Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, January 28, 1911, Page 1

~ Vl‘ : - — MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. VOLUME 9. NUMBER 281. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, SATURDAY EVENNG JANUARY 28, 1911. TEN CENTS PER WEEK. HALF MILLION ASKED FOR RURAL SCHOOLS| Stone Measure Proposes Consolida- tion and Work Along Agricul- tural Lines in Rural Districts. POWERGIVEN STATE COMMISSION Would Designate Course of Study, What Books to Use and Name all Superintendents. (By P. A. Wilson) Bemidji - Pioneer Legislative St. Paul, Minn. January 27.—Dr.! W. T. Stone of Park Rapids has a bill in the House, providing for con- solodated graded rural schools of in-| dustral training and domestic scien- ces, which is built along extraordin- ary lines and is of such pertinent interest that the bill is herewith given in full: Section 1. Consolidation and or- ganization shall be as provided for by law excepting as set forth in this act. Section 2. Such consolidated dis- trict shall have a tax valuation of| no less than $100,000 and not less than 40 pupils. Section 3. The Board of such consolidated district shall consist of three members, cne of whom shall be the county superiutendent, who shall be ex-officio clerk of the board. other members shall be elected, one for two (2) years and one for four/ (4) years at the first election, but thereafter for a term of four (4) years and until his successor has qualified. Where more than ome district, both members shall not be elected from the same disorganized | district. Section 4. Within ten (10) days after notice of election, each member shall take the oath of office, which oath shall be filed in the office of the county auditor. He shall also within the same time file a bond in such sum as may be fix- ed by the Public Examiner which acres upon which is erected a suit- {able school building, a house for the | principal, a barn for those coming by team and to house vehicles and for transportation, the stock on the |farm, etc., with sheds for housing {tools and machinery necessary for | doing high-class work at an Agricul- tural Experiment Station. | The grounds shall be kept neat, clean and attractive; out buildings properly located and built. | Section 10. A four department |schools may be erected in districts |having an assesed valuation of not iles than $150,000, and eighty-five (85) resident pupils, if complying i with Sections 8 and 9, and employ- |ing amarried man with scientific training in agriculture, carpentry and blacksmithing; who recieves a |salary of not les than $2,000 per anaum and during the season con- iducts an Agricultural Experiment Station. This class of schools shall receive state aid to the extent of 50 per cent of cost of buildings and equip- ment, and $3,000 annually towards maintenance. | Section 11. A three department {school may be erected in districts having an assessed valuation of $100,000 and not less than 60 pupils and meeting other requirements of Section 10, excepting salary of prin- {cipal, which shall not be less than 1$1,800 per annum. | This class shall receive state aid ito the extent of 50 per cent of cost| {of buildings and equipment and $2700 annually towards maintenance Section 12. A two department school may be erected in districts | with not less than 40 resident pupils |and meeting the requirements of Sec- ition 11. | This class shall receive same per |cent of state aid in building and ‘eqmpment_ as Section 10 and $2200 annually towards maintenance. | Section 13. The state money ad-| | vanced for buildings and equipment | ‘shall be a legally bonded indebted-| | ness attaching to and becoming a charge against the territory com-; prised in such consolidated district. And it shall be the duty of the !county commissioners of the county |or counties in which such territory |is located to cause annually a tax to | be levied upon the real and personal property in such territory, a tax suf-| | ficient to meet the interest and pro-| vide a sinking fund for the payment |of such indebtedness, payments, first| |applied to floating indebtedness, if !any, then to the bonded indebtedness fsmd the residue, if any, shall belong to he consolidated district. Section 14. The course of study, books to be used, the appointing of city and county superintendents shall be in the hands of the State Execu- tive Board of Education, who shall have such supervision and control of all schools coming under this act as shall be conferred by the te Ef |cational Commission, wno shall, from bond shall be filed with the county| tyme, to thine, make such recommenda- auditor. The members of this board shall. receive such compensation as shall be designated by the State Educational Commission. ‘Within fifteen (15) days after ap- pointment, they shall meet and or- ganie. Section 5. Powers and duties of the consolidated school board herein provided for, and of its several offi- cers, and in addition, it shall be the duty of said board 1. To provide transportation for all puplls to and from school. 2. A suitable conveyance, of ample size, with comfortable seats, arranged to conform to the size of the pupils to be carried, with an adjust- able cover for comfort and protect- ion, drawn by a stout, gentle team, driven by a reliable adult person, of good moral character, who shall have control of the pupils and be respon- sible for their care, conduct and keep- ing during transportation. 3. This conveyance shall pass within a quarter (%) of a mile at least of the respective residence of all pupils, except when such residence| is situated more than a quarter of a mile from the public road. 4. Said conveyance shall be built for this purpose, owned by the dis- trict and, when not in use, kept on the school grounds, except when used, by permission of the full board. 5. The maximum number of pu- pils that may be carried in any cer- tain conveyance shall be fixed and this number must not be exceeded. 6. Parents are not to be paid for bringing their children to school, ex- cept under most exceptional condi- tions, and then only upon the written report of the principal, that sich transportation is equally efficient ‘with that of the regular carriers. 7. All routes and sites for build- ings are to be laid out by said board under the supervision and direction of the County and State Superintend- ents, in this case, of Public Schools. ‘When employing drivers for these routes, all conditions are to be specified in a written contract and clearly understood by both parties and payment made only on the writ- teen report of the principal that the service is prompt, regular and effi- cient. 9. The length of a route not to exceed a distance that can be safely and easily traveled in an hour in fairly good weather. Section 6. No expenditure in- volvbing an amount greater than $200.00 shall be made except in ac- cordance with the provisions of a written contract and no contract in- volving an expenditure of more than $500.00 in improvements or build- ings shall be let except upon sealed proposals and to the lowest respon- sible bidder and the work shall be done under the supervision of a competent member of the board. Section 7. The object and pur- pose of these schools shall be to fur- nish practical training in agriculture, industrial pursuits and domestic sciences, as well as in common school branches, and training that leads up to life rather than to the Univer- sity. Section 8. The requirements of these schools and qualifications of teachers shall be those of schools mak ing application for state aid under the rules of the State High School ‘Board, excepting that a seven months school may be held if so determined by a two-thirds vote of the school district. Section 9. There must be pro- wided a site of not les than ten (10) tions as they may deem necessary. Section 15. There is hereby ap- ‘| propriated out of any money in the State Treasury not otherwise appro- ‘pl‘inted. the sum of $500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the carrying out of the purposes of this act. This bill is at present in the hands | of the Committee on Education of the House, of which W. F. Kunze of Min- neapolis is chairman. Those who favor the bill or who believe it should be amended should address Mr. | Kunze without delay. WAS FINE ATTRACTION Large Audience Attended Produc- i tion of “Twelfth Night.” Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night” was presented last evening in the Armory opera house to one of the largest audiences that have at- The company was composed of a splendid tended a show in Bemidji. cast, every actor and actress doing remarkably well in playing the heavy Shakespearean roles. The acting of Mr. Yule as Sir Toby Belsh, was good at all times, and his acting while taking the part of kindhearted Toby and his love for drink, could hardly be improved upon. The management of the Armory can be congratulated upon securing such clean attractions, although of course, these attractions are secured at a heavy expense to the manage- | ment and necessarily must and ought to receive a liberal patronage in order to merit the continuation of these exceptionally fine shows. “Burgomaster” Tuesday Night. On Tuesday evening the “Burgo- master” will be the attraction at the Armory opera house. This show is a musical comedy and is receiving favorable press comment in all the cities where they have been appearing, and no doubt they will be greeted by a large audience when they play in Bemidji. They have a cast af 50 people. Don’t forget the Sunday night 6 o'clock dinner, Hotel Markham. Masten’s orchestra. LUMBER COMPANY WILL AID SETTLERS Nearly 100,000 Acres of Cut-over Lands Will be Offered in Strips to Suit the Purchaser. SMALL PAYMENT REQUIRED. Will Give Twenty Years Time With 5 per cent. Rate. No Yearly Payments Necessary. The settling of lands in northern Minnesota has been a problem, that jnot only the northern section of the| Istate has had to contend with, but!: {a problem which th entire state has been wrestling with for the past five years. Much advertising has been done the past year to induce settlers to take up farm lands in this section of the state, especially in Beltrami | county. | This county has also been among lthe foremost in advertising lands. these The state conducts land sales | several times during the year but the man of moderate means is handicap- ped because he is unable to pay for the land such as is required by the istate and also does not feel that he can pay for the necessary improve- ments including stock, machinery and other equipment in addition to making yearly payments on his prop- erty. Crookston Lumber Co. Rescue. Nearly 100,000 acres of the best fiit-over land n northern Minnesota is owned by this company. Most of the land lies north and west of Be- | midji. The soil is the best to be found anywhere. It is productive and easy to put into condition for cultivation. This land is now being placed on sale by the Crookston Lumber Co., in strips as desired by the purchaser. The land will be sold to settlers for the small payment of $1.50 per acre down and twenty years time in which to pay the balance. No yearly pay- ments are required. The company has withheld the sale of its land thinking that the entire tract might be turnd over at one time on one deal, but believing that more good for the north country can be derived Comes to the same conditions as the state sells its land it now makes this special offer to those who would settle this prosperous country. Five per cemt interest is all that is asked. At auction sales, land that is worth no more than most of the lands offered by the Crookston Lumber Company, has brought from $6 to $12 per acre. The company has listed its land at from $3 to $8 per acre and the small payment of $1.50 will swing the deal for a period of twenty years. This opportunity will enable the settlers who have not the ready cash to buy their land outright, to apply ‘what he can produce in buying farm equipment, stock and other neces- sities in the building up of a modern farm. He can make many improve- ments and his farm can earn the purchase price many times over be- fore the settler is required to pay for it. The privilege of making pay- .ments or paying for the entire tract pires is granted the purchaser. ties are being built up under adverse conditions as have existed in the past, this country would be thickly but the advantage that the Crookston Lumber Company are offering to home seekers cause an influx of population by the hundred, during the. coming year. This opportunity is one that has been long desired and for which the home seeker -has long been waiting. The settling of these lands will mean better roads, better drainage and bigger opportunities for the cities and towns in this north coun- {and the methods.-he has employed ‘ by selling this land at practically before the twenty year period ex-| |High School Boys Lose Basket Ball At the rate that farming communi- | settled within the next five yenrs,‘ i and settlers should try as well as for the settler who has been working hard during the past years in his endeavor to secure these needs. 2 IS GEO. RALPH A GRAFTER? Legislature Orders an Investigation of State Drainage Engineer. St. Paul, Jan. 28.—Under the leadership of Charles H. Warner, re- presentative from Aitkin, gross charges of graft against George Ralph, state drainage engineer, are to be investigated by a special com- mittee of the house. Mr. Ralph is widely known in Bel- trami county where many miles of ditches have been completed under his supervision. The insinuations now being made regarding his work in his office are so serious that if substantiated the present state en- gineer will assist in getting the new prison in order at Stillwater, though Mr. Ralph thas no desire to serve the state in that manner. Friends of Mr. Ralph indignantly | deny that he has been guilty of any wilfull wrong doing and asert that a complete investigation will be wel- come to them, and in this way are to be accomodated as the house not only! passed a resolution authorizing Speaker Dunn to appoint an investi- al- gating committee, but appropriated $500 to defray the expenses of such | an investigation. This committee will probably be made public Mon- day. 3 It is claimed that Mr. Ralph has made it a practice to turn in expense acounts of field men from three or | four different counties on the same day; that in some instances no worki at all was done. . | Other~charges afé that Mr. Raiph in one instance let the contract for the construction of a ditch and after- ward relet it at an increased cost. It is further alleged that he has ac- cepted ditches that are not more than one-third to one-half as large as the specifications and contracts called for. D. M: NEILL RE-ELECTED| Again Heads Commercial Club Feder- ation.—Bemidji Man Honored. St. Paul, Minn. Jan. 28.—(Daily Pioneer Special Service).—At a meeting of the Federation of Com-| mercial Clubs of Minnesota held in St. Paul, this week, A. G. Wedge, Jr., president of the Bemidji Commer- cial Club, was elected third vice president, succeeding W. L. Brooks, the Bemidji banker. W. H. Gem- mel, general manager of the Minne- sota & International, succeeds R. R. Wise of Brainerd on the executive committee and Thomas Brown of Crookston is succeeded by W. F.‘ Brown of Warren. D. M. Neill of Red Wing wes re- elected president. Mr. Gemmell was elected a member of the executive committee from the eighth Congres- sional district; F. W. Murphy of Wheaton, from the seventh; H. V. Eva of Duluth, eighth; W. F. Brown of Warren, ninth. BAGLEY DEFEATS BEMIDJI Contest By 56 to 14 Score. Prospects for winning the basket ball championship of northern Min- nesota went glimmering last evening when the Bemidji high school basket ball teani met defeat at Bagley by the overwhelming score of 56 to 14. The Bemidji boys were outplayed in every position and only twice dur- ing the entire contest did they show spurts of speed which the Bagley five could not stop. Bemidji plays Walker here next Friday evening. - O’NEIL FOREST FIRE - BILL PASSES HOUSE Senator Hahson Introduces Measure Amending Compulsory Education Law, Favoring Farmers. STEPHENS FIGHT ON IN EARNEST Show Committee the Name Saugstad Was Spelled In Sixty-Seven Dif- ferent Ways. (By F. A. Wilson) Bemidji Pioneer Legislative Burean St. Paul, January 27.—Represen- tative D. P. O'Neil’s bill, “An act to |amend Section 2,037, Revised Laws of 1905 as amended by Chapter 182 of the Session Laws of 1909, relating to the suppression of forest and prairie fires and for appropriating money for the suppression and pre- vention of fires,” has passed the House. The feature of the bill is that it places the blame for fires caused by faulty spark arresters directly upon the person who inspects the arrest-| ers. ‘When it came to a final there was not a desenting vote, voice, every representative present voting for the measure. Other bills passed by the House just before it adjourned at 12:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon were the Campbell and Washburn measure requiring all public service corpor- ations to pay their employes every 15 days and the Fuchs bill permitting the street car companies to grant free transportation to members ,of the fire and police departments. of{ " the cities. There was objéction on the part of some of the c&untry mem- bers to the last bill, the final vote being 78 to 33. Such members as R. C. Dunn of Princeton, W. A. Hard- ing of Winnebago and J. N. Johnson of Canby looked upon the measure with suspicion, believing it to be the entering wedge which will destroy the present anti pass law. | * X ¥ Senator A. L. Hanson, together with Senator S. B. Bedford of Rush- more, have introduced a bill in the Senate amending the present com- pulsory education law. Its prin- ciple object is to exempt children who recive religious training and| those children whose labor is needed on the farm between the dates of April 1 and November 1. | x X X Under the able direction of form- er Attorney General W. B. Douglas, Edward Sanborn and G. A. E. Fin- layson, the case of Andrew Stephens, who seeks to succeed John Saugstad as a member of the Senate, was pre- sented at an open meeting, of the Elections Committee Wednesday eve- ning, which lasted until one o’clock Thursday morning. Former Attor- ney General E. T. Yaung and A. A. Miller of Crookston were present for Mr. Saugstad. It was shown to the committee that the name Saugstad had been spelled by voters in 67 different ways. It was admitted that 2,997 votes were cast for Saug- stad, acording to returns made, while Stephens received 2,773, giving Saug- stad a majority of 224. It was con- tended, however, that there were all sorts of irregularities and that, had a fair and proper election been con- ducted, Mr. Stephens would have won by a safe lead. An executive meeting of the committee will be held |in the mear future when it is ex- pected definite action will be taken. A. G. Rutledge of Bemidji, who re- cently resigned as deputy sheriff, has been appointed bookkeeper to Chief Clerk Arneson of the house by Speaker Dunn. Several other house appointments have also just been made and this probably about completes the list of employes for the present session. *x ¥ X Beltrami county was enriched $3,- 500 by the action of the house yes- terday afternoon in passing the bill appropriating money to relmburse | department. the road an nd of vi counties. This measure was knock- ed galley west on Thursday, the house voting it down. Some of it faithful friends refused to believe it a corpse with the result that it was under a suspension of the rules. x & X The Congdon reapportionment re- solution, which has been the first test of the Teapportionment sentl- ment in the houses, passed the House Friday, wWhen it came up for final passage. There was no debate and the vote was 91 to 19. Those voting no were Christie, Clarke, Denzer, Farley, Just, Kelly, Lindberg, Moriarity, Nygren. Papke, Peters, Robinson,- Schuler, Schwartsz, Untiedt, Herzberg, Hoffman, Hurley, Harding. * K ¥ Another effort will be made “to prevent he continuance of Penmning- ton county, the newly errected divi- |sion in the northern part of the state. Request has been made to the attorney general that he ask a writ of quo warranto on the officers of the new county. The request was made by James Duffy of Red Lake Falls. The attorney general has set the date for a hearing on the matter for a week from Monday. * x X Mrs. Perry Starkweather has been reappointed assistamt labor com- missioner in charge of the woman’s Announcement was made this morning by W. F. Houk, state lab«:r commissioner. MAN GRUSHED TO DEATH August Mill Killed While Moving Box Car With Team of Horses. August Mill, mmw&m at Neeley's siding, five miles north of Puposky, late yesterday afternoon, while attempt- ing to move a freight ear with a team of horses. Mill was walking along side of the car with a stick in his hand using it as a wedge, when he was caught be- tween the car and a pile of pulp wood in such a manner as to crush him to death. Corner .Thertson returned to Be- midji this noon and said that the cause of death was accidental. Mill is survived by a wife. MAN KILLED AT BLAGKDUGK Andrew Cop Met Death While Walk- Andrew 0. Cop, about 45 years old, 2 lumberjack, was killed last night one mile north of Blackduck when he was run over by the south bound Minnesota and International railroad freight. It appears that Cop was in an in- toxicated condition and was walking in the center of the track when the train hit him. The train stopped and when Cop was picked up he was still alive, his left leg being broken and his skull badly hurt. He was taken to Blackduck, but lived only a short time. GONDUGT TIMBER SALE State Auditor Iverson and Treasurer Smith Made Bemidji a Visit. State Auditor S.-G. Iverson and State Treasurer Walter J. 'Smith made Bemidji a short business trip in' connection with a state timber sale which was conducted in this city yesterday. Only three tracts were sold, these being in the Kelliher country. The gentlemen left for Interna- tional Falls this morning where they were to hold another sale today. Don’t forget the Sunday night 6 o'clock dinner, ‘Hotel Markham. Masten’s orchestra. 33 years old, qu DEPUTY SHERIFF KILLED AT WALKER Harry McCabe Shot While Arresting Man on a Charge of Grand Larceny. MURDERER UBED A SHOT GUN Wounded Officer Was Being Brought To Bemidji Hospital When Death Came. Deputy Sheriff Harry McCabe, 48 years old, of Cass County, who has been jailor at the Cass county jail in Walker for the past four years, was shot yesterday afternoon, by a man named Smith, while the sheriff was serving papers upon him on a charge of grand larceny. McCabe was hur- ried to the Bemidji hospital but died before the train on which he was be- ing carried, arrived here. It appears that yesterday morning Deputy McCabe was given two war- rants against Smith, one on the {charge of grand larceny and the other a search warrant. The place where McCabe was shot is located on a point in Leech lake, three miles from Walker. The way in which the point is reached dur- ing the winter months is by driving over the lake from Walker. Mec Cabe decided that the best way to take his man would be to walk out the Minnesota and International railroad tracks to the Smith home, thereby not allowing Smith to see him driving across the lake. Me Cabe had arranged for a team to drive out to the Smith home.about an hour after he left, so thab it would reach there a short time after he arrived. Smith made the following con- fession to Sheriff DeLury of Cass county after he had been arrested, before several witnesses: As McCabe reached the front door he found that it was locked, and after knocking and receiving no answer he broke his way in, meeting Mrs. Smith with a 22 rifle as he en~ tered. He at once took the gun away from her and asked her where her husband was, receiving as an answer that he was in the room. next McCabe, who was known as a very brave man and also as one of the very best officers in the state, went to the door of the room and opened it, receiving as he did so a shot in the stomach from a shot gun in the hands of Smith standing not more than six feet away. Smith was at once terror stricken, and when the team arrived to take the sheriff and the prisomer back to ‘Walker, he and his wife gave them- selves up to the driver and assisted him in taking care of the wounded man. Upon arriving in Walker Smith was at once arrested, his wife being arrested later and she is now in jail at that place. It was while he was be- ing lodged in the county jail that he told the story as it has been told above. McCabe was rushed to the hos- pital at Walker but it was decided that the best way in which to care for him would be to bring him to the Bemidji hospital. McCabe died a short while after he had been placed on the train in Walker. The body of the dead sheriff was sent back to Walker this morning. McCabe was a son-in-law to offi- cer McElroy of the Bemidji police force. At the autopsy held over the body of McCabe last evening, under the direction of Deputy Coroner Kuland- er, of Cass county, it was found that the shot had lodged in the back muscles, and two of the shot gun i wads and bits of clothing were found with the shot. McCabe is a member of Elks, Red- men and Woodman lodges and also & member of the Minnesota sheriffs association. A charge of first degree murder ‘will be made against Smith.