The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-12-05

as the manager of the department
store. The same methods which make
the successful store will make the
successful Market
Sherman Talks
Fred d. Sherman, commissioner of
i'm migration, said in part:
tive to the future prospects Of the de-
velopment Of northern Minnesota. l
do not intend to quote tax levies, Or
public Indebtedness of any county,
but I do believe it proper for me at
this time to call your attention to
the danger of allowing conditions to
grow which increase your tax
burden too much. While I am sure
am anxious to see northern Minneso-
ia developed; to see good roads, good
schools and good municipal buildings
l believe that we should be conserva-
tive along these lines and have pro-
per consideration for the future.
When the prduent purchaser comes
to buy land he Immediately makes
| inquiries as to the rate of taxation in
the county in which he is interested,
as well as it's bonded Indebtedness.
"Of course, taxes are always high
er in new county on account of
the needed improvements, but when
the bonded Indebtedness is high I
frequently find it frightens the con-
servative immigrant, who does not
| like to invest his money in a county
where financial obligations are too
great. I urge you to be conservative
IN not contracting too large public
debts for development purpose. To
build a road around a swamp, or
around a hill, is inconvenient, but
| it is cheaper, and while of course it
is practical to build public roads on
| lines as far as possible in some cases
| believe, from conservative stand
point, it is better to lay out temper
airy roads where construction is
easier and less expensive.
"There is another subject / want
to urge the members of the Northern
Minnesota Development association
to take an active interest in, and
that is the passage of the constitu-
tional amendment creating a revol-
wing fund of $250,00O to improve
state school lands. I am very anxious
to see this measure become a law,
and l shall keep up the fight for it's
passage until the polls are closed.
II want to say that the Minnesota
board of immigration is with you,
and is willing to stand by you in
this battle for Development
Convict Labor On Roads
The afternoon session was opened
by an address by c. F. Scheers edi-
tor of the Akeley Herald Tribune, on
the subject of utilization of Convict
Labor on Public Highways" After
paying a tribute to the board of con-
troll and the department. of labor and
industries and pronouncing the Min
nesota state prison the best and
most modern prison in the United
States Mr.. Scheers said:
"Warden Wolfer favors use of con-
Wet lobar on the public highways of
the state under the immediate sup
ervision of the board of control and
warden, with the state highway COM
missioner acting in an advisory ca
pac1ty in matters appertaining to
read construction. He would have
the same methods apply as to main
tenance and individual remunera-
ton as now in effect. Warden VOL
fer would made his road building de-
tall from those having the best re-
cords, and he would have the con-
victs under general supervision of a
we'll trained and thoroughly Compel
ent prison official at all times. Such
an Official, having made a study of
convict life in general and of the his
tory of each convict under his SUPER
vision would be more fair and bes-
tow merit where it rightfully be-
longed. The plan of working pris-
oners under supervision of township
or county officers, inexperienced in
handling of conviets, would not
prove satisfactory or obtain the best
results. Under the present laws of
Minnesota, convict labor can not be
utilized on highways outside of the
prison. Aside from this one point
as construed by the attorney general,