Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-03-01

the state. he estate is that OF
Lawrence Lindstrum, an aged pioneer.
who died a few days ago in the state
hospital for the insane. He arrived in
what is now South Dakota in 1873
from Norway, aud filed a homestead in
Yankton county. This was recently
sold for $1,000 and of this there
remains the sum of 81 900 for the heirs
OF the dead man. Lindstrum had
never married and so far as known had
no relatives in this country, but is
believed TO have had several in Nor
way.
The building of at least eight hmm
drad miles of railroad in South Dakota
in 1906 has been officially announced
by the responsible managers of the
great railroad systems. No other state
will secure nearly so much new line.
This fact is peculiarly significant. The
great railroad companies do no invest
their money in extensions into unprofit-
able countries. Long observation has
taught them that the South Dakota
field is a profitable one Astounding III
wonderful possibilities for develop
ment. Hence they more fully occupy
it. Think of the business opportuni-
ties which the building of eight hun
dred miles of new railroad presents.
Ned Potter and Edwin Markham,
souri, river in the northern part of
Charles Mix county, while attem pting
to cross the big Muddy on the ice
had a narrow escape from death, and
owe their lives to the faithfulness of a
dog. Both men fell through an air
hole; were houndering III the water.
and the swift current was striving 10
pull them under the ice. AT this criti-
cal juncture, "a dog which belonged to
one of the young men, and which was
closely following them went TO the
edge of the ice and barked vigorously.
One of the men was able to grasp the
dog, aud with the assistance of the
faithful animal was able TO crawl u
on the ice. The other man was then
rescued.
In ronnd figures South Dakota
received from the government for com
mon school purposes 2,250,000 acres of
land. AT the date of the last report of
the commissioner of school and public
lands, July j, 1904, 276,00o acres had
been sold at an average of $14.55 per
acre ~aggregating $4,0l4. 900. These
moneys placed at interest, together
with hay and pasture leases upon
unsold lands, bring an annual revenue
of approximately a half million dollars,
This sum is increasing annually and
with the development of the state it
will readily appear that the burden of
taxation for the maintenance of the
public schools will become very light
indeed. Already the revenue from the
school fund approximates one fourth
the entire cost of the schools.
Colonel Melvin Grigsby, of Sioux
Falls, fromer United States attorney at
Nome, Alaska, has filed a claim with
the department Of justice at Washing
ton for payment Of salary and
expenses withheld while he was in the
states during the last winter of his SER
vice. The amount withheld is about
-, 500 and the reason assigned for not
paying it was that Grigsby was away
from his office with out leave, and on
personal business. Grigsby contends
that he was in the states getting evil
dence in cases due for trial in the fol
lowing season. His purpose III filing
the claim at this time is to have the
department. pass on it SO that in the
event of rejection he can file suit for it
in the court of claims. 1t is probable
the department will refuse to allow the
claim.
Carl Moser, a farmer who resides
twelve miles northwest of Java, COM
mitted suicide last week. by hanging
himself in the kitchen Of his home
There is no doubt that the man was
insane at the time he committed the
act. He belonged to what is known as
the Merkel band Of religious fanatics,
which has caused much trouble to per-
sons residing in the neigaborhood of
Java. A year ago, nearly, he burned
the dwelling house of John Kerner,
one Of his neighbors, in response to
what he, in his deranged mind, thought
was a Devine command. For this
crime he was arrested and placed
under bonds for his appearance at the
next term of circuit court for Wal
worth county. He was brought soon
after his arrest to Aberdeen where he
was confined in the Brown county Jail.
During his stay there he proved so
noisy and deranged that Sheriff Ander-
son did not regret to see him return to