Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-10-29

i
this county was organized, during
which time he has been one of lis
most honored citizens.
John p Coston didn't get up this
morning, hut he left word the night
before that If he was unable to stand
on his feet that the same old effort
or the morning before should be re-
published. and it was accordingly
done.
There are many laboring men and
farmers in this county who pay their
taxes on valuations not fixed by them.
selves. with reasonable promptness.
and are not drawing s2.400 every year
from the public, In addition to their
other revenues either.
%
John p. Coston's excuse for not pay.
Ing his military poll tax for n number
OF years Is that he. at one time, be-
longed to the volunteer fire depart.
ment and is therefore exempt. We'll,
now. member of the volunteer lire
department Is supposed to work with
out pay, for the public. We have
never heard the oldest inhabitant nc.
cuse John p. Coston OF working for
the public without pay. II 1t had been
paid fire department that he he.
longed to, that would be n different
question-John never works for the
public without pay; he is high.
priced man.
The people themselves have In their
ehn al, ~ a.
tiny OF town or county and have
full power to shape the conduct of
their own government; they can make
II good or bad, or Indifferent. and
when issues are presented to them
they are free to select, enjoying In the
ballot full power TO make their gov
ernment what they will But II Is GER
tain that when the people shift the
responsibility of citizenship there Will
always be somebody to shape their
government to serve the interests of
a few.
George Tricks house near Trimble
Springs was burned to the ground last
evening. The fire was caused by a
defective flue, The children saved
only their clothes and little bed
ding, both Mr. Trick and Mrs. Trick
being at the store In Durango. j. T.
Brazier took the children In and cared
for them. Mrs. Trick, who has been
an invalid for a year of more, was 50
shocked at the news of the fire that
che was prostrated and physician
had to be called to attend 10 her.
The house and its contents were W
sured for fourteen or fifteen hundred
dollars, which, while IL will not cover
the loss, will make It less hard to
bear.
The Morning Democrat informs us
that the reason the present assessor
has not paid his taxes Is on account
OF his being too poor. No facts are
given. AS some of our readers are
from Missouri and would like to be
shown, we will suggest few facts.
During the year 1905 he received from
the county in the way OF salary $1,000,
about 5000 from the city. and he must
have received all kinds OF money from
the abstract business. as II Is the
largest trust In the county. Now, our
assessor has not a very large family
He has never observed the admoni-
nation. His family only consists OF
two. What has he done with this
money? Can he not save out OF this
enormous salary and revenue a suf-
ficient to pay this pittance OF tax
on his small valuation? II he has not
the ability to save few dollars
year out of this. certainly he has not
the ability required of an assessor II
all people did likewise there would
not be enough In the county treasury
to pay him his salary; but then. there
is the smelter, what is a smelter for
anyway but to pay such salaries as
these!
Thomas l.. Purdum, special agent OF
the Fidelity and Deposit company of
Maryland, dropped in at the county
treasurer's office this morning and,
after introducing himself with the
necessary papers, asked for the
money, bank books. etc. II Is hardly
necessary to add that after hours of
work he found every cent accounted
for, the books balanced and the bust.
ness OF the county In fine shape so
far as the county treasurer's office
was concerned. While this speaks
well for the treasurer. A. F. Hood, It
also speaks volumes for his deputy,
w. w. Parshall, who has taken care
OF the office since the second month
OF Mr.. Hoods occupancy. Mr.. Pur-
dam personally complimented Mr.
Parshall upon the system and neat
ness OF the books and the splendid
condition of the county, and II Nj.
Purdam had his way Mr. Parshall
would assume the duties OF the office
the coming year on his own account.
We take 1t the voters will be OF the
same trend of mind.
o.
Once there was a town in Kansas
Its name was Dodge City. The only
apparent resources at that time were
embraced In the trade of buffalo hunt.
ers and cattle drivers driving from
Panhandle, Texas, and these drivers
were a fright. This town was started
with a saloon before the railroad
reached 1t to put in a water tank, and
other saloons followed. many OF them
and finally an armory was established
| carrying all the manufactures OF fire
arms for killing buffalo and man
And II was a long time before II was
discovered that the surrounding coun
try was good for ANYTHING but drink