The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-02-01

| W dICeIiu LIlc oCetCc PAOoS 1hoSCii5' AAS
reported the thermometer registering
AZ below at Ray that morning.
State Auditor Kositzky asserts that
large privately owned street car lines
in North Dakota have not paid taxes
for four years and will demand the
taxes amounting to about $4,000.
John Torno of Kramer lost two
horses that were killed by a 500
freight train. His son had hauled
some of the children to school in a
covered rig and did not see the ap-
preaching train.
| The Plaza Pioneer wants to bet
| President Anderson of the Equity that
that organization is $4,000 in the
hole. George had better hang onto his
money, for there's still some long cold
days ahead of US.
F. E. Cook of Logan is making prep
arations to build fine new modern
farm home in the spring, equipped
with furnace and full basement. Mr..
Cook is one of the county's most pro-
gressive and prosperous dairymen.
The Plaza Pioneer, which led the
| fight for the farmers two years ago
from IL to 10 per cent, is now fighting
the bill to reduce the rate from 10 to
per cent. Geo. j. Smith is publisher
Of the Pioneer.
Three men were found in hard shape
near Powers Lake. They had been
walking across country and their
hands, feet and faces were badly froz-
en- and they were forced to seek shell
ter in a straw stack over night. One
of them is in serious condition, pneu
monia having developed.
Those Parshall hustlers are always
looking to the future. Soon after the
town was located on the reservation
plans were made for $4,000 school
building with a high basement. Funds,
some $4,000 only, were available, SO
the basement was completed and in
this school is being held.
War stricken England is actually
shipping potatoes to America, tempted
by the very high prices offered. We
appear to be very wasteful nation.
There's enough land right here in
North Dakota that has never been cul-
tivated which would raise enough po-
tatoes for the entire United States.
A young fellow has been going to
see girl for about year or so. It
seems that the girl has been getting
a little anxious for him to say some
thing definite. When the fellow made
his usual call the other evening and
while he was waiting for the girl to
finish her final primping and come into
the sitting room, he saw the young
lady's little brother and called him into
conference. "Now, sonny, When your
sister comes in and sits beside me on
the sofa, want you to run in and
turn the lamp way down low and if
you'll do that I'll give you nickel.
Will you?" saw, yer too late," said
sonny scornfully, isis gave me dime
to run in and blow,it out"
While digging well on his farm
about eight miles north of Schafer
few weeks ago, C. w. Stillwell struck
gas within five feet of the surface, ac
cording to reports of neighbors. These
neighbors declare that Mr.. Stillwell's
discovery is the real thing and are
talking of organizing a stock company
and sinking we'll in the vicinity. They
also report that Mr.. Stillwell has rails
ed the price on his farm just $4,000.
Mr.. Stillwell's farm is near the famous
Hell's Half Acre where some years
ago reported discovery of some val
liable metal deposits caused consider
able excitement The whole tract was
staked off into mining claims and
samples of the sticky gumbo were sent
to assay offices all over the country.
Reports from assayers, however, soon
quieted the excitement.
The State Tax Commission has sub
mitted bill to the present legislature
providing for surtax on unoccupied
land. This measure provides that un-
less the owner Of the land either pas
lures it with his own cattle, or lives
upon it, or maintains tenant upon it,
and cultivates one-third Of it, he will
be subject to surtax of one per cent
upon the assessed valuation. This is
a meritorious measure in that the
speculator who does not assist by eth
er living upon his land or maintaining
tenant upon it, in building up the
community and the creating of COM
munity life which gives value to the
land, ought to be subject to higher
tax than the pioneer who builds up the
community.
liz, n,r,nro. n:oo,%oL NQ,oo