Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, March 19, 1919, Page 1

VOLUME XVII. No. 66. BEMIDJI, MINN., WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 19, 1919 FORTY-FIVE CENTS PER MONTH DITCHES HAVE MEANT MUCH T0 SETTLERS HERE, GEORGE TELLS Former County Auditor Gives Interesting Review of Drain- age Conditions. MILLION ACRES FEDERAL LANDS ON TAX ROLLS Twenty-Eight New Townships Established in Ditch Dist- rict—Rapid Settlement. An interesting review of drainage conditions in Beltrami county is given by James L. George, former county auditor, in a letter written a1t0»Representative Theodore Chris- tianson, chairman of the house ap- propriations committee, and in reply to an editorial in the legislator’s paper, the Dawson Seninel, in which _he points out the necessity of a new drainage system. for the state. The letter of Mr. George brings _ out information that every citizen of Beltrami county should know. It follows: While I agree with you fully as to the necessity of a different system _ of drainage, I want to make an em-|; phatic objection as to your includ- ing Beltrami county as a bankrupt county, because of drainage, or for any other reason. This county has been constructing ditches for ten years. In that time nearly $3,000,000 of bonds have been sold, and the money in full has been placed in the county treasury. Up to the present time not a default has been made in the payment of princi- pal and interest on these bonds, and there i now in the sinking funds of the county nearly or quite $200,000 for the further payment of principal ang interest. fen years ago a great majority of the northern part of this county was open -swamp and bog. What high lands there were, were practically inficcessible’ becawse -of the water ‘gurrounding “thieni. ‘Settlers at-that time, (and they were but few,) were compelled to pack their supplies on their backs to their homes, and there was absolutely no chance for them to take any of their products to & market. They were simply hanging on in hopes of getting the benefit of drainage at some time in the:future. Baved bv Volstead Act. There was no way of giving them this drainage until the passage of the Volstead Act in 1908, which gave counties the right to drain gov- -~ ernment lands, and charge the cost to said lands, being repaid by the sale of the government lands for the delinquent interest, to those with homestead rights. While this law was a benefit in a way, it was a mistake in that the work should have been done entirely by the government, and not turned over to the counties to be domne in a way without any system whatever, and under which many mistakes have been made, and much money badly expended. Even with all the disadvantages, over a million of acres has been pur- chased, and patents issued, and the jands are now on the tax lists of the county, helping to pay the drainage charges, as well as other expenses of the county. The ditches have contributed hun- dreds of miles of road to the county system, some good, some poor and some just foundations for later com- pletion, but all of some benefit. Beltrami county had the advant- age of other counties in the fact that nearly 100 per cent of the unoc- cupied lands, were government lands and subject to sale under the Vol- stead Act, while other counties had mostly state lands, which could not be sold by the county, and on which no provision was made by the state for paving the assessments. How these counties will provide for the payment of their bonds and interest, without the aid of the state, is a problem. Excess Goes to County. The original act provided that any excess ahove the delinquent interest for which the land was sold, should be paid to the government before a patent shouid be issued. This was palpably unfair, as the government had set'a price on the land of $1.25 per acre, and did not invest one cent towards the drainage cost. But un- der this provision Beltrami county paid over to the government some fifty or sixty thousand dollars of bonus received, until an amendment to the law was obtained by the writer and Mr. A. A. Andrews in 1915, by which amendment, all ex- cess above the amount of delinquent interest was retained hy the county. and placed in a maintenance fund of the ditch on which the land was lo- cated. At the same time we en- deavored to obtain a refund from the government of all bonus which bad been paid them prior to that time. But the members of congress assured us that we were looking for too much, that we were lucky to get what we did. During the past eight years, twenty-eight new townships of the drainage districts have beepn estab- . Believing that Bemidji taxpayers will be interest_eJ ‘in a table of tax levies which will enable them to.compare the state, county, ¢ity and school levies during the period covering the last eight years, The Pioneer is glad e to print the figures which have county auditor. The increase of 1918 was due, partially, to the revenue fund'i:eing LEVIES FOR LAST EIGHT YEARS OF INTEREST TO BEMIDJI TAXPAYERS en prepared by James L. George, former overdrawn, the levy of 1917 not being sufficient to cover the expenses. As the high rates are, as a rule, charged to the auditor and commissionérs of the county particular attention is called to the fact that county taxes have steadily decreased during the past eight years. The county rate, after deducting 14.78, 12.70,:12.40, 11.90 and 15.60, Ditch taxes so far levied by the loan in 1913 and 1914, a levy made b; still remains in the county treasury. the special levy follows; 14.92, 16.42 in the terms of mills. county are the special levy for state y the state auditor, the total of which Up to the present time the principal and interest on all ditches have been paid from the ditch collections. The following levies are expressed in mills and hundreths of ‘mills: STATE LEVIES FOR LAST EIGHT YEARS. Teacher's Year Rev. School Ins. & Ret. Total 1911 85 1.23 B 3.88 1912 , 1.23 3.68 1913 1.23 6.03 1914 1.23 g 4.76 1915 1.23 5 4.55 1916 1.23 3.70 1917 1.23 .05 5.08 1918 . i o o snnsuis s 3 o .22 1.23 .08 3.60 Levies of County. Year R.&B. Sky StLoan Sp.Road Bldg. San. Poor S.R.H. Total 1811 2.00 5.65 14.92 1912 2.00 6.80 16.42 1913 3.00 6.13 2.14 16.87 1914.. 270 4.00 2.10 .96 15.76 1915 . 3.40 - 3.20 . 90 2.26 16.56 1916 3.00 2.70 2 1.00 20 3.40 1710 1917 5.00 1.90 319 1.00 26 3.18 19.62 1918. 6.20 1.26 B 50 62 3.48 « 20.50 City of Bemidj! Levies. Bonds & Year Rev. Per In. Park Poor Lib. Interest St.Loan Total 1911 .5.90 5.90 1.60 .50 2.00 1.60 . 17.40 00 4.80 1.60 .50 130 .20 18.50 .10.70 6.70 1.40 .80 1.60 1.00 22.20 10.00 3.30 1560 .90 3.70 | 1.20 20.60 18.90 3.40 1.80 1.00 3.90 3.40 82.40 3.70 4.90 1.70 .80 2.40 430 27.80 1917 90 4.60 1.80 2.30 80 2.00 2.84¢ 29.24 1918 30 4.30 1.70 2.80 74 2.20 2.30 29.40 Levies By School Distrioct Year 1 Mill Gen. B&I Blds. Total 1911 1.00 15.40 3.40 :19.80 912 | 15.50 2.90 60 20.00 8 2.90 70 22.80 3.70 25.50 3.70 26.90 3.90 .60 28.60 5.71 2.69 31.66 2.40 1.00 47.60 School Total 19.80 56.00 20.00 56.50 22.30 .66.40 25.50 66.60 26,80 ~179.00 28.60 7;.20 31.566° 85.40 47.60 1101.00 lished, and that many new school districts organized, giving proof that the country is being settled. ) The war has temporarily delayed further settlement, because the young men Who are looking for op- portunities of this kind have been drawn from the community. But this spring shows much improvement already. There is not a full quarter section of vacant land left as nearly as I can discover from the records of the land offices. And what is left is not the most desirable by any Tneans; ¢ ' Agyow say in your second para- graph, much money has been wasted by the county in the promiscuous manner in which drainage has been done, and such losses can be remedied by the proper regulation under state authority. No More Damage. as far as the damage caused to lower lands by the drainage of the lands north of Red Lake is con- cerned, beg to say that there should be ne ‘further daage from this cause, as all the surface water has been drained off now, or at least to a great extent, and the further drainage will be only of the excess fall as before drainage was com- menced. . There is no question as the mis- takes of engineers. Many have been made, and many have been corrected. Beltrami county has paused in the matter of drainage. No new ditches have been established for three years. And while petitions for sev- eral large systems have been filed in the district court, they are being held for the very reasons suggested by you. And I, and all other sane business men of this county, believe with you that the proper system would be state control. But we good citizens of Beltrami county do not like to have it inti- mated that the county is bankrupt, or that our bunds are delinquent, or that the drainage already done has not done “one cenf worth of benefit to the lands drained,” because such is not the fact. I take great interest in the matter, because for the past eight years I have been the auditor of Beltrami county, and while not responsible for the ditches' in any way, have worked hard to keep the financial standing of the county above par, even with the great indebtedness caused by grainage. Trusting you will accept thie letter in good part, and remedy the dis- trust which may have been caused by your statment so far as you can, 1 remain, very truly yours. J. L. GEORGE. CARR LAKE SCHOOL CARNIVAL SATURDAY Plans for the big carnival to be ziven at the Carr Lake school next Saturday have been practically com- pleted, and it is expected that the affair will be even more successful than was the oue of last years. There will be a biz show, fortune teiling, photo gallery, 17:iding the Kaiser, Beauty Booth, Chamber of Horrors, and refreshments. There will be a general admission charge of 10 cents, with suitable fees for the various booths. A big time is expected and there will be a large attendance from the city PLANS MAPPED FOR - : HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL: ‘WILL BE INTERESTING Department —M:n-agers Busy, Business Men Respond to - Call for Advertisements. Plans for the high.school annual are nearing completion and the out- look s most encouraging as business, LARGE APPROPRIATION FOR GOVERNMENT ROADS " (By United Press.) W&shington, March 19.—The Dnited States will have a total of at least $574,000,000 for co-operative road building during the next three years, according to the terms of the Federal Road Act. The fedarel part of this fund is assured by an extra appropriation of $209,000,000 in the postoffice appropriation bill just passed by congress and signed by the president. This amount of funds is the largest ever appropriated for a similar period by any governnment. It will enable the government to carry out a roadbuilding program of a magnitude never equaled. DRAFT BOARD RECORDS . INSPLENDID SHAPE M. A. Hoppenrath, inspector from the state adjutant general’s office, is much pleased with the condition of records of the Beltrami county draft ‘board, and following his inspection this morning said that all details for the closing of the office here have been attended to in a most satisfac- tory manner, “I am delighted with the condi- tions here,’”” said the inspector, “‘and I consider the Beltrami county draft board one of the best in the state. Its work has veen cared for in ex- cellent manner and no delay is to be encountered in closing all ac- counts.” Judge H. A. Simons; who has been in charge of the draft board office, believes that work remaining to be done before the records and files can be sent to the adjutant general at Washington will have been attended to by a week from Saturday. Following his inspection of the draft board records Hoppenrath re. viewed the work of the medical ad- visory board. PARENTS OF BOYS IN JUVENILE BAND MEET Parents of boys who contemplate becoming members of the Juvenile hband are urged to be present at a meeting to be held in the city hall at 8 o'clock this evening. “It is important,” says Oliver Riggs, director, ‘‘that the father or mother of every boy planning. to join tire band, or the boy himself, be present at: the meeting tonight. Sev- eral matters of importance will be discussed.” Director Riggs says that the pur- chase of instruments will begin at once. Boys who wish to become members should make it a point to be represented at the meeting for those who fail to show terest will ‘be ' eliminated. About 140 boys have announced. their in- tention to play in the band. men of the city are responuing liber- ally to the call of Theodore Willits, business manager of the publication, for advertisements. Professor J. W. Smith left last evening for Minneapolis and while there will visit the Minneapolis Bureau of Engraving, to obtain more definite prices on the engraving of half toues and other cuts to be used. The Annual will consist of indvi- dual pictures of Miss Wager and Mr. Bolcom, covering a complete page. There will also be pictures of each member of the senior closs. Each class below the senfor will have group pictures and there will be pic- tures of the football eleven, basket ball five, the glee club, orchestra, basket ball girls, Coach J. W. Smith, Dr. Diedrich and Miss Heligh. Sections devoted to athletics, fea- ture, literary, society, class doings of each class, the school calendar, ad- vertising section, jokes and various other departments, the annual to be made up into a book from eighty to one hundred pages. The staff editing the annual com- prises: Avis Cameron—Editor in chief. ‘Theodore Willets—Business man- agef. Dorothy Nangle—Society. Murriel MeGhee—Music. Alice Whiting—Snaps. Harold Dahl—Feature. John Simons—Athletics. Isabelle Hanky-——Staff artist. NO TRUTH IN REPORT. J. Leroy Elwell, cashier of the Farmers State bank, announced this morning that the institution 18 not to be moved from the Nymore dis- trict to the main business section of Bemidji, as has been rumored during the last several days. COMPLETED IN SIX WEEKS. Although the work of completing the Elks club rooms has been pro- gressing rapidly, a short delay will be caused by the late arrival of finishing material. Funiture for the new club has been ordered and mem- bers of the lodge believe tnat it will be ready for use in about six weeks. Archie Fenton, who until his en- listment in the navy operated a printery on Fourth street, near the City Hall, announces that he has re- opened his shop and is ready for business. Fenton returned from service several weeks ago, having been a musician on the U. 8. 8 In- diana. His satanic majesty smiles every time he sees a stingy man NEW BILL PROVIDES FUND FOR SOLDIERS (By United Press.) St. Paul, March 19.—A returned soldiers rclief fund of $10,000,000 Is proposed in a bill introduced in the house today. PROVES UP ON HOMESTEAD. William McClellan appeared before Fred Rhode, clerk of court, yester- day and proved up on his 40 acre homestead located in Maple Ridge. This gives McClellan a farm of 160 acres, 120 acres having been pur- chased from the Crookston Lumber company. ON INSPECTION TRIP. C. G. Hankey, assistant superin- tendent of county schools, left today for Solway and Pinewood where he will inspect the public schools. Be- fore returning to Bemidji he will visit schools north of Pinewood. GEORGE WALKER. WAR HERO. RETURNS HOME AFTER LONG SERVICE| Was Member of Brigade Win- ning Croix de Guerre—In Several Great Battles. Robust and in perfect health fol- lowing participation in several of the principal battles of the world war, Corporal George A. Walker, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Walker of Be- midji, returned to the city this morn- ing after army service of sixteen months, 12 of which were spent overseas. Walker fought in the battles of Chatean Thierry, Argonne and St Mihiel, an a few encounters of less consequence, as a member of the 36th., infantry, sixth brigade of the third division. His brigade was awarded the Crol; de Guerre, this entitling the Bemidji boy to wear the French war medal. He has been recommended for a commission. Although he was in the thick of the fighting on numerous occasions, Walker was lucky in escaping injury other than being slightly gassed. At one time it was necessary for him to wear his gas mask nine hours. William and Dale Walker, brothers of George, are still in Fraunce ufticiént in- | PEACE COVENANT REARY-SATURDAY; AT X \H%lur'\m\\ goclety wn 'y E CLAUSE “70°BE INCLUDED By William Phillip Simms . (By United Press) Paris, March 19.—Another tempest in the teapot seems to have blown over today, further investigation confirming the report that Foreign Minister Pichon in his statement of last Sunday intended no opposition of Nations in the peace treaty, to the including of the League but merely questioned whether there was sufficient time to perfect the covenant for incor- poration into the preliminary pact. The neutrals will have their opportunity to present recom- mendations for amendments to the constitution at tomorrow’s session and it is believed that the covenant will be in shape for open debate by Saturday. The supreme war council was expepted to ratify formally today the tentative agreement understood to have been reached yesterday on territorial and financial questions of prelimin- ary peace treaty. STATE BASKETBALL TITLE MEET STARTS Bemidji are much basket ball enthusiasts interested in the state STREET CLEANING PLAN. MEANS BIG SAVING TO CITY championship tourament which be- Council Rents Team at Low ins at Carleton college, Northfield, tomorrow. Although the Bemidji high school quint lost the district title to Little Falls, fans here are anxiously awaiting the results and ‘several from here are to witness the games, The officlal entry lst follows: First district, Fosston; second dis. trict, Barnesville; third district, Little Falls; fourth district, Chis- holm; fifth district, Sandstone; sixth district, Humbolt, St. Paul; seventh district, Wheaton; eighth district, Olivia; ninth district, Buffalo; tenth district,” Pipéstane; ‘¢leventh district, New Ulm; twelfth district, Waseca; thirteenth district, Albert Lea; fourteenth district, Red Wing. GIRLS OF HIGH SCHOOL PLAY FOR TITLE FRIDAY NIGHT classes will'play' the deciding game |, of the high school girls basket ball tournament at the armory Friday aight, "and with the *“Barker Cup" at stake the contest is certain to prove of interest. Several specials ties have been arranged for the eve- ning's entertainment, one of which will be a dance by little Gladys Cool daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Cool. There will be music and the game will be called at 8 o'clock, and ad- mission charge of 15 and 206 cents being made. BETTER BUSINESS CONGRESS STARTS IN MILL CITY TODA Secretary Glass Will Open Lib- erty Victory Loan Campaign Friday Evening. Minneapolis March 19.—After the war development for the northwest was to recelve its greatest incentive here today with the opening of a “Better Business’’' congress. Cost—New Flusher Will Remedy Former Faults. An item, that of cleaning the streets, which during past years has brought large expense to the city, is to be considerably lowered and the service is to be much improved in consequence of action taken by the Bemidji council Monday evening. An offer of the Crookgton Lumber company, made to the council through Charles Vandergluis, presi- dont of the council, whereby a team, wagon and harness will’' be supplied the city for a charge of but 50 cents per day, was accepted. This team, worked in the woods during the winter and in the mill yards during the summer, will not be peeded this summer as the Crookston mill is not Girls of the senfor and sophomore | 80ing to operate nights this season. the Tees. The team has been turned over to William Hazen, street commissioner, yesterday and with Clark Gaines as driver, isznow at work for the city. Btreet sweeping and cleaning will be cared for this year by the new power flusher and the pavements are The city is to provide feed ((3’ ‘| to be kept in much better shape than ever before, as all dust and refuse is cleared from the streets by opera- tion of the machine. When the team and driver are not busy in street work, attention will be given grading of streets and other city work. Commissioner Hazen has been au- thorized to build a shed in the city property lot for housing the new flusher, and he plans to start its con- struction the latter part of the week. The council has ordered a new dydrant to be used in filling the tank of the flusher TROOPS IN SIBERIA WILL BE WITHDRAWN (By United Press.) Los Angeles, March 19.—American troops now in Siberia will be with- drawn in the spring, Secretary Baker Secretary of Commerce William C. | declared upon his arrival here today. Redfield apd Secretary of the Trea- |The exact date of the return will de- sury Carter Glass were to be speakers | pend upon waather conditions. at o series of meetings in the Twin Cities ending Friday with a big boost for the fifth liberty loan. It will be the first time in history that two members of the federal cabl- | Masonic lodge this evening. net have appeared simultaneously in in the first degree. the northwest metropolis. MEETING THIS EVERING. There will be a meeting of the Work Officers of the lodge are anxfous that thero be a Eight hundred and fifty commer-|large attendance. cial clubs throughout the ninth fed- eral reserve district have been In- vited to send representatives to the congress . There will be a special session for commercial secrotaries. IMPROVE STEAM LAUNDRY. Decorators are busy redecorating the Bemidji Steam Laundry. Given W. u. Bruce of Milwaukee, secretary | & McGee are the new proprietors, of the Merchants and Manufacturers’ | having recently bought the business association there will be the princi-|from J. J. Trask. pal speaker at the conference of sec- retarfes. Principal elements of the work that comes before such bodies will be widely discussed. ENTERTAINED FOR SON. Mr. and Mrs. A. Cohen entertained Secretary of Commerce Redfield last evening in honor of their sonm, will address the business men tonight | Yoeman William D., of Washington, on ‘‘Better Markets for Americalr|D. ., Cwho is spending a short fur- Products.” Tomorrow noon he will|lough here. address an open forum a. the St. Paul association on “The Revival of River Navigation.” Secretary of the treasury Carter Glass will outline plans for the Vie- The hours were passed fn dancing. Lunch was served. CROSS VISITS _BEMIDJI. w. George Cros: who recently tory Liberty loan at meetings in iMn- succeeded W. F. Dickens as superin- neapolie and 8t. Paul closing with tendent of the Red Lake Indian res- a big mass meeting at the St. Paul ervation, is a Bemidji business viei- Auditorium Friday night. During the illness of Miss Malm- tor today. He will return to Red Lake tomorrow. Mr. Cross was a guest at the Commercial club noon berg, teacber of the sixth grade in|luncheon today the city schools, Miss Alma Munson is substituting. Misse Munson is a i sister of Miss Lena Munson, a mem- ber of the department faculty No man should complain of being weighed on his own scales or being measured by his own yardstick. '