The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-04-27
HALF OF. FIRES OF
UNKNOWN ORIGIN
MYSTERIOUS BLAZES CAUSE
HEAVY LOSSES MARsHAL's
REPORT SHOWS.
EVENTS At STATE CAPITOL
Interesting and Important Happen'n0s
Of the Past Few Days Selected
and Arranged for tho conven. ..
ieace o. Busy Readers.
st. Paul.

Practically half Of the fires of Min,
nesota are from unknown origin, &C.
cording 20 the annual report of Robert
w. Hargadine, state fire marshal. the
fire loss in the state in 1915 was 49,
722,925, end the loss from $40 fires OF
unknown origin was $2,319,6O2. Smok.
ers carelessness caused Ill blazes
last year. The property burned be-:
cause OF the combination Of rat-and-
match caused loss of $23,935. Defec'
tive fiues were responsible for loss
of $164 $50, and children and matches
combined, caused eighty-two fires and
a property loss Of $4,000.
MIR. Hargadine in his report recon-
mends that the law be amended to give
the state fire marshal more authority
to regulate motion picture shows, to
prohibit the use OF buildings In which
occupancy is hazardous and to pro-
vide a state building code and to ex-
tend the term of the fire marshal to
six years.
Frauds Affect School Funds.
Prosecutions will be brought against
anybody contributing to the looting OF
state timber lands, State Auditor J. A.
o. Preus said in statement issued ups
on his return from Washington, d. G.
He was suffering from an attack of ap'
pendicitis and gave out the statement
from the bedside at his home. THE
state has $12OO0,OOO or $15,000,000
worth Of timber still standing on state
lands, the proceeds Of which are in.
tended for the school fund.- said Mr..
Preus." Anyone, be he an employee
of the state, logging contractor of
lumberman, who for selfish purposes
and greed is willing to dip his hand in.
to this fund, shall be dealt with &C.
cording to his deserts. 1t shall be to
the interest of the state that not one
stick of timber shall be pilfered."
Oscar Arneson, who recently investi-
gated alleged timber Irregularities, con
ferred with Attorney General Lyndon
A. Smith on legal aspects of the stu
alton. His report has been submitted
to the timber board.
X X 4
/ Risk Firms Report GaIns-
Statistics compiled by s. D. Works.
state insurance commissioner, show
that the year 1915 was an excellent
one for the Township Fire Insurance
companies OF Minnesota. He has just
completed a report OF the figures for
the year ending December 81. The as
sets of these companies at the end of
the year were $490,149.06, gain of
$89, 262.O2 for the year.
The insurance In force December 81
was $399, S9O,2O9.95, whereas the
amount in force one year previous was
1912 ,633, 197.O3, showing q gain for the
year Of $26,757,O12.87.
The number of policies in force De-
Cember 81, 1915, was 172,467. as
against 165,4S5 at the end Of Deem
ber, 1914, gain of 6,9S2 for the year.
Favors Road Bond Plan.
THE issue Of highway bonds is com.
ing to be looked upon as the best meth
Cd of raising funds for road construc-
tion," declared George w. Cooley, Sec
rotary and state engineer Of the MIN
ing of Winona countys issue of
$500, 900 in road bonds and the proposal
of County Commissioner Cook Of Hen
nepin county to raise $4,000, 900 for bet
ter highways in the same way.
Experience has proved that
steady supply of money, which is nee
essary to good road work, cannot be
1h< h1, 20 lnvioc - 90 id
Mr.. Cooley. Bond issues form the
method adopted by nearly half Of the
counties In the United States
4 r 4
Advises Use Of Bulk Seed.
Package lawn-grass seed is generally
worthless, the state seed laboratory at
university farm has found. Much at
tention has been given this spring to
testing samples of grass seed and the
results Of the tests this year added to
those previously made have formed
the basis for the almost wholesale con-
demnation of package grass seeds. On
the other hand, the seeds carried In
bulk lots by most Minnesota dealers
have been found generally good.
To improve State Hospital.
The State Board of Control, follow.
ing a visit to the state hospital for the
insane at Fergus Falls, said 1t will
ask the 1917 Legislature for appropria-
tions of $4,000 for improvements at
the institution. The board plans to
erect building for tubercular men.
+ 4 +
Smith Seeks Reelection.
Attorney General Lyndon A. Smith
has filed as a candidate for reelection
on the Republican ticket. He is the
first candidate to file. 1t Is probable
that no opposition will develop In his
own party Mr. Smith said he had de-
layed filing because he was not sure
that he desired reelection. He said
friends advised that In their belief tho
people Of the state desired him to re-
main in the position. Rumor had con-
nected his name as a possible oppo-
T,,.k;oo A1hnrt Ceh l1or tho