The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-10-28
HERE IS YOUR POOH
BAH FOR HARD TIMES
TOWN OFFICER OF Filler is
FRIEND OF ONERBURDENED
TAXPAYER.

FRIEND OF OVERWHELMED
TAXPAYER.
The newspapers Of Idaho are
sounding the praise far and wide of
one pubic officer who is a friend of
the taxpayer. This unique character
lives at Buhl, town of about two
thousand inhabitants fully organized
with modern public utilities and up
to-date methods of management of
its civic affairs. They call Filler a
village, however, and perhaps that is
why the village marshal, l.. d. Allen
by name, is able to do so much for his
salary, which is now $3.50 per month
and until recently was only 500. FL
Ter has paved streets and other mod
ern symptoms of approaching city
hood and a paid motor fire depart
ment coming up. In fact it is about
the size of some cities in Idaho. This
one man, Allen, is not only the entire
police force, chief and all, night and
day, but he is in full charge of the
various other village departments, in
cluding the municipal water works.
AS water commissioner it is his
duty to go to the village well south
OF town twice a day to turn on the
pumps for Filer's water supply; see
that the machinery is all in order,
oiled, and in case something goes
wrong, go to the we'll to direct the
repair work. When leakages occur
in the water mains about town, to
either repair them or see that they
are repaired. To read It's meters in
every part of town every month, make
out bills, send them to patrons and
stay in the village offices the first
few days of the month and collect the
accounts, turn over the money to the
village treasurer, meanwhile, keeping
a complete record of every transac-
tlOn, card index system, and q set
of books.
AS water commissioner he also has
charge of all the irrigation water in
the incorporation, and it is his duty
to see that each of the $50 or more
homes wanting water for cisterns or
gardens and lawns has water. In the
summer this in mans sized Job in
itself. He is secretly "cussed by
some, of course, who imagine they
have not received enough personal at
tention, but he manages to keep peace
and to keep all water users satisfied.
When a new pipe line is laid, or
important work undertaken, as for in
stance, the laying of new water pipe
on the state highway and on Main
street this summer, Allen is the engi-
neer in charge. He estimates the
pipe needed, the amount of labor nee
essary and by some Herculean meth
od gets the work done, accurately,
quickly, and with the maximum of
efficiency.
Of course, he is responsible for the
sprinkling of the streets in the sum
mer time. True, he has help to as
sist him, but "Dave" is the man held
responsible. He does the directing.
It's he that says what, when, how
and where
Likewise with street grading, cul-
vert and crossing repairs, weed cut
ting, and tree pruning.
As village marshal, he is responsi-
! Die for theienlOrcement of the village
! ordinances, Of which there are now Sc,
many of them having to do with law
enforcement. He must see that trash
i is properly burned, buildings built
according to ordinances, and that traf-
/ iic ordinances are observed. He is
/ day policeman and night watchman.
j During such periods as fair times his
heavy, requiring the assistance Of
heavy, requiring the assistance of
several deputies.
i He is also ex-officio juvenile oTic-
er, health officer, and pound master.
] In connection with his position as
marshal he is often called upon TO
serve legal papers in and out of the
city, and sometimes assists in making
arrests in the country, as well as in
the town.
f As Filler has no paid fire depart
ment, Allen is virtually fire cheif,
He is in charge of the fire fighting
apparatus, and is directly responsible
for the suppression of fires in anv
part Of town. When the city gets in
its new fire engine, Allen will per-
haps be the man to learn how to ma
nipulate it.
These are some of Aliens official
duties. He has many others. To be-
gin with he was noble grand OF the
!. 0. Q. +. lodge the last term. For a
long time was its secretary. and had
charge Of the |. O. o. T. hall and the
renting Of it.
As secretary of the I. o. 0. F. Gem
etery board he is in charge Of the lo-
cal cemetaery. When death occurs
in the community, the next man asked
after the undertaken. is Dave Alien.
He sells the lots, collects for them
makes annual assessments, and re-
uprt the year busincs to the o.
citation.
When There arc clean -up campaign
Allen heads the committee in max
inR arrangements 10 care for tho big
ihronE that annually attends The
county fair. Alien i+ always dra Ted
an ao@e easr committee. Ike put NJ
rs eDS all over the district pri1s ng
tifH way 80 Filler, er providing good
e jrls the town, or some o5neI
Ee tsiag
or course. Mr. Allen has thr re-
.Hensibihties Of home TheIa u
Hrs. Allen and six daughters. Irs
ALIENS rH.r+ rn- and Ta- brr and isa- ~