Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-11-08
w STATE T

west VI Tlerle lie gives III as MS opln-
ion that the cars will not be running
across the reservation into the Black
Hills before next year this time The
general impression is by those not
informed that the road will be finished
some time this winter, and it is costing
many people considerable hardship, for
they are moving out there with the idea
that the cars will o be running
across the country Mr.. McCarl says
that the Milwaukee is no farther
advanced han the Northwestern He
states thar work on the big bridge at
Pierre is progressing, and that it will
probably be done as soon as the road
is built west to Rapid City. He saws
there is 4 blind man located on a home
stead some fifty miles ont and several
miles from neighbors who will like ly
perish this winter. Macy of the school
ma'am settlers are sticking to their
claims. 1t is impossi lie to get a meal
at their shacks and the traveller is told
to move on. 1t would be ont of the
question to secure Accommodations at
their homes as there is nothing in sight
to offer. Many of these will no doubt
freeze to death this winter if they per-
sist in remaining there. On the survey
there is a place of $4,000 yards to grade
down that has not been let yet This
Of itself will make a winters Job for a
contractor. Hay is s. dollars a ton,
and has TO be hauled ten and twenty
miles. Contractors have difficulty in
keeping men after they get them, and
it viii be impossible to do much this
winter on that account.
While residing on his homestead
claim in the coded portion of the Rose
bud Indian reservation, near Boresteel,
Chester Slaughter, a we'll known resi-
dent of this part of the state, met with
rather a curious adventure. He had
sent his family to town, intending 10
follow them the next dav. That night
he was aroused from sleep by a noise
which he believed was made by some one
attempting to break into the house.
Creeping downstairs, with a loaded
shotgun in his hands, he heard some
one apparently fumbling at the door
knob. Instantly Slaughter raised his
shotgun and fired through the door.
He heard a cry as of pain, but not car
lnn m inynStinafa fnVthar fhof
night, he securely fastened the door and
waited until morning. When day
dawned Slaughter went out of doors,
confidently expecting to find the dead
body of a fellow man. He was agree
ably surprised, however, at not making
such a gruesome discovery. Continu-
ing his search he went to a shed and
there found a pet mule, previously
wounded by the load of bird shot which
had been fired through the door. The
mule had been running at large in the
barnyard and had backed up against
the door in an nndeavor to gain shelter
from a storm. The mule will live.
State Auditor Haliday's biennial
report, while criticizing the loose man
ner in which assessments for taxation
are made, gives the following interest
ing information on the assessed valua-
ton of the state:
1.-THE total assessed valuation of the
state four years ago, as left by the state
board of equalization and assessment,
was SlS7, 431 ,3S1, This year the aggre-
gate is 1922, 426, 469, a gain in round
numbers of $50, 0O0, 900, or an average
of nearly s9,0OO,0 Oo per annum. The
increase in the future will be at a much
greater ratio. Nearly 1000 miles of
new railroad will be added to the rail
road mileage of the state this year. a
large section of the state is being opened
up TO settlement and these lands will
soon be listed for taxation. Thousands
of new people are flocking into the state
bringing with them new wealth and
preparing to produce additional wealth.
With a few amendments to the tax laws
anu Il SlIlCl 6"ulOICtLleHtOl tIoSc diAtduy 4
on the statute books, the question of
producing revenue with which TO carry
on the business of state will practically
take care of itself"
Supt. Mosman, of the government
boarding school at Cheyenne agency, is
inqniring of the governors office as to
laws requiring compulsory attendance
at school of the children of Indians who
have taken allotment lands. The TAX
ing of such allotments is supposed to
make citizens of the parents, and they
are taking advantage of this fact to
refuse to send their children to the
schools on the reservation provided for
them by the government. The situa.
ton presents a commingling of state
and federal authority over the Indians
and just where to look for relief is q
question, although Supt. Mosman
looks upon it as one of state jurisdic-
ton. He announces his intention of
coming into the next legislative session
to ask for laws covering the case, if
Zone exist under present statutes.