The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-02-23
DEFICIT IS SMALL;
LESS THAN $4,000
STATE AUDITOR MAKES GOOD
SHOWING IN ESTIMATES FOR
COVERING BIENNIAL PERIOD.
ADVOCATES STATE TRAPPERS
Federal Authority Would Rid State oil
Predatory Animals by Employment
of SaIared Men to Destroy Them
State Growing Fast.

Allowing $255,000 year for new
buildings at the university at Missouls
and at the agricultural college and
providing for additional buildings al
the normal college and the orphans
| home, there will be a deficit of less
than $4,000 to be met by the state at
the end of the next two years.
State Auditor Heating has made a
statement to Governor Stewart, in
which is shown the estimated receipts
and expenditures of the state for 1917
and 1918. The receipts are estimated
at $4,640,000 and the expenditures at
$4,679,696. Expenses for the executive
department for the next year are es.
timated at s4S0,500, for 1918 at $780,.
600; for the judiciary next year, $780,.
900, in 1918, $1S9,150; state institutions
in 1918, $1,4S5,00O. In addition $751;.
600 year is allowed for miscellan.
eous expenses of various kinds, and the
cost of the legislature is estimated at
100000.
Would Employ Trappers.
In the opinion of E. w. Nelson,
chief Of the biological survey of the
federal department of agriculture, the
bounty system as followed in Montana
Is not nearly so effestive in destroying
stock-killing animals as the trapper
system. where the trapper is employ
ed by the month. Describing the gov
ont fa11iney Of 70
achieved, Mr.. Nelson says:
I'VE place an inspector in charge
of certain territory, including either
one or two states as the case may be,
and who is an experienced man famil-
lar with trapping predatory animals,
and also familiar with the territory
in which he works. He is authorized
to employ trappers at salary of SIS
per month, the trapper to pay his own
expenses. He is, furthermore, author
lied to increase the pay of skilled trap
pers when they have demonstrated
their ability, by allowing $40 per
month additional for the use of the
trapper's camp outfit, and SIS per
month for each of two horses, making
a total of Sis per month, which is
the limit Of a trappers salary and
out Of which he must pay for the up
keep of himself, including the susti-
hence of himself and his horse. Some
Of the trappers have traps of their i
own which they use, but this is not |
made a requirement as the govern
nent supplies traps, any ammunition
needed and poison for bats.
X X X
State is Growing Rapidly.
Figured from the basis of the al.
hentic schools census from each
county of the state Montana in Sep
ember had population of 648,346, &C.
ording to the annual report of H. A.
)avee, superintendent of public in
truction. This is figured from the ba-
is of 147,374 persons of school age,
which basis is taken from proportions
the Federal census figures
With the state school census.
There has been an increase of II, 500
chool children in Montana in one
ear, equivalent to 5000 increase in
opulaton.
The Importance of the agricultural
ounties Of the state is shown by tbs
opulation of the farming counties,
rhich will be a revelation to many
Tho have not followed the progress
the state.
Complains of Car Shortage.
w. M. Woodbridge of Hinsdale com.
lained to the Montana railroad COM
lission that it is impossible to OBJ
hin cars in which to ship hay to 7
reat Falls, Helena, Butte and Spo-
ane. He writes the principal hay
larkets are in the west, but that the
abroad company states that automo-
lie cars are the only ones that will
2 handled to such points.
X X X
ore Room Is Needed.
There are LOO patients in the State
)spital for the insane at Warm
brings, according to Superintendent J. {
-. Scanlon, and he says something t
ould be done by the present legisla-
re to provide more quarters. He Z
US it is necessary to crowd the pa t
snts more than is best for them, and /
at the institution has reached its {
II capacity. (
X X X :
9TH Houses Organize.
Judge James P. O'Connor, Democrat,
Livingston was elected speaker Of
e Montana house, defeating Ronald Il
fggins of Missoula.
X X X Y
uatter's Rights Upheld. ID
"Squatters' upon the public domain
Montana who show that they are 0
ally sincere in their efforts to build 0
home for themselves upon the I'M
rveyed government land, will not 6
,e their rights as against those per-
MS who waits until the land has
en- surveyed and then seek to make
entry, according to de- /,
lion by Register Joseph Oker and
cei,er Frank Steele OF the Helena .
i'd office, on land contest case
ought before them from Powell
unity. q