Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-02-08
Commissioner Knight
Propose. ! Change

Pierre. s. D.-The plan being work
ed out by Land Commissioned knight,
and which was recommended by Gov
ternor Norbeck in his message, will
likely prove popular enough with the
Legislature to easily secure the enact
ment Of a resolution to send an,
amendment to the people for their
vote at the next election, extending
the terms of sale of state lands, from
the present constitutional requirement
The present requirement is for one
fourth of the purchase price at the
time of the purchase, with one-fourth
in five years; one-fourth in ten years,
and the balance at the end of fifteen
years. The new idea is to put such
sales upon a basis similar to that uT-
der a rural credits plan. This plan
requires a very small payment at the
date of purchase, and to extend the
rest of the payments through a long
series Of years, which would allow
the man with small capital to get a
start on a farm purchased from the
state if he desired to begin working
the soil. Just the amount Of annual
or bi-enniel payment, and the term of
years has not yet been definitely fixed,
but the time will extend twenty o.
more years and the payments be made
very moderate. 1t is believed that
such a system would make sales of
state lands more attractive to the
small investor, and assist in building
up portions of the state in which the
state now holds large tracts. On an
initial payment not to exceed ten per
cent Of the purchase price, many men
could secure homes, who would be
barred under the twenty-five per cent
requirement of the present time. Such
a plan would give a practical rural
credits plan in fact to the state, so far
as the purchase of state lands is con.
cerned, without the expense Of a land
bank, or any other operations than
those already provided through the
machinery of the state land depart
ment in sale of state lands.
Fire Hazard Bill.
. The senate has passed senate bill
65, which if it is accepted by the
house will be a cause of watchfulness
on the part Of the property owner in
regard to accumulations Of trash
which stands as a fire hazard
about his property. The bill makes
any person who neg1igently or care
lessly sets a fire, or causes the same
to be set, or through carelessness al.
lows any fire SO started to get beyond
control. he is liable to n injured
parties for all damage which they may
incur from his actions. and In add.
ton is. guilty of a misdemeanor, with
a penalty Of a fine of not to exceed
500, and not to exceed thirty days i'm.
prisonment in the county jail.
To Borrow a Hen.
That the state agricultural college
hup W 0SAA OuC " OOlIOW q Hell llOul
neighbora, if they desire to make
any experiments in the poultry line,
was developed in a hearing in regard
to the affairs of the college here this
morning. That not only did the col
lege fail to possess a hen. but that
they owned not a single hen, duck
goose, or any other class Of domestic
poultry. It has been suggested that
the college secure at least enough Of
a flock of hens that the students OIL
agriculture at that institution will not
forget what poultry looks like in the
time they spend learning agriculture
SO as to relieve them from the serious
end Of taking such focks in theil
home neighborhoods as wild game
and probably kill the domestic product
to their serious financial disadvan
tage.
Valuable Now.
aSee here" said the irascible nan