Corson would
remain in any northern circuit so
formed the southern circuit Woulc
have on the bench the only Democrat
ic circuit judge in the state and woulc
complicate a selection from that dis
trict.
The department of Legislative refer
ence has received forty applications
for info rIlation in regard to bills pro
posed to De introduced by members a.
the coming session. The creates
number Of inquiries are In regard t.
primary election laws; followed in or.
der by good roads legislation, and rat,
bills. While in the past road legisla
ton has not received any grea
amount of attention, the rains of tn
past two years making the roads il
the eastern part of the state almos'
impossible, has brought out a largt
amount Of discussion on that subject
For many years South Dakota country
roads in their natural state were look
ed upon as among the best in thu
country. INC changed climatic condi-
lions require a change in road max
ing, and the question will be gone into
pretty thoroughly this winter. ,
There is a generally improved con-
dition Of state finances. The cOnserv-
atism Of the las legislature in the
matter OF appropriations brought the
expenditures within the reasonable
of the state. so that the float
ing Indebtedness at this time, less cash
in the treasury applicable to it's reduc-
ton. is approximately $500, 900. The
bonded debt at this writing is but
$4,000, for the sinking of which the
cash is lying in the treasury. Treas
urer Collins has been most energetic
in his efforts to secure the surrender
OF the outstanding state bonds. and
has accomplished the sinking of more
than 100000 during his term. Those
remaining do not mature until 1913,
put Mr.. Collins hopes to prevail upon
the owners to surrender them at once.
General prosperity continues to
bless the people of the state. Ten
years a seen the bank deposits.
chiefly those of farmers and stockmen,
increase from $4,000, 900 to more than
$~45,000,000 at the present time. With
this evidence of great prosperity the
people continue to be thrifty in Their
affairs, reluctant to undertake enter
prises for which they do not have the
ready cash and in all things wisely
conservative. Few loans are made ex.
cept for the purchase Of additional
land. Farmers to a SURPRISINGLY large
extent pay cash for machinery and
supplies, merchants discount their
bills and bankers are at their wits
ends to find a market for their money.
The report of the bureau of vital
statistics for the month of October
how that there were BIS marriages.
The births numbered 755, of which
1855 were males and 399 females,
There We're 33S deaths. Divorces were
granted IN 46 cases, of which 10 were
to actual residents of the state, ?
the rest outsiders, who came to Ia.
of the divorce laws of the
state. Naturalization papers were
to 70 applicants.
State Treasurer Collins has at last
located the last Of the OUTSTANDING
state oonds, and Is now in a position
to negotiate for everything outstand-
ing. This places him in a position
where he can almost certainly carry
out his plan of clearing up all of
that class of Indebtedness before tho
close of his term.
The Eastern Star officers selected
at Pierre for the ensuing year are: w.
M, Mrs. I. w. Goodner; w. p. T. M.
Taylor; A. M, Mrs. H. E. Cutting.
secretary, Mrs. ]. w. Laughlin; con-
ductor, Mrs. c. S. Fisher; A. conduc.
tor, Miss Kalder.
For the sixth consecutive year the
state department of history. through
Its secretary, Doane Robinson, pre-
sents a review of South Dakota's nro-
gress, and again congratulates the
people upon a year of real prosperity
crops and general happiness
The state board of pardons will
meet In Pierre on the 18th of Decem-
Der, to consider any cases which NAV
be brought before them at that meet.
ing.
The Dakotas are peculiarly well sit
uated TO secure an accurate determi-
nation of fho -. ~