Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, January 6, 1909, Page 1

Sy VOLUME 6. NUMBER 229/ aswnical Society, ey, Sesidit—Townerte & Tm. 4 eI ML THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEER. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6, 1909. L. G. PENDERG AST WRITES OF UPBUILDING STATE Former Bemidji Resident Writes Excellent Letter on State Development to Secretary of State Highway Commission and the St. Paul, neer.)—L. G. Pendergast of Bemidji, Jan.—(Special to Pio- custodian of the old state capitol, St. Paul, Minnesota, has written the following communication to George W. Cooley, secretary of the state highway commission, who requested Mr. Pendergast to furnish the com- munication as given: "According to request I submit the following proposition for the consideration of your Commission and the people of Minnesota. I have always thought that town, county or state never was the loser by the use of any amount of money honestly expended on roads. heartily in accord with you in your endeavors to improve the roads of this state, and not only the making of good roads but for all internal improvements which will benefit the state at large and be reasonably sure to pay an interest on the invest- ments of at least tour per cent, the‘ amount we pay on our bonded in-| debtedness. “When we consider that the United States in the short space of one hundred vyears has built up a country that is the wonder of the world, and today has an assessed | valuation almost as much as the three greatest nations of the earth, we ask how was it all done? The answer is, simply by going in debt and using the money to a good advantage. If no improvements| had been made until we had money enough on hand to pay for the whole, this country would have only a fraction of the wealth that it has today. This was done mainly by the optimists, those who had faith in the future, and energy enough| to support that faith. “When DeWitt Clinton advocated the building of the New York & Erie canal he was called a visionary, and the conservative said that if Clinton had his way he would put I am People of Minnesota. in debt, and ruin would follow. The |canal was built and has been en- }]arged and improved several times |since and now the State of New | York has appropriated $100,000,000 |for further improvements on that same canal, yet the State of New | York is not a bankrupt, but on the contrary its wealth and population far exceeds any other state of the Unaion. “If we accomplish much in the | way of internal improvements we must unite together all over the state, | and each one work for the interest of all parts of this great common- wealth and be willing to grant exact justice to all. “If the legislature should pass a law allowing the state to bond for the amount, say $1,000,000 per year, bonds to draw interest at the rate of 4 per cent and so run for a period! of twenty-five years each, and at the | same time allow the several counties to levy a tax for internal improve- ments, the state to help each county to the same amount as the several| counties help themselves, it would be | a great public benefit. i “The assessed valuation of Min- nesota in 1880 was $258,055,543; and in 1907 (27 years aftewards) the assessed vaulation was $1,048, 200,458, and this big increase will be greatly augmented in the future, “The state could well afford to do this as it receives yearly four per of - the gross income from over 8,000 miles of railroad which the| counties do not receive any part of. Also the United States government | has given the state about 4,000,000 acres of land intended for internal| improvements. “In connection with this, a board of public works should be created to take charge of the building of all roads that receive help under this act. It would be possible for us to build one thousand miles of roads the State of New York hopelessly each year at a costof $1,000 per GheFord Automobile 1909 Model “T” For sale by John Moberg, semma Lumber and Building Material We carry in stock at all times a com- plete line of lumber of all descriptions. Call in and look o and building material ver our special line of fancy glass doors. We have a large and well assorted stock from which you can make your selection. WE SELL 16-1 BEMID. NCH SLAB W00D St. Hilaire Retail Lbr. Co. J1, MINN. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH mile and have half the mouey left for other improvements. “The common schools in the rural districts should be improved so that the scholars could have a chance for high school education. Normal schools should be located wherever needed throughout the state. Wisconsin has a population about the same as Minnesota with . less resources, yet Wis- consin supports eight normal schools, while’ Minnesota has only five. Clearly Wisconsin has too many or Minnesota has too few. “Let me call your attention to the | drainage proposition. In the whole state we have ten million acres of swamp lands, or onefifth of the whole. This land, in its present condition, is pratically worthless. With a good system of drainage that Mr. Ralph estimates can be done at an average cost of $1.50 per acre, and when so drained will become the most valuable in the state. In many places roads and drainage can be worked together to good advan- tage. Last year the state made a ditch through the Little Fork swamp ten miles long, eighteen féet wide, and six feet deep. The dirt from the ditch was placed on one side which made a passable road the whole distance, the center of the roadbed being ten feet from the bot- tom of the ditch. I am informed that in no place in that ten miles of ditch that the cut reaches through the top soil. “What would be the cost to the state in taxes for all this? The | principal and intersst on this would amount to an average payment of $1,000,000 per year for the next fifty years, which would really amount to forty-five cents per capita a year geadually - decreasing to the amount of fifteen to twenty-five cents per capita at the time it was all paid. Itis not incredible how anyone would object to that amount of tax, when’ it accomplishes so much. Every mile of the kind of road proposed would immediately increase the value of every acre on each section that it passed through to the amount of $5.00, besides the the saving of time, team and wagon. “How many people in the older part of the state have an idea that this taxation would be unjust to them, thinking that they pay nearly all the taxes collected. In the minds of some, .the northern half is a sandy desert and valueless when the timber is removed. Unfortun- ately this idea exists in the minds of many. Let usexamine and see. (Continued on Last Page] THE PIONEER'S SOUVENIR IS ALMOST GOMPLETE Business Men Should Inform Us If They Desire Space in this Inter- esting Publication. "The Pioneer desires to notify the business men of Bemidji that it will be scarcely possible for its solicitors ! to call upon all of them in person to secure notices they may wish to run in the souvenir number it now has in the course of preparation. Already seventy of our leading men have made arrangements for space therein, and all those desiring representation or the reproduction of photographs, either of themselves, their residence or business houses, will either call or phone the office at once, as Friday next will be the Jast day for submitting photographs. Union Week of Prayer. We desire to meet alarge congre- gation at the union service at the Presbyterian church this evening at 8. The subject for the evening is, “God’s Faithfulness and Man’s Re- sponsibility.” There will be praise service at the beginning. Jebe Entertainers. : The Jebe entertainers will appear at the City Opera House Thursday afternoon January 7, at 8:30. The Jebe’s are now touring the North- west and their appearance here will meet with favor. Admission 50 cents. TWO BASKETBALL GAMES _WITH ST. GLOUD NORMAL “Big Bemidg” and St. Cloud Normal Fives Will Play Here Thursday and Friday Evenings. One of the most important con- tests of the season, in the light of the basketball championship of Northern Minnesota, will be played at the Coliseum Thursday and Fri- day evenings of this week when the St. Cloud Normal five will be pitted against the ‘“Big Bemidg’ aggregation. Acting Manager Joe Markham has completed all arrangements for the big events and stated this morning that “Big Bemidg” is in good condition and will use every effort to down the visitors. The St. Cloud Normal basketball team has played four games so far this season and won them all. Last year this team disputed “Big Be- midg’s” title to the championship of northern Minnesota and it is accordingly with great interest that the outcome of these two games is being awaited by the local “fans.” “Big Bemidg” will be greatly strengthened by the addition to the line-up of Ed Renner, who has ac- cepted a position with the North- ern Grocery company and is now definitely located here. Renner played guard last year on the Sid- ney (Ohio) basketball team which Jebe’s Endorsed. *Mr. Jebe possesses a full tone of the purest quality, is a master technician, and is very dramatic. Mrs. Jebe is intensely dramatic and she has a power to sway her audi- ence in a wonderful manner.”— Times-Record, Valley City, N. D. At City Opera House Thursday, Jan. 7. Horses for Sale. I will have for sale in the City of Bemidji one car load of heavy draft horses, weight thirteen to seventeen hundred pounds. Horses will be herein a day or two. John Wabhlberg. “‘DEATH WAS RESULT OF BULLET WOUND IN NECK” Such Was the Verdict of Cononer’s Inquest in the Fowlds Murder Case. A coroner’s inquest was held yes- terday afternoon at the court house in this city to investigate the cause) of the death of Morris Fuller, who was killer Sunday morning near Fowlds, the verdict of the jury being that Fuller met his death as a result of a bullet wound ir the neck inflict- ed by parties unknown to them. The examination was conducted by County Attorney McKusick and Coroner Marcum. The jury being composed of Earl Geil, S. C. Bailey, was the championship five of the State of Ohio. Peterson, the crack guard, is again will be in the line-up for tomorrow evening. Garnet always ‘‘makes good” as will doubtless continue to be evinced by his playing tomorrow. The locals may also secure the services of Carey, the captain and “crack” center of the Floodwood team which playsd here a few weeks ago. The line-up of “Big Bemidg” for tomorrow evening will be as follows: Markham and Geif, forwards; Brown, center; Peterson and either Renner or Carey, guards. 4 Ora Zamona, Violinst. The music lovers of Bemidji may have the pleasure of a rare treat in the way of violin music, within the next week, if arrangements now pending are successfully concluded. Mr. Ora Zamona, the. violinist is from New York, and has just com- pleted a tour of the west, playing all through Iowa, Nebraska, Wis- consin, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. His reportoire embraces composition by Schubert, Schumann, Oodard, Dvorak, Drdla, Beethoven, in condition to be in the game and |witnesses Fred Major, G. E. Carson, A. H. Clavin and K. K. Roe. Archie Brown, W. E. Hyatt and Dr. E. A. Shannon were the only placed on the stand. Brown testified that he had been present at the shooting of Fuller but that he was unable to describe the man who had committed the crime beyond tee fact that the murderer was short and heavy. Brown was unable to identify Barney Nelson, the man who is being held for the crime, as the one who had done the shooting. W. Hyatt, a saloon keeper at Fowlds, testified that Nelson had been drinking late Saturday night and had displayed a revolver, which he was carrying, several times. When Dr. Shannon was called to the stand he testified that he had been present at the post mortem ex- amination of the body of Morris Fuller and that the latter had met death as a result of a bullet wound in the neck. Barney Nelson, charged with murder in tke first degree, will be given a hearing next ~ Saturday morning before Justice H. A. Simons. G. M. Fuller of Wadena, father of the unfortunate man who was murdered, departed for home this Mendelssohn, Pierne, Ole Bull, Leon- ard, Brahms and others. Zamona gained a wide reputation through the middle-west and western states, as is evinced by the following clippings from the press of cities in which he has appeared before the public: % Of his playing the Mason City, Iowa, Herald says: “Zamona is truly a wizard of the violin.” Butte (Mont.) Daily Miner, “The thrill- ing, vibrating notes from Zamona’s violin held the audience spellbound.” Vancouver (B. C.) Daily Colonist: “The Grieg sonata was splendidly played by Zamona, but it was in the weird music of Griegs’ Peer Gynt, that the violinist fairly outdid him- self.” Fitchburg (Mass.) Daily News: “Zamona has breadth, power, tem- perament.” Garden (Mass.) Daily Press: '‘Oneof the finest recitals ever given in this city.” Seattle (Wash.) Daily Post Intelligence: *Zamona more than met all expecta- tions.” Spokane (Wash.) Spokes- men Review: ‘“Zamona has com- mand of his instrument at all times.” Aurora (Neb.) Republican: “Za- mona is, by ‘all adds, the finest violinist who ever appeared on an Aurora platform.” Little Falls Daily Transcript: “Zamona has temperament and car- ries his audience with him. His clear vibrating high notes held the audience as if spellbound. Mr. Zamona is assisted by a morning in charge of the body of the deceased, which will be laid to BEMIDJI PIONEER MADE COUNTY’S OFFICIAL PAPER Commissioners Award County Printing for 1909 to the - Pioneer.—Board Plans Economical Administration.— Appointed Assessors of Unorganized Territory. The board of county commission- ers re-convened yesterday afiernoon and occupied several hours in con- sidering bids for the county printing for the ensuing year, finally awarding same to the Bemidj: Pioneer after the latter had agreed to publish all legal matter in both the weekly and daily editions and also to mail copies of ‘the paper to all-personal taxpayers not subscribers to either the Daily or the Weekly Pioneer. For the publication.of its legal matter, the county -will pay at the rate of five cents per description for the delinquent tax list, and twenty- five cents per folio for the first insertion and twelve cents per folio for each and every subsequent inser- tion of all other legal matter. A petition was presented to the board, signed by eighty-four tax payers living in the vicinity of Tenstrike, asking the commission- ers to conduct the affairs of the county, regarding the salaries and other expenses, in as economical a manner as possible. This petition met with the hearty endorsement of the members of the board and a resolusion was unanimously passed adopting the policy desired by the signers. Asanother safe guard for economy the commissioners intend that all bills, before being allowed by the board, shall be approved by the county attorney as to their legality and validity. Chester McKusick was requested to report to the board the status of the action brought by this county against Clearwater county as to the share of Beltrami County’s debt which Clearwater county should stand, basing their claim on the divi- sion made six years ago. A. Larson and John Thoreen, respectively treasurer and clerk of School district Number 123,appeared before the board and asked that the money in their treasury be divided between School Districts 123 and 26, both of which were recently created. The commissioners authorized the county auditor to divide the money according to the assessed valuation of the two districts. Two hundred and fifty dollars were taken from the general fund and set aside for an incidental fund. The board then appointed the following men to assess territory in the unorganized townships: First district, Nels Otterstad; second district, John Reibe; third district, Chris Espe; fourth district, Ole Miller; fifth district, C. G. Sten- mon; sixth district, B. A. Arneson. The board also appointod the following persons to louvk after the burial of deceased soldiers:, First district, J. M. Phillipi; sec- ond district; Iver Myhre; fourth dis- trict, Mr. McKnight; fifth district, Benjamin Carter. RED LAKE FALLS WANTS T0 “THROWUS A SEARE” Light Leaks Through a Hatched-up Scheme On the Location of Pro- posed Normal School. A special telegram from Red Lake Falls to the Duluth News Tribune tells the following interesting tale of the Red Lake Falls’ people’s ambi- tions for the proposed normal: “Red Lake Falls, Minn., Jan, 2.— Information coming from reliable sources has leaked out that Red Lake Falls business, men and other parties interested have about com- pleted plans whereby they expect to be able to have a bill passed at the coming session of the state legislature to locate a state normal school in this city. A beautiful site of 10 acres, overlooking the rest in the cemetery at Wadena. Clearwater and Red Lake rivers, at the mouth of the -Clearwater, has been selected and-will be donated. Those who are quite on the inside of the deal feel quite jubilant over the chances, as several very promi- nent members of the legislature have agreed to father and push the measure to its passage. The citizens of northern Minnesota ex- pect a normal school from the coming legislature to be built some- where north of the Northern Pacific and the citizens of Red Lake Falls have had a long lead in the landing of the coveted prize.” It is more than likely that the above is a “canard,” as it is known that there has been an understand- ing between Red Lake Falls and Thief River Falls that so long as the latter abandons its attempt to deprive the former of the county seat of Red Lake county, Red Lake Falls will “boost” her sister city as the proper point for the location : of the proposed sixth normal school. Local News on Last Page. \ most talented young pianoist, Miss Verna Bohlke of St. Paul. The “Eagle Russet” i:‘ount&ln Pen The Best Dollar Fountain Pen on the Market The Pen is always ready for use and may be carried in \ any °position without danger of leakage Ask for Russet Fountain Pens at The Pioneer Office MINNESOTA KISTORICAL SOCIETY. .T,_