Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-10-31
HELPING OURSELVES

INV A-''
In an article in last weeks Ameri- |
con r. j. Shute of Wilma township, |
seemed to be of the opinion that the
editor of the American was throwing |
cold water on movements by the farm
ers and that we are not interested in |
their welfare. AT the commissioners
meeting in Pine City Tuesday Geo. w.
Empey of Hinckley, who was seeking |
the job as delinquent tax collector of
the county, and because we opposed
the adding of more jobs and more eX
pense, made a similar statement or
something to the effect that we should
be more concerned about the settlers
in eastern Pine county. He was
promptly told that he could make such
assertions but to go ahead and prove
them.
We don't believe in patting on the
back and agreeing with everybody we
meet, and sometimes a little going
against the grain is the best in the
long run. The truth may be little
hard at times but it is the best and
will wear longer.
We repeat that the tax problem is
largely local matter and agree with
Mr.. Shute that lit is getting to be a
public one" In fact we will go one
better and say that as long as we can
remember it has always been a pub
lie one.
AS to new townships and school dis
tricts paying part of the debts of the
older townships and school districts
when they set off we have this in
formation from an official source:
When Danforth township set off
shouldered bonded Indebtedness of
$4,000 and floating Indebtedness to the
extent of 5000 Ten miles of road had
been built in Danforth township up
to that time.
When Wilma township set off from
Danforth township in 1907 it did not
shoulder any bonded Indebtedness nor
any floating Indebtedness and had
three miles of road.
(This hardly appears correct when
w llHld was SCI Oll Ouly louI year
after DanfOrth was set Off 1t would
seem that they would have some of
the bonded Indebtedness to meet.)
If this is not correct we will of
course be glad to have it corrected.
1t is true that when a new township
or school district sets off from an
older township or school district it
generally assumes part of the in
debtedness. But there are usually
some benefits also. Likely the newer
school districts in Wilma township
have paid and are yet paying some
bond issue in school district No. 5.
Where would the newer school dis
tricts be getting their teachers from
if there had not been established high
schools and colleges in older districts
for some time past? The folks in the
newer districts also have the oppOr-
tunity to send their sons and daugh-
tiers to high schools and colleges out
side their district and it is frequent
ly done.
Thirty or forty years ago before
there were any settlers in the eastern
part of Pine county when the north
ern and western portions were just
commencing to be settled the folks
who came in here undoubtedly had
to shoulder a part of the burden from
the southern section, but they had the
advantage of start being made.
There was court house, a few roads,
some civilization and protection. We
haven't looked up the records but
understand that for some years after
the Danes colonized here % years ago
Partridge township was still paying
on some old Hinckley township bonds.
1t was not big matter, has been
wiped out, and has likely long since
been forgotten by most of the settlers
here We certainly do not advocate
bonded indebtedness and generally are
fighting against it. We have none of
it in AskOv village, it is on a cash
basis, but there are exceptions to all
rules, and it is well that there is
such thing as being able to float a
bond issue for a permanent improve
ment that will benefit future genera
tions Therefore many babes are born
into this world with a debt. But they
have the advantage of being born into
civilization and not in a~wilderness,
and that advantage generally more