davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
Big Smoke For Huron

Observation-Disclosures for the Da-
kota, Minnesota, Pierre and Rapid
City divisions Of the Chicago and
Northwestern railway system will be
located here soon. The offices will be
transferred from Chicago to Huron. c.
T. Dixie has been selected as general 81
pe~rintendent and is already here. The
offices of the company are being en-
larged and will be ready for oc u
pancy In a few days. The selection of
Huron for headquarters of these west
ern divisions is a long stride toward
making Huron one of the most import
ant railway centers in this part OF the
northwest. II Is definitely settled that
a new passenger depot will be erected
here very soon. 1t W II be n of the
largest structures of it's kind owned
by the Northwestern system and Will
be thoroughly equipped and modern
In every particular.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

umphs and 500 o recognition for his Judgment and pcwers OF analysis
particularly In reporting political campaigns.
His first voyage of discovery "a made in 1892 when. commissioned by
the Chicago Herald. he established the spot on which Columbus landed o.
San Salvador Arctic exploration next cast its lure about MT. weiman. In
fifteen years he made FIVE trips into the frozen north. In 1884 he led a
expedition, reaching 81 degrees north. He placed man g islands on the
map and made such a valuable collection II scientific data that his second
voyage north in 1898 aroused keen interest among geographers.
In 1906 he announced that he would seek the pole by aerial route He
had a drfgtble balloon built and II was taken to Spizbergen. but II turned
out to be defective and the trip that year had to be abandoned. The next
year found Mr.. Wellman back al his camp N Danes island. with q rebuilt
balloon A start vas made September q but a furious gale came up and
drove the airshfp back. A landing IA made on a glacier.
Danes island with the America, again remodeled. When the start was made.
after covering 80 miles the equiubrator parted. The big drigtble wa towed
back to fits landing place, when a gust Of wind carried Il careenng w tina
Ice hummocks and 1t exploded.
The discovery Of the pole by Peary took away the main lures Of arctic
voyages. and Mr. Wenman, turning his thoughts in another direction. am
Inounced last July that he would try a transatlantic voyage by arship. This
also proved disastrous after he had covered yer 500 miles of the distance
to Europe.
In abandoning their craft the crew Of the airship America lowered them,
selves into the nteboat which swung beneath It. Then they cast the rfeboat
of and were afoat IN the sea- The airship. relieved OF the weight OF the life.
boat, shot high into the air and ws blown away rapidly The transfer OF
the Wenman party from the eboat to the steamer Trent which picked them
up, raj made with great difficulty.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
GOOD a LEAouE
Permanent Organization Adopts This
Title at Aberdeen Meeting

Aberdeen-The good roads con en-
ton adjourned this evening, after hav-
Ing formed a permanent organization,
under the title OF the So tn Dakota
Good Roads league, elected oflc rs.
and appointed a committee which was
charged to draft a good roads law,
which win be presented to the next
session Of the Legislature.
The following are the officers OF the
new society: A. E. Chambe lain OF
Bookings, president; e. v. Issenhuth
OF Redfeld, vice president; r. X Ma
ther OF Mitchell, secretary-treasurer
A vice president was selected from
each county.
The convention was very succe s.
full, and at the closing hours II was
though that much good had been done
and that a movement had been started
which will mean the finest roads p0s-
sible for the state inside of a few
years.
The closing hours Of the convention
were marked by greatly increased in
terest on the part of the delegates, rs
well al the large number Of local peo-
pie. together with a large number OF
farmers from Brown and the sur
rounding counties.
One of the most interesting pa ts O.
the program was a letter. written by
James ]. Hill, read at the afternoon
session. Mr.. Hill took up the pro o.
sition OF making good roads. exp'a n
ed what has been done thus far In
other states and points out that South
Dakota had nog reat task in max NJ
good roads, insomuch as all the ma
terials are at hand, and that the work
would not be near so hard as II is In
other places, where all materials must
be imported. He also pointed out the
great saving it would be to the farm
ers, IL conditions were such as TO en-
able them to haul a third more pro
duce to market with every trip.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

possession OF the property OF the In
dan, who instead of being competent
to manage his own affairs, as certified
by Kelley to the Indian bureau, is
in fact over rs years of age, of feeble
mind, unable to hlk in any language
but the Sioux, and totally incapable OF
managing his own affairs, and still a
ward of the government. The com
plant demands that Debell and Cur
tiss. and the other parties to the de-
Tense, who secured possession re the
property afterward, he required to re-
store the land ar pay the sum Of &c.
900. which the government claims Is
a reasonable price for the land.
The other complaints all have De-
bell and Courts as star defendants,
but the other defendants differ. In
each instance, however, the Indians
from whom the land was obtained
was aged, ignorant, mentally and
physically weak, and unable to un-
derstand English. Clown Woman was
deprived of a half section OF land un-
der circumstances similar to the High
Star case; Big Old Woman lost a quar-
ter section, and yellow Hair a half
section. The remaining cases, which
are not brought up at the present
hearing, are similar to those cited.
1t is estimated that at least 500 600
worth of land has been secured by the
alleged conspirators, under circum-
stances similar to the High Star case.
The causes at present a e al C
suits. 1t is presumed that uron the
result of the civil suits depends the
prosecution that may follow later.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

M tcliell-Plankinton's new or era
house. which has been in course OF
construction since early in the sum
mer, will. be ready for the openiug
dates which have been announced for
November l and 2. sShe Man on the
Box" will be presented tie a st nig hit
and "Ishmael' the second night. A
large, number of tickets at S. have
been sold for both nights as a help to
the promoters to pay for the build
ing. The structure will cost about
$25, 900, II is two stories high. with
store buildings beneath and the en-
tire upper floor devoted to the opera
house A company of local men was
formed TO erect the building.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

tenn in South Dakota and introduce the
gross earnings system Why, the rail
roads of course. No one else would %
benefited by it. Admit for the sake
of argument that we would get a few
dollars more out of the express eompa-
MES. We would lose hundreds of lou.
sands of dollars from the railroads.
Penny wise and pound foolish, wouldn't
it bef
In reply to a request for his opinion
on the two systems of taxing railroads,
United States Senator La Toilette, for
mel governor of Wisconsin, answere~
as follows:
w, H. Wenz, Bath, South Dakota.
Dear Sir: l cannot too strongly en-
phasize, in my view, the unwisdom Of
the proposed change of railroad taxa-
ton from an advalorem to a gross
earnings basis. In Wisconsin after
years of political struggle, we succeed
ed in changing from the gross earnings
to the advalorem basis. The gross ear
nings basis in froce for many years
in Wisconsin, was found to he mel.
Their just to the public nor capa-
bic Of honest administrator. I'm
der that system the railroads fraudu.
.ently assessed their own taxes, and it
was not any matter Of great surprise
that they yielded to the temptation to
understate their gross earnings in their
reports for taxation purposes. They
excluded from their sworn statements
amounts sggregating, in the course of
years, many millions of dollars, AID de-
gwarI.l Al. ata%. - Lace ourno nf ta~
es which they were bound by law to
pay.
Moreover, the gross earnings, or Ii
cense fee system, fixes an arbitrary
basis fer railroad taxaticn different
frsm that on which the general proper.
ty was taxable, and naturally greatly
to the advantage Of the railroads, who
were constantly in politics for purpose,
at the expense of the general public.
Sincerely yours,
Robert M. La Toilette.
With the experience Senator La Fol
lette had while governor Of Wisconsin,
he is NO doubt as well qualified 60 ex-
press an opinion on this subject as any
enc in the country.
IL might be well fer voters to bear
in mind that if railroads are taxed on
their gross earnings instead Of On their
assessed valuation as at present their
taxes VIII go into the general fund Of
the state. They viii pay no more coun-
ty taxes, no more city taxes, NE more
school taxes, no more civil township
taxes and no more road taxes. The
gross earnings tax will be in lieu of all
other taxes. Other taxpayers viii have
to pay just that much more local taxes
to make up what the railroads will not
pay. Shall Article XI of the constitu-
ticn be amended7 Vote no on Novem-
Der s. w. FL. Wenz.
October g., 1910, Bath, 8. ID.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

tAberdeen Daily American.)
The attempt to amend Article XII Of
cur state constitution was defeated in
the last general election, 1908, by a vote
OF 47,732 to 34,915, a majority Of 1887
against the change. The legislature of
1909 again submitted the amendment
with the provision for removing the
limit to taxation left out, and we are
to vote on it at the general election the
9Th Of next month. The argument that
has been advanced in favor of the am.
endment is that under the amended art
icle it would be possible for the state
to tax the income of express companies
and compel them to pay more taxes
than they do at present under the ad-
vRlorum system of taxation. The ex-
press companies have SO little property
to tax in proportion to their income
from their high rates that it is eensid-
cred that the taxes they pay are dis
proportionately small.
Not q word is said about the rail.
roads, That would give the scheme
away. Now, if the constitution 10
changed SO that incomes may be taxed
instead of the assessed valustisA Of
psoperty, then railroads will DO taxed
ON their income just as well rs express
companies. And that is exactly what
the railroads are working fer. They
wosfd much rather pay taxes sn their
gross earnings than On their assessed
valuation. 1t is much easier to maniP-
ulate the reports on gross earnings than
10 manipulate assessments. In WiscsA.
sin the railroads reported their srsss
earnings over twelve millions Of del
lass less than they actually were In err
der to beat the state cut Of y large
amount of taxes.
The experience of Wiseonsin thrsws
q good deal of light on this subject. In
1893 Governor La Toilette secured tfe
enactment of a law taxing the railroads
on their assessed valuation instead OF
on Their gross earnings, as they has
hcen taxed for 90 years in Wisconsin
I'm order that the railroad taxes would
net be tied up by litigation, the gross
earnings tax was collected for six years
the same as before, and in addition rail
road property was assessed aAd taxes
figured on il and the excess collected
in addition to the gross earnings tax
Ia the six years, 1904 to 1909, iAelus-
i've, the railroad taxes, under the ad
vaiorem system amounted to $16, >
ts3. 30 and under the gross earnings, OF
license fee system, as it is called in
Wisconsin, the tax was Only Sl2,7 3S,
1889. So by changing to the ad val
srem system Wisconsin forced the rail.
roads 10 pay $4,000, $50 more taxcs in
six yea than under the gross earn
ings system. This is an average OF
$e7T, 1855, or over two-thirds of a mil
lion dollars a year. Last year the ex.
cess was 1898, 704.20. Nearly In even
miasssn, or 45.9 per cent more than the
gross earnings tax amounted to. Who
wants to knock out the advalorem sys'
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

Pierre-Another big irr cation prot
ect for the western part of the state
is one of the possibilities of the near
future in the vicinity of Rapid CITY.
S. r. Green, assistant state engineer
Is now working on Box Elder creek IN
the vicinity of Blackhawk, not far
from Rapid City. 1t is claimed that
the possibilities at that Slace are al
most equal to those Of the Belle
Fourche project, and that the govern
ment work at one time hung between
the Blackhawk and Belle Fourche
projects. This present work by the
state Is attracting the people OF that
part OF the state and they arv doing
all they can TO help aong the survey.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
Insurance Commissioners Report

P'erre-The annual report of the
commissioner of insurance for the
fiscal year ending June 20 1910. late
ly published. gives comparative to-
tails Of the business transacted N tat
department for the yeas from 1909 to
1910 inclusive. The total rece pts OF
the last fiscal year are SILT, OF. IL, over
$4,000 greater than the previous year.
In the letter OF transmittal, Commits
sioner Basford recommends an ena t
ment by the legislature to provide for
the creation of a reserve fund for ac-
ci6ent. hail and cyclone companies, az
was done by the last Legislature with
regard to mutual fire Insurance CON-
panies. He also recommends legisla-
ton to fix by law the ratio of the ex-
penses to prem um recein.s siri a. r.
the Minnesota statute which fixes this
rate at 20 per cent. and provides trat
10 per cent OF the premium re e pts
shall be deposited with the sta'e until
a reserve fund shall be created of not
less than $25. 900. He advis Z a a
committee be cseated to aid n the fix
ing OF fire rates. 10 be compesed of
the commissioner OF insura ce TIE
chief clerk OF the Insurance depar.-
ment and the state auditor.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
INDIANS
Federal Government is investigating
Several Cases on Reservation

Federal Government is Investigating
Several Cases on Reservation
Aberdeen-A hearing is now be-
ing conducted on the Rosebud In
dian reservation in South Dakota
which, if the allegations of the gov
eminent are corroborated, promises
TO reveal a state of affairs similar
to that brought to light In Okla
homa, the noble red man" Of South
Dakota apparently having been the
victim Of designing whites. even as
his redskin brethren of the south
were.
Between fifteen and twenty cases Of
alleged graft by which as many In
dtans were deprived of their lands for
q nominal sum have been brought to
light by the investigat, on. but emily
four OF the cases are brought up at
the present hearing.
The cases at present under consid-
Grafton are civil cases, brought by
United States District Attorcet e p
Wagner, in behalf of the government
and its wards, the Indians who have
been bilked of their property. In each
OF the four cases E. j. Debell, who
still resides on the reservation, is the
principal defendant. the others nam
ed in the complaint being accessories
or Debell at some stage of the pro-
ceedings. After the hearings. the evil
dence in the case will be turned over
to the United States circuit court for
the district of South Dakota.
One complaint cites e, J. Debell, w
G. Courts, w. M. Butterfield, harm
Johnson and John NORTH as defend
ants. II alleges that on February "a
1908 Edward B. Kelley Indiar Agent
at that time for the United States
government, recommended that a pat
emf to certain tracs OF land in the
reservation be issued to an Indian
named Wicarpi Wankantuya, or
High STAR" under an act approved
March Q, 1889. giving the bu eau of
Indian affairs the right to issue title
In fee simply to properly qualified In
dams, competent to manage Their own
affairs. In accordance with the rec
ommendation of the agent. the title t.
the land In question. amounting to
e3S.8C acres was in due time invested
In High Star.
The next scene. In the drama sh VS.
f. j. Debell as notary public certi-
tying to a deed %purrorting TO Rave
been made out by High Star. convey
ing the land to w. G. Courts for Al
alleged consideration OF "a 0N0. The
complaint states that no money was
ever paid over to the representatives
Of the government for the use of High
Star, or to High Sts~ himself, and tn t
the alleged conveyance of pTorertv
was the result OF collision be e
Kelley. Debell and Courts to secu e
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

South Dakota was admitted 10 the
Union on the End day of November,
1899, in accordance with ats Of con-
gress which had included the passage
of an enabling act and the ado otion
of a constitution VIII CHI had been
adopted by a constitutional
ton held in Sioux Falls and which
was ratified by the voters OF the en-
tire section of the territory of Da-
kota, which had asked for admission
as one OF two states carved out OF
the old territory, the other part OF
that territory being the present state
Of North Dakota.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

Pierre-While a large numfe- o.
feathers certificates have been issued
by the state from the various eyamin-
atoms of the past fall. there are yet
shortages in some Of the counties OF
the state. Two schools are said to be
without teachers IN Okobojl township.
Sully county; in Pearl township In the
same county. after considera la t-ou,
BILE they have started their tn ee
schoolg. are With . teacher sec red
from Indiana: one secured In Iowa.
and one a home reacher. This would
indicate that there Is yet room for
teachers In come sections Of the state
at least
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
NOW GOVERNOR or NEW YORK

Lieutenant Governor Horace White of SYRIA
cuse became governor of the state of New York
when Charles E. Hughes retired to go upon the
Supreme court bench at Washington. For three
months Mr.. White will be governor of the EN-
pire state and. logically, he should succeed him.
self, the chosen of the people. But. though unant
mously nominated two years ago for lieutenant
governor, his name was not even mentioned at
the recent nominating convention at Saratoga.
The new governor viii do his work for a brief
three months, but his political career. once SO
brilliantly promising, his friends feel. is closed
in all probability.
Belonging to one OF the most prominent and
respected families In the state, possessing all the
advantages of education and social ~nosition and
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
HEADS THE WOMAN TEACHERS

In 1905 Miss Grace C. Strachan placed herself
at the head of the army of women teachers at
Brooklyn, N. Y, In their fight for better pay.
Her ambition was to see the day when her associ
ates would receive as much pay for their services
as the ~janitors. She made her point palmer by
demonstrating that the average pay OF women
teachers at Washington, ID. c.. was not equal to
that received by the city dog catcher.
She is now president Of the marlborough AS
~sociation OF Women School Teachers OF the city
of New York. and has perfected an ideal organiza
ers she is trying to have the state of New York
place male and female teachers upon an equal
pay basis. Three bills to bring about this were
vetoed. but the fight is still In progress.
been TO make the organization work al a unit
by business men and politicians. but a champion
tor Patrick H. McCarren. who introduced her first
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

Pierre--At a meeting In this city
the officials Of the oils
and st. Louis Railway company
signed an agreement to at once take
up the work of constructing a line
from Aberdeen to this city w a
grade which was built by the city and
which is donated to the comrany as
a bonus for their building to tbs
citv.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

Sioux Falls-The time Of the Unite
States court continues to be occupied
in taking testimony in the case o. g.
A. Squirting VS.. the Dempster MI
Manufact ring company OF Nebras'a
The p~laintiff seeks to recover Garage
in the sum of $4,000 for inj lries e
ceived by falling down an elevator
shaft In the Sioux Falls branch house
OF the company. Eve y in h OF the
trial is being fought by the oppos ne
sides and objections to questions are
frequent. The same case was tried
last winter In the federal court. the
jury be- ng unable to agree after re-
maining out twenty-four hours.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
in THE LIMELIGHT
WELLMAN OF BALLOON FAME

Walter Wellman. who failed in his daring at
tempt to cross the Atlantic In the big dirigible
balloon America has had a career of thrilling
adventure. He was born in Mentor, Ohio. No
vember 3. 1850. and is of English descent. When
fifteen years old he established a paper at SUIT
ton, Neb. In 1876 he went to Philadelphia and
abandoned the country newspaper field for the
metropolitan. He had barely attained his major
ity when he established the Cincinnati Evening
Post. Soon afterward he became a free lance In
journalism.
In the early eighties for q year or two he was
city editor OF the Chicago Herald. He covered
the legislative sessions at Springfield and was
sent to Washington as correspondent. At the
national canital he scored frenuant nAwsnaner trf-
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04

wealth, with a record Of 13 years in the state senate and with the reputation
of al orator and genial gentleman Of the most polished manners Governor
White. at the q of fory five, finds himself beyond the pale SO fan as further
political preferment is concerned, although there may come a rehabilitation
and a restoration to public favor in years hence.
tual Life Association and League of Syracuse. Mr. White all along has
maintained that he did no wrong and that what he did was in his capacity
Is legal adviser, but 10 the skirts of the lieutenant governor has chung
enough Of the onus OF the transaction to injure his immediate future poMt
cany t@@
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
LEADER IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS

One OF the recognized leaders In public affairs
is the Rev. Washington GLADDEN.. For half a cen
fury in New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio DIR.
GLADDEN. has been a great influence In the church.
society and politics. His friends declare that II
is due to his influence and efforts that public
morality in Columbus was advanced to a higher
plane.
Prior TO 1854 the state election In Ohio all
ways preceded the national election by a month.
Every four years on this account there was a
condition of vast turmoil when the different po-
litical influences were at work. DR.. GLADDEN. was
pastor Of the First Congregations church Of Co
lumbus when he set at the work Of public reform.
His first appeal was for a change in the cleo
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-11-04
IAFOLIETTF'S VIEWS ON TAXATION

Voters Should Carefully Consider His opinion-His Views Ge Based m Long
Experience as Governor If WhconHn-vottng 20 Amend Arthls Eleven
of the State Constitution Shifts the Burden on the Resident Tax Payer.