The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-09-23

latter direction. He intends to prove
by detail what has already been shown
to be nonsense in tho total.
The figures are certainly 'startling"
enough as county seat removal argu-
ment, and we only wonder they don't
startle old Annanias from his slumbers.
The columns of figures in last weeks
Independent purport to give official
figures obtained from the clerk OF
courts office showing the miles travelled
by the Jurors called at the January
term, 1909, of the district court-and
also showing presumably by the same
authority, the distance that would have
been travelled by the same individuals
if they had been called to Cavalier
instead.
This matter is fair Argument when
used fairly. 1t is true that as Cavalier
is nearer the center OF the county that
it would take less mileage for the
average juror to 60 to there than to
come to Pembina. But in counting the
cost one should look at both sides, that
is to say, whaS would the saving of
mileage amount to compared with the
cost of new court house?
It's evident that the person who
arranged the figures for the Independ-
e0t had figured this out and found that
the saving would be so insignificant
compared with the cost of the new
buildings that he dropped that part,
and even omitted to put his results in
money. He just left q tsstartling''
numbersof miles They looked bigger
and mose startling that way ynu see.
Not only that, but they are grossly
and :purposeiy incorrect. The real
figures were too Insignificant.
The first of these ertors and trans
mogrifieations is that the .K-ompiler
goes back more than IA year and nine
mouths to take the records of the Janu-
ary tenn of 1909, when he had term of
court only three months ago and also
had another little aver a year ago.
There are two reasons that might make
. man Trying to make case for Cavalier
do this; one, that people would prefer
travelsn the railway in the winter and
thus make longer mileage, and second
that the lottery by which the Jurors
names are selected fnam all over the
county happened at that drawing to
call aasge part of the jalry from within
. few miles of Cavalier and from THE far
western part of the county, which. of
course with that particular body Of men
makes difference in the comparative
amount Of travel made by each.
/ AS Indicated above and in the .Inde-
pendent figures, except Alex Morrison
of Bathgate, every one Of those jurymen
travelled BY rail to Pembina, and except
few on the N. P. railway, each and all
came through Grafton, aud their mile
age was figured by the railway route.
We do not care to discuss the legality
of allowing mileage fees by such a
roundabout vay at this time. but as the
reader may veil believe the totals make
startling" asaonnts, to the taxpayers
of the county. But if the Independent
figures arc correct, (which they are not)
and prove anything at all, it must be
that Grafton is the only proper place to
build Pembina county's new court
h0use because by the independents
Arguments Of figures, everybody on
county business, whether the county
seat be moved to Cavalier or remain at
Penbina, must first pass through
Grafton.
But on the other hand, if everybody
must frst.go to Grsfton, then it depends
almost entirely on the train schedules
whether Pembina or Cavalier will be
the most convenient of acceas. How
ever, the individual jurors who came
the ..longast way round", have no kick
coming. They were paid by the county
at five cents : mile actually and neces.3
sarly travelled Is the law says, while
they paid the railways but two ana Y
half cents : mile for tares. The more
miles the more profit to tho iuror.
We note also II numarous instances
the K-ompilsF of thS stat atisticS, has ;for
Some reason sent the Juror atound IS
Grafton whom coning y Psnbinal @ bat
llst him drive ths short SxAy vheu III
wsnt5 q CAvalisfs But 81 olslly Nv ~ -
ida - II thn man cfle,a e. s51