The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, January 4, 1927, Page 2

A. G. SORLIE’S MESSAGE TO 20TH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY To the Members of the Legislative’ Assembly, and _ The Stockholders of the Public Service Corporation, North Dakota: As chairman of your Board of Directors of the great public service corporation, North Dakota, it is with real and sincere pleasure that I greet you to-day. Let me express my sincere reciation of the splendid cooperation you have given the inistration during the past two years, and my profound gratitude for the confidence you have expressed in bestowing upon me the honor of again serving as your chairman. I have taken the oath of office fully conscious of the responsi- hility of my position and of my obligations to the stockholders of this great corporation. Assured of your cooperation in the work that lies before us I shall earnestly endeavor to ad- minister the affairs of the State for the best interests of all our people. x ; Te you, the Senators and Representatives of the Twentieth Tagislative Assembly of the State of North Dakota, has been entrusted the responsible task of enacting laws for the good of the State, During the period of this session it is your duty to give your most careful, earnest and deliberate atten- tion to all matters presented for your consideration. What ou do here must be for the good of our State and for the happiness and well-being of ou fellow-citizens. aie The reports of the various department, boards, commissions and state agencies will present for your consideration matters fFelating to the administration of the business of the State. From these reports you will be able to secure information that will be helpful in determining the most necessary changes and adjustments to be made. \ I recommend that the various committees to which these reports shall be referred, examine very carefully into the merits of all recommended changes. I would like to take these recommendations up in detail in this message but they would take too long, and since the reports ars all available you will be able to secure more complete information directly from the reports. I submit the following recommendations for your con- sideration. ri s have been created by law ‘a that the other states in this great agricul- tural section of the United States are not yet fortunate enough to have. Included in the state industrial program we have the following: (1). The State Twine Plant, operated in connection with the State Penitentiary. T plant manufactured and de- livered 5,000,000 pounds of twine during the year 1925, and in 1926 about 6,500,000 pounds, of which there remains un- delivered about 2,000,000 pounds because of the poor crops in some sections of the state. (2) The State Bonding Department is being conducted in ‘a very satisfactory w: (3) The Hail, Fire and Tornado Insurance Departments are all functioning splendidly. : ‘ (4) The Workmen’s Compensation Bureau is becoming well established and being so conducted that it is now performing the service for which it was established. The functions of this bureau will soon be fully appreciated by all the people of the state. (5) The Bux of North Dakota, operating as a Rural _ Credit Bank, has during the past two years disposed of $6,000,000 in Rural Credit Bonds. Through the bank it has nlso been made possible for the Industrial Commission to lower the interest rate on North Dakota bonds ta 4% per cent. If it had not been for the splendid work accomplished by the Bank of North Dakota our bonds would still be begging for a market at 5 and 5% per cent. North Dakota Rural Credit Bonds are now considered among the best bonds in the United States and are selling at about 4-35/100 to in- vestors. (6) The State Mill and Elevator, now becoming better known as a State Laboratory for our basic product, hard spring wheat, while not paying interest on the investment of $4,500,000 showed an operating profit of $143,000 for the year 1925, amounting to about 3-1/8 per cent on the capital in- vested. It is too early to make any report for 1926. This industry is working out in a splendid way by helping to merchandise our grain. North Dakota has an almost ex- clusive product in its hard spring wheat. Through the state laboratory we are able to sell this superior quality wheat to @ mills east of us by demonstrating to them that the ex- Hent flour made from all North Dakota hard spring wheat, high in protein content, is what they want for bread purposes, We hope in the near future to have our tariffs so adjusted that North Dakota Millers’ Mix of 100 hard spring wheat, 12% per cent protein, can be delivered direct from the North Dakota Terminal. When this is accomplished the peo- ple throughout the country will be able to get one hundred per cent hard spring wheat flour. : Taxation and Finance The State Tax Commissioner supervises the equalization of all-taxes, and it is through his department that all property which has for any reason escaped taxation can be reached. The general property taxes of the state were reduced $369,- 483.06 in 1925, and for the year 1926 the reduction amounted to $371,651.68. North Dakota is one of only eight states in the Union to show any reduction in taxes. In passing permit me to call attention to the fact that the State has no control over taxes levied by local subdivisions of the state, or other bodies, and can in no way be held re- sponsible for existing high taxes in certain localities. - 1 believe that all affairs of the state should be handled in the most efficient and businesslike manner in keeping with the best established methods, and to that end I recomntend the following changes in our laws relating to taxation and public finance: (1). That the County Treasurer be made the treasurer for all public funds of his county, except for cities having a popu- lation of 4000 or more. Under our present system there are approximately 4000 treasurers acting in various capacities in the state. Many. of these officers handle large sums of ;public funds without having the facilities or opportunity to five such work the necessary care and attention. The Coy ty Treasurer, with but little additional expense, could take over the work of all local treasurers of his county. This _would, I believe, result in a more businesslike and efficient *handling of public funds with considerable saving in expense to the local taxing districts. = To reduce the expenditures of our state government we need to concentrate activities and eliminate all unnecessary _duplication of work. 2) Under our present system of assessment and taxation the assessment of real and tangible personal property is made “by local assessors. . The assessment of property for taxation purpeses is a very important work of government and should receive the most serious attention of all citizens. Inequality of assessment causes inequality of taxation, and every citizen who is not receiving the same consideration as his fellow- citizen has just cause for.complaint. 4 are approximately 1800 assessors in the state assess- ing a billion dollars worth of property. Because the assess- * ment period is short and comes at a season when men of _ahility. are over-laden with their own work, and also due to the fact that this. compensation allowed is small, it is almost impossi to secure men with the qualifications nec to «handle this very important work, consequently the position of * asnessor is filled by whatever person may be available. nactment of a law creating Several ind in North Dako , be. accomplished through cooperation, thi particularly true No (1) That 50 per cent of the-met earni placed in a Surplus Fund until such fund shall equal the capital stock of the bank. ‘This surplus fund should be free from taxation ‘since it is for the purpose of safe-guarding depositors, and it should be carried for that purpose ‘only. (2) That the minimum capital stock of banks bef from $15,000 to $20,000. si 5 That the State Banking Board be empowered to con- trol the difficulties experienced in this state have been caused by the fact that too many banks ‘have attempted to vender banking service in one community. 44) ‘That all banks be required to carry 20 per ‘cent of bald total deposits in ‘United States, State or Municipal ponds. . (5) Under our present law the State Banking Board has only partial control over Building and ‘Loan Associations. Some revision of this law should be made whereby all such associations in the state may be controlled and supervised in a more businesslike way. (6) In the past we have had some very unpleasant ex- periences in cases where stockholders, finding their bank ta be in a weak condition, managed to transfer their stock to some “straw-man”, and then kept the bank open for a period of one year, at the expiration of which ted the original stockholder could not be held for the 100 ‘per cent liabili provided by our law. To prevent a continuance of sucl practice I recommend that a provision be included-in the law making it illegal to transfer stock in any bank without the approval of the State Banking Board. Closed Banks mee When a bank is closed by order of the State Banking Board for lack of sufficient reserve, the only persons really interested in the affairs of the bank are its depositors. Some arrangement should be made by law so that such depositors could control any remaining assets. For instance, a grou representing 80 per ‘cent of the total deposits of the ban should be permitted to call a meeting to elect from their group five directors who should be placed in control of the affairs of such closed bank, under the supervision of the State Bank- ing Board. These directors would be ‘better able to ‘look after the collections and affairs of the bank than anybody else because of their interest in the bank. Since they repre- sent the majortity of money in the bank they should have a voice in its management after closing. Highway Department The Highway Department is rapidly becoming one of the ents in this state as well as in others, * mbes srapanten' ene but North Dakota has not kept up to the pace set by other stated. Our highways are all paid for; we do not owe'a penny for state*htghways. In order to build our state highways in a more efficient and economical way the designation of loca- tions and the entire handling of projects should be placed in charge of the State Highway Commission sy as ‘to do away with the present haphazard method of construction. Because of the inefficiency of our sent laws relating to highways the cost of construction rdéns higher than it should. State Safety Conference The growing number of deaths and serious injuries by reason of automobile accidents has aroused the nation to grapple with this problem. ‘Two national conferences have been held to devise means to remedy this appalling eondi- tion. The second National Conference on Street and High- way Safety, held at Washington this year, recommented-the adoption of a uniform vehicular eode by all the state with the view that such legislation might not only control careless driving but also make car ownership more secure. Last April upon my invitation representative citizens and public officials met at Bismarck for the first State Safety Conference held in this country, and which has since been used as a model for similar gatherings in other states. Two days were spent by the delegates to consider and devise means ‘to m@ke life safer in this state. conference en- dorsed in principle the Uniform Vehicular Code recommended ‘by the Washington gathering.' Let me submit these sug- gested laws to your serious examination with the recom- mendation that so much thereof as may fit our peculiar needs be made part of our statutes. This should be done not only with the view of adequate safety and highway legislation, but also to secure that uniformity of legislation by the differ: ent states which all concede is so very desirable. Likewise, to prevent a multitude of laws, that you repeal existing stat- utes dealing with the same subject matter. The State Safety Conference, recognizing that the best re- sults can only be obtained ‘by continuous effort, created the North Dakota Safety Council, a volunteer body to promote safety “at work, on the streets and highways, and «in the home.” This body naturally can function in a small degree through donations and volunteer contributions, but as the seope of its work reaches and benefits everyone in the state, it should be placed on a firmer and more effective basis. Accordingly, fet me recommend that you appropriate ten cents from each license fee ved from the registration of automobiles as a fund for safety work, to be expend in co- operation: with the Safety Council upon such basis and in such manner as you may deem wise. In view of the fact that the total automobile easualties this year will total 23,500‘deaths and about 700,000 persons ‘in- jured, without any allowance for the tremendous property loas. the need for and the probable value of safety work can- not be over estimated. Agriculture} “i The solution of the agricultural problem is uppermost in the minds of our senators and representatives in Congress. This problem has been given deep study during the past two years or more. From such study it has developed that the greatest need of agriculture is proper marketing of its-com- modities. That is all we have needed in North Dakota at any time. This great-agricultural state is the masterpiece of the Creator. To us He has given sufficient rainfall, abund- ant sunshine and the most wonderful soil in the world. have long days of warm sunshine during the growing season, and crisp winters. use of this combination in climate ‘we produce the best produits in the United States. Given this wonderful natural endowment it is up to us, the North Dakota, to give careful study to our partieul Ee: lems and work them out'to our! own best advantage. [f- we to to do this we have no cause to blame any one ‘but our- selves. * We are fortunate in having flour mills, packing plante, creameries and other manufacturing establishments that can serve as laboratories for the products of our state. We should. to the fullest extent with all these estab- lis we may be able to manufacture and our highly superior products at their real value and prevent such products from being mixed with inferior products. . '- ‘There are two essentials for human life,—air and nourish- ment. Because agriculture supplies one of these essentials it is the basic industry of the world. No other industry can compare with agriculture in jitude; but this great funde- mental industry has not yet wo: out its pratiases 98 other industries have. I believe the solution of problem can » and I am sure ‘that of’ North Dakota’s agricultural Our products are exclusive in’that they are superior to all siraliag predicts produced by thé states east and south of us. T hope that Congress will be able to solve this important lem in a way satisfactory to the entire agricultural section, but I believe that:we are in a better position to work out the solution of our problems than other states are. The time will come before as manufacturing, banking that unless agriculture is foundation than it is now So co a oee eae ae ae i engaged in agricultural lines in working out ‘these problems. issuance of all bank charters. Many of the banking’ } Our statute provides that all manufacturers of foodstuffs shall label their products to show the contents. I believe this law should ‘be extended to provide ‘that all flour sold in the state should bear o label on the sack stating the kind of wheat fron which it.is made,. whether hard spring wheat, soft wheat or winter. wheat, giving the percentage of each, and that such label should also show the protein content of the wheat from which the flour was ground. Penal Institutions “Our'penal institutions are now over crowded. The inmates in these institutions must'be'’kept busy at proper occupations. The twine plant and the farm operated.in connection with the State Penitentiary are no longer rig enough to provide em- ployment for all the men confined in the prison. ‘Would it not be well to install machinery at the penitentiary to manu- facture automobile license plates and road markers for use in the state? Warden Lee is making a thorough investigation of this plan by personally visiting three of the state prisons now making such plates and markers. He will submit his report..of such investigation for your consideration during this session. ‘ % The State Training School at Mandan is over crowded. Some-arrangement should be made to segregate the boys and girls in this institution. The present equipment will be ade- quate to take care of all the boys in this school if some ai rangement is made to provide a :building for the girls, on the same farm but located west of the present buildings. 4 Sterilization Law If: we paid-some needed attention to the human family-there would ‘not be so ‘many people confined in our State Hospital for the Insane and State School for.the Feeble Minded. recommend that our present Sterilization laws be made con- stitutional and usable, and I suggest for your consideration’ the laws adopted. by the. state of Michigan. If every state passed euch laws and enforced them there would be fewer criminal, insane and feeble-minded people to deal with. Life Imprisonment I recommend the enactment of a law making the crime ‘of first degreerobbery punishable 'by life imprisonment. 1 fur-— ther recommend that our laws provide that, all persons con- / victed of third penitentiary: offenses, whether the previous sentences have been served in the North Dakota State Peni- tentiary or elsewhere shall be sentenced to life imprison- ment. Board of Pardons 1 recommend that a clear line of demarcation be drawn between the powers and duties of the Board of Administration and those of the Board of Pardons with relation to prescrib- ing rules and regulations governing inmates of our penal, in- stitutions, now imposed by law upon ‘both boards, to the end that confusion and conflict may be avoided in the fulfillment or-exercise of any powers or duties of these respective boards. T also recommend that paragraph 1 of Section 11230, Com- piled Laws, be repealed so as not to conflict with Section 11110-a-1, in so far as it provides that:no person convicted of murder in the first degree shall be eligible to parolé until after he has been confined in the state penitentiary for at least fifty per cent of the time of his life expectancy. 1 further recommend that Section 11103, Compiled Laws for 1913, be amended ‘to provide that the Board of Pardons shall hold four regular meetings each year instead of two as now provided. This ‘will do away with the, frequent special meet- ings that are now necessary, and no special meetings shall be held-except in cases of emergency. State Secret Service Officer In private corporations ‘the president, or the person at the head of the organization, is indirectly responsible for every- body employed in-‘the corporation. So that he may keep closely informed regarding all business of the corporation, and particularly so that he may have information that could not be obtained through an audit or any rules or regulations, such officer is provided with a fund by means of which he is able to employ a secret service officer. In other words, he isiable to “lock the door before the horse is stolen.” The state is larger than any private corporation and there are matters connected with state administration concerning which it is impossible to secure information through the ordinary channels. If it is good business for a private corporation to have the information that can be obtained through secret service, is it not esi good ‘business for the state to make such provision? hy should not the chairman of your board of directors be provided with .a fund to employ a secret service offiecr in case of necessity? : Soldiers’ Bonus * The “Legislative: Assembly of 1919 enacted the. Soldiers’ Bonus law, the object of which was to furnish a sum of money to all residents of North Dakota who -were in the a: forces of the United States during the World War. North ~ Dakota was the first ‘state to enact such ‘legislation and blazed the trail for-other states in this respect. The Adjutant Gen- eralwas given general supervision and authority to carry * out:the provisions af the law. ‘Under this law 25,790 claims have ibeen filed to date, and final and. complete payment has been-ealled up ‘to No. 21,600, ‘On: July 1, 1927, beneficiaries under this statute will have had eight years in which to file their claims. This is a much more extended period than other states have given. I recom- mend fhat steps be taken to end the filing of claims against the Soldiers’ Bonus Fund, and suggest the enactment ofa law providing that no claims for ‘bonus under the returned soldiers’ statute shall be received or filed on or after July 1, 1927. \ Roosevelt“National Park ‘For several years ‘we have ‘been working for the creation of Roosevelt National Park in the Badlands. In order to create such a park jit will.be necessary, the Department of the, Interior: informs us, to have all -public lands in section of the state transferred to the Federal Government.» I e gest that, if possible, .all school lands and other public lant in that particular section ‘belonging to the State be put in shape-so that title thereto can be transferred to the Depart- ment of the Interior for the establishment of Roosevelt Na- tional Park. Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater Project The Great Lekes-St. Lawrence Deep Waterway. project has ‘been bufore the people for some time. Twenty-one states in the agricultural section have-created state’ commis- sions and sppropriated funds ‘to defray the’expenses of such orinis State nd ee i wae necessary for the, Emergency is 80 ‘was necessary for Board to allow the sum of $500.00 'to cover the ofa survey for. the state.showing the benefits to -be ived by North Dakota from this waterway. This, survey was made under ‘the direction-of the North Da! ‘State ‘Commission of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater project. _Thope ‘this legislature will see fit to ap) ficient amount-to enable ‘the State of North part to ‘bring this deep waterway to a 81 George Washington Bicentennial The two hundredth anniversary of the birth of mission, created: by act. of: G of a resolution by: the North Dakota Legislative Assemily ointment :of a State Commission to'act ional Commission. in ‘this that this matter be referred to the proper legisiati vi» Uniform State Laws Commission By virtue of the authority vested in the Governor a Commission on ‘Uniform State Laws Ray ‘is now without « I ‘should PTR the Btate Commelocion tay ciently states. able in. cooperation with simi col -TUESDAY; JANUARY 4, 1927 that are now overcrowded. Upon completion the Executive De; departmental of state funds that will be problems of North Dakota in have been dis} ties with different view; tion of our problems. ints Sound remedy. sight that, al of our people. It will be a wisely and faithfully serve all paveen E Board will also recommend other investm shouldbe made. You, of course, will use your own cretion in making such investments if you find arrangements can be made for the additional money. .. eae ehet Obsolete Laws . Our statute books are glutted with laws. To correct this T suggest that any legislator who has a law to present for enactment also ask for the repeal of some law that has be- come unnecessary and obsolete. i Conclusion Aw legislators you have assembled here to work out the jis-is as it should be, honest. discussion is the surest way for arri But no party, be it ever so stron; ve everything else, we are all w State of North Dakota and that our common aim a: at all times is the welfare of our state and the happiness Building and could-be used to house several state departments Following that in ‘two years the building program should provide for the erection of another similar outding, and tnen in the next legislative period the fourth building could ‘be ofthe 4 sabe praperiy hous ack ie ape hen een of state woul roper! joused .and we col en ‘turn our attention to the taton of ‘a Capitol ‘Building, of suffi- cient size to provide adequately for the Senate and House and A palling program. such as this would talte, care of all needs and avoid unnecessary over-crowding. The paged iets ve faker in Shes, a building pro- - gram to adequately provide for the futu! Badget Board Recommendat: 5 The Budget Board has worked faithfully, sincerely and carefully in the preparation of its report, so know where you can best invest a] needs of the state. that you may roximately $8,000,000 The report, of the its that ine dis- available. a sane and sensible way. You will give careful study not only to the new laws to be enacted, but to needed revision of laws already upon our statute bpoks. I. again call your attention to the importance of disposing of the budget in the first twenty-five days of the session, and I earnestly request that until the necessary appropriations of no other legislation be considered. If you will act-in cooperation.with this request you will have taken a big step in- advance of the usual = In North Dakota as in ather states we rocedure, ave political par- as to what is deemed the solu, ince. free and at sane and should lose for the purpose splendid thing when we, the people of North Dakota, of city and farm, are able to view ourselves as closely related, thereby creating a mutual, help- ful interdependence all along ‘the line. ~Actuated by that spirit. and motive our state will advance rapidly along all lines of human endeavor, and you as members of ithe House and Senate and-I as your chief executive will more promptly, the interests of all our people. Increased Northwest pmsperity: tar +he coming year is forecast by H. K. Jennings, president of the Federal nana vank, who bases his prediction on the growing tendency of the farm- er to rely on his.own industry more than on the advice of politic’ 5 Mr. Jennings cited increased pros- perity of agriculture, resulting in a general business __ improvement throurhout the Northwest during 1926. “Agriculture is the biggest business in the Northwest and it will con- tinue to outstrip every other busi- ness, both in importance and mag- nitude,” Mr. Jennings said. “It is the source of the greatest production, and therefore is the soul of progr in the Northwest. Thousands of st cessful farmers are making it so, Learning Self-reliance “Our farmers are fast learning that they must rely on their owp industry and loss on the unexpert advice of politicians and impractical econo- mists,” he declared, in pointing out development of ‘new _ conditions among farmers affiliated with the Federal Land bank. “They ar riving to develop the fullest possibilities of their land and are.applying scientific rules in the management of a progressing: busi- ness,” he said. “hey are abandon- ing the idea of o panncea through Jegislation or economic, reform and only beginning to reap the reward of self-reliance.” \ This tendency of the .farmer is hajled by Mr. Jennings as indications of an assured continuance in the bet- terment of agricultural conditions in the Northwest. “Herein lies the most encaureging sign in-agriculture today—the dispo- sition of the farmer himself to work out his own salvation, rather than lean on the slender promises of of- five seckers and ‘gentlemen farm- ers," Mr. Jennings declared. Reform Developing Z “This reform that is developing among the farmers, coupled with the fact that there is again some move- ment in farm real estate, gives piereioe of unprecedented prosperity. evelopment. is slow, to be sure, but there is excellent farming talent and the Northwest is easily in the fore- front of producing, progressive cet ters. It is a bigger “bread baske: today than it was 19 years ago, be- cause it has “bigger and better” farmers. Thus, thro its associa- tion with many of the successful Land bank and the- Intermedia Credit bank are able to get a m cheerful perspective on conditions as they are, and so are, looking ahead with confidence.” ‘The Federal Land bank is affiliated with approximately farmers throughout Minnes North Dako- ta, Wisconsin and Michigan, Mr. Jen- nings explained. The bank also deals’ wi farm associations through the: Federal Intermediate Credit bank, sain ings the St. Paul institution an" ins farmers of the district, the Federal] ti into ‘agricultural condi-| west farming is NORTHWEST TO SEE MORE PROSPERITY ‘FEDERAL LAND BANK PRESIDENT SAYS tions that seldonr ‘are*known to-the public, he’ added. > . Are Good Business Men “The Federal Land bank of St. Paul claimg_the almost exclusive privilege of an insight into one phase of agriculture that is exposed to no other view,” he asserted. “That par- ticular phase embraces a group of farm owners who qualify as ood businessmen by reason of the fact that they are able to deal with the land bank and the credit bank and become stockholders in the land bank.” / The Northwest as the most impor- tant economic section ‘of the country was stressed by Mr. Jennings, who coupled this assertion with a state- ment of necessary factors in a com- munity’s progress. He also pointed out the relation befween production and _ progress. “A community that is producing what another community needs and s is progressive. That is an ic axiom, A community that does not produce what another com- munity needs and demants is an im- possibility. It could not, as a matter of fact, exist. Therefore, we are safe in saying that productivity and prog- ress shoufd be synonymous. i “If there ure degrees of product- ivity—and there are—then there must be degrees of progress. In such cases the Northwest is singular- ly fortunate. Much or even most of the progress which we note in the upper Mississippi valley is due to its agriculture, for, after all, the chicf producer—the principal factor in the production of raw goods—is the farmer, and the leading interost is in farming. : ‘Productivity Is Gage “The best gage of a community's progress is in its productivity rather than its lack of it. Given a fertile soil and normal climate, a prosper- ops farm condition is bound to re- sult. Those who fall under such cir- cumstances are the exceptions. and not the rule. ; “It is not too much ‘to. say thet no section of the world can boast a finer or more capable farm population than the Northwest. Production records it, and recent history has am- y demonstrated the courage and resourcefulness found in the North- weat. “Of late we haye heard ‘the biennial shouts of, spell-binding politicians, who are, or were, sure that the fate of agriculture depends on their abili- to get more votes than the other low, If that could possibly be e, utlook of the farmer would be a dismal one, to say the least, “Agriculture does not rely on legis- lation fot its support and ultima success, except as it grants the farm- er the normal protection his business needs and aseures him ;the fullest purchasing power of his dollar. It ‘must, and always will need to look to itself for most of what it is and does, Knowing the Northwest farmer 1 do, through association with him, I have. ever confidence that under such conditions the sere of ‘North- sured.” , ‘The police department of Biamartk -| recovered stolen property valued $2,680 during the month of December, ording to a report (presented to os city commission Monday night ‘by ie! role Chris rtineson. bicycle, ‘three ‘au- ‘one leather toflet set, irs of cotton socks, one pair idress sweater, pair of ladies’, ter ot fcity: cou musien antsy. night. The Jetters written, 28; cars stopped for ‘improper lights, telegrams re- ived, telegrams se: 2; legal ed, 5; quarantine tags wt jheusand nine tiundred and nine; 9 ‘seal wer, Rejie- ered to the people of Bismarck di ing the month of December, acco! ing to the rt of City Weighmi J.D. ‘Wakeman, preacnted to the seity scales handled more business 1926, ‘Mr. Wakeman 3, than in any month since the “ht ital of 3, | A total of 3,446 loads ed over the scales during the pai merc and receipts totaled $344.60." i Peaple who are accustomed ta herr. wood by the cord will be'surpris- learn that’ such a ’commodity te now commonly being sold’ by t. at kind of fuel took “dccond ‘piace | to.coal in number of loads "rela ws Tee, .20 5 cattle, £1; 1 inte 11; “hogs, 66; | wht yp rae oe a or ae