Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, December 29, 1909, Page 2

tee | Grand Rapids VoL, XVII.—No, 28. Granp Rapips, Pasca County, MIN at ban 3 = . . S ean ar’ ' = >> WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1909 MINNESOTA SOCIETY. o Two Dollars a Y ear. AUDITOR IVERSON ANSWERS CRITICS In Reply to Article by P. J. Russell Criticising State Auditor on Swamp Contests. STATE GOES NOT SELECT LAND Says Friends of Northern Minnesota Should Get Together and Settle Questions—New Laws May Be Needed. Sometime ago an article appeared in the Bemidji Pioneer, signed by P. J. Russell, criticising State Auditor Iverson’s methods in regard to state swamp land contests. The following is Mr. Iverson’s reply. “I have read the article prepared by i. J. Russell, Esq., regarding swamp land contests. He complains of legislative acts 30 to 44 years ago giving swamp lands to help build rail- roads; that the state did sell its swam lands and used the proceeds for re- claiming them by drainage; that the state is not warranted in defending the contests against settlers. “He gives me too much credit for the personal efforts I may have exert ed. It is evident that learned law- yers do not fully comprehend sone phases of these swamp land matters. “T should like to advance a few thoughts that I hope may clear up some details that appear to be mis- understood. “First: The state did not begin any swamp land contests. We are always onjgihe, defense, “Second: The state does not select ch® swamp land. From the'ftetd notes of the surveyors made by the suveyor general those tracts shown to be swampy are placed in a selec- tion list and, with a copy of the town ship plat, is sent to the state auditor, the local U. S. land office and the general land office at Washington. “If the swamp selections are found ng claims and is varified by commissioner to be free from confl the swamp character ‘ld the the f not of the genera and office prepars a list for the al of the secretary of the inte who sends it to the governor. “The governor acknowledges receipt of the list and reques the secre- to cause a patent to be issued. | » time a patent is sent to the or, When the state’s title is xpleted. That is method of } the co selecting swamp lands for the state. “7 wish to call attention to this—! that the state of Minnesota and its officers have absolutely nothing to do with selecting swamp lands. We only receive those descriptions which the federal officers decide are swamp and belong to the state under the act’ AUDITOR (SSUES TAX LEW FOR 1909 } Highest Rate is in Village of Deer River, Lowest Rate is in | Nashwauk Township. 2.5 Mills Higher Than Rate For Year 1908-Amount of Levy on Tax- able Property inItascaCoun- | ty About $735,000.00. According to the abstract of taxes, which will be completed Thursday, by Auditor Spang and his assistants, | the people of Itasca county will be required to pay the sum of about | $735,000 in taxes for the year just closing. This sum is assessed on the valuation of $23,031,598, which accord } ing to the assessment and the chang- | es made by the county and state boards of equalization, is the tax- able value of all the real and person-) al property in Itasca county To raise the amount of taxes stat- ed requires an average rate of about 37 mills, a little higher than the rate for last year. The rates for the varjous villages and towns has not yet been figured up, but it has been ascertained the highest rate is 61.6 mills, which is for the village of Deer ge ae | peo es HOLD INSTITUTE ~ AT GRAND RAPI One at 10 O’clock a. m. and ~ 1:30 p. m. Mr. F. B. McLeran, of Marshall, Practical Dairyman and Fruit Grower. Preparations are being made to hold a farmer’s institute at Grand sessions will be held, one at 10 o° clock a. m., and another at 1:30 0o’- clock. The institute will be in charge of F. D. McLeran of Marshall, nn., @ practical farmer and fruit raiser. He is also an authority on clearing stump lands and those who have tracts to clear should not fail to hear his talk. Mr. McLeran will be assisted in the work by H. G. Larson, of Berner, Minnesota. Mr. Larson has a dairy farm thirty miles from a railroad in Clearwater county and his experience in overcoming difficulties in northern Minnesota should prove of great be- nefit to farmers in this vicinity. .An- other speaker at these meetings will River. The lowest rate is 20.1 mills, in Nashwauk township. The rate for the village of Grand Rapids is 51.4 mills and is figured as follows: 2.8 mills for state revenue; 8.4 mills, district No. 1; 5.2 mills, Grand Rap- ids township; 13.5 -mills,- village- of Grayd,.Bapids... The total tax levy in Itasca county for state revenue is $64 488; county appropriation $190,000; Village revenue $93,287; township re- venue, $387,161. Of the county ap- propriation, $100,000 is for revenue, $45,000 for roads and bridges, $15,- 000 for poor fund, $15,000 for bonds and $15,000 for interest. The totals | not being added up, it is impossible to give a detailed account in this issue, but the coming week, the Her-) ald-Review will give a more com- prehensive account of the rates and amounts for the various villages and} towns. GRAND RAPIDS TO. HAVE NEW HOTEL L.R. Root Will Erect Modern Brick Building To Be Called | Great Northern. Grand Rapids is to have a new) modern three-story brick hotel build-! ing. The building will be erected of March 22, #860. “An intending homesteader or scrip entry man may, before approval or patent, contest the selection made for the state, if he has a quarter on the land \before the township was surveyed. The burden of maintain- ing the defense is on the state. “Tf the land is in fact swamp, as proven by an_ investigation in the field by competent land exmainers, it should go the state. If it is found to be not) swampy the &tate’s side is promptly dropped and the settler or claimant wins as a matter of course. “The people have placed me in charge of the state’s land interests. and have a right to expect that I will defend their lands from any attack, or as the law directs, to the extent ef my ability. If I should default in making a proper defense at the hear- ing before the local land office the state would lose in every such in- stance. This world be equivalent to a relinquishment or conveyance of the land in question direct to the cpntestant. “Surely no one, and certainly an attorney at law, would presume to say that the state auditor possessed the authority to thus convey lands belonging to the state. “On the contrary, if the land is proven to be dry, the contestants is victor, but is such cases the state’s interests will have been pro- tected, even though a loss of. land results therefrom. No one desiring only right and justice will contend that the state auditor should not use (Continued on page four) by L. R. Root and when completed will cost between $30,000 and $35,000. Operations will commence about April 1, and the building will occupy the present site of the old Great Northern hotel, which will be torn down, at the corner of Houghton avenue and Third street. It will have a frontage of 60 feet on Third street and 100 ft. on Houghton avenue. The building will stand three stories high and will have an immense basement The hotel will have between 70 and 80 rooms and will be thoroughly modern insevery respect. It will be known, as the Great Northern. Mr. Root is one of Grand Rapids’ pioneer citizens, having resided in Grand Rapids for the past 18 years. He has served on the police force and as a member of the village coun- cil and has.a large number of friends} book, which is full of very valuable | throughout the north country who wil] make it a point to register at the Great Northern when in Grand Rapids The location of the new hotel is ex- cellent—two blocks from the depot and oh the main business street of the village—and should prove a pay- ing investment to Mr. Root. The building wil be used for hotel purpos- qs only. | does not |and machin |they pay him interest on his imvest- be Mr. Frank Gibbs, of St. Paul, one of the most successful and ‘well- knpwn gardeners in the state. Mr. Gibbs has devoted his time’ and atten- tion for the past thirty years to fact that northern. Mirmesota~is des: excellence of its garden, truck. Prof. A. J. MeGuire, of the North- east Experiment farm, will also as- sist in the work at the meeting. None are better qualified than he to ad- vise the farmers of this section as to the best means to p e in mak- ing the farm a business success Everyone who is interested in his or her material welfare should attend these meetings. The average farm- er has as large an investment as the merchant, yet the farmer keep accounts, that is, a majority do not. Yet he does busi- ness with several animals, his crop not knowing whether average ment or not. Many farmers” give |a cow $20 or $30 worth of feed and} put in $10 to $20 worth of labor on a cow and at the end of the year they have nothing to show for 4#t but the cow. Some cows never give value received for the amount of feed jconsumed while others turn over a |nice balance on the profit side. Which| ine county seat to the St. Louis kind of a cow are you keeping? You can learn all about it at the farmers’ ingtitutp. The speakers coming here are all practical and successful men, who, like many other farmers, are too bus: to keep books, yet they will show how many valuable facts may be known by farmers regarding the var-| by| jous enterprises of the farm, just a few figures. These farmers’ ‘nstitutes which are being held in every county in the state, are designed to bring togeth- er to exchange ideas and to help each other. The best farmers are the men who know something about the things others are doing and it has been noticed that the brightest and most successful farmers are always pre- sent at these meetings. Durimg the course of the institute the new Farmers’ Institute Annual No. 22 will be distributed free. Every farm houses should have a copy of this information on agricultural lines. There is no charge of any kind to those who attend these meetings. BHverything is paid for by the state and the local business men. Home Talent Play. The Grand Rapids Dramatic club which so successfully presented the} Prince of Liars under the auspices Rapids on Tuesday, January, 11. Two!|t THE COUNTY BOARD Will Hold Two Sessions January 11,/Record of What the Commissioners Brick Building Now Only a Shell, Accomplished in the Year Now Ending. The Meeting Will Be In Charge of |Fine New Bridges Built and Other | Frozen Hydrant Delayed Them at _ Important Improvements Made Buried Political Differences for Public Good. Good work for the taxpayers was F by done a ‘var now cfusing meeting * > Herald-R ne proceedings u the last twelve montis nefit ef its readers and is pleased énnounce that the present board one more and better work than lany of its predecessors. And this does not mean there have not been other good boards, but that the com- missioners now in office have work- ed to better advantege. Wmnhile divided im their political faith they did not permit politics to enter into their work. They differed at times of course as men always do, but the differences were honest differences not inspired by politics. The result have been highly gratifying for the taxpayers. To give one instance of the zeal with which the commissioner have labored, they established nearly one-third of all the county roads dur- | bas county revenue; 13.5 mills, school market gardening and his talk should|ing 1909. prove very imteresting in view of the iS Most important of the improve- ents have been im road and bridge tinéd toubecomé far famed tor the | Work. Phe biggest piece-of road work jundertéjigen, aws the ibuilding of a road across the bog north of Deer River, 2 distance of about ten miles. Prior to its construction the country north of the bog had been shut off from road connections with the county seat. Half a dozen townships north of the bog are greatly benefit- ed by this improvement. The state constructed a great ditch: across the bog and the road was constructed along sidé e ditch. Material from the excavation was used in mak the grade of the road way. | { jroad across the bog between Black- Prior to this year there was no \berry and Feeley. Thanks to the that between Marble and Nashwauk. There was a good road; from Grand Rapids to Marble and from Nashwauk |to the’ St. Louis county line. Im- | proving the road between Marble and | Nashwauk gives a fine highway from .county line. Another improvement of importance is the work done on the highway between Grand Rapids and Cohasset, a much traveled road. The hills were cut down and the road widened. Most of the road work was done under contract and the system 'has proven very satisfactory in its results. The total amount spent up- on road improvements was $28,696.99 A system was adopted of numbering all county roads, which now total 74, 21 of which were established this years, showing that the board is giving every outlet possible to set- tlers and doing all in its power to aid in the agricultural development of the county, ae Several fine bridges were built. Notable among these are the steel and concrete bridge erected across the Big Fork river, in the town of Wirt, the cost being born by the county and town jointly. Another joint bride was built across the Big Fork at Pop- ple. Still another joint bridge, of steel, wood and concrete, was con- structed across the LaPrairie fiver at Balsam. Four additional main cells and a cell for the insane were added +o the county jail at a cost of $2,500. Plans have been prepared, which the state board of control has approved, for an addition to the county jail con- |taining 20 cells, for which bids will Mr. Root stated to a Herald-Review} of the Episcopal guild, sometime 96016 jot sliordi. A hot water heating representative that the plans have been drawn and everything has been settled with the exception of th’ | bers of the cast are working hard to) minor details and that work will com- mence about April 1 and will be rush | pect to stage it during the latter part | ed to completion as rapidly as pos-|of January. Definite announcement | sible. CrmerPeat Page, are at work on a rural drama en- titled The Country Kid. The mem- get it in presentable shape and ex- will be made im our next issue. | plant has been installed at the poor |farm and a cement floor has. been put in the basement of the poor house. Notable and necessary im- provements (Continued on-page four) DID SPLENDID WORK’ DAMAGED BY FIRE commissioners there is one, now and a mile of it is corduroy road. An-|20t over $300, but the .eontents of other main road improvement was|the cafe and the second floor, \ i were made in the county ice & Hage MCALPINE BLOCK Result of Early Morning Blaze in Bitter Cold. FIREMEN'S SPLENDID BATTLE WON | First—Flames the Result of Gasoline Explosion in Restaurant. H | McAlpine’s two story bri at the corner of Le da | Third s t, which is oc building Hilling’s grocery and conf or stor the IXW cafe and M. Mc Alpine’s saloon, was damaged by fir this, morning. The building caught fire in the IXL_ cafe, about 6 o'clock, by the ‘explosion of a gasoline tank attached | to the coffee urn, the explosion being jcaused by a leakage of gasoline. The fire soon burned its way between the walls, despite the efforts of the emp" es to exterminate it, and soon the side of the room was in flames. In the meantime a call was sent to the fire department, who quickly responded, but on account of the intense cold, the temperture pe- ing 22 degrees blow, some time elaps- ed before water could be secured from the hydrants. TAX SETTLEMENT FOR SEGOND HALE November Settlement of Money Col- lected by County Treasurer for Taxes. | | | | WARRANTS ISSUED BY AUDITOR Total Tax Collected and Apportion- ed $252,969.19, a Total of $90,069.92, More Than Last Year. The Itasca county November set tlement of money collected from June Ist, 1909, to November 1st, 190 was y;completed the latter part of last week by County Auditor M. A. Sy and Treasurer Glen Strader and the money apportioned to the several funds for which it ‘was levied. 1g The total collections wer« 19, $90,06 me period during the 1908, which is not only evidence Itasca county properties are in value, but also that more being cleared and farmed. State Tax. ate revenue... .. ...... $18,435 45 She SChOGIS= oho. é cas « 10,804 69 Apportioned to County. Revenue Rat Speen waa Rords and bridges Poor icreasin ands are s The fire quickly spread to the side walls, eating its way into the saloon and store, and soon the second floor was also in flames. The firemen were powerless to do anything until water could be secured from the hydrant. - (Water was finally secured and three streams were soon playing on the building, which by that time was a mass of flames. The firemen first directed their efforts to checking the fire in the restaurant and then turned attention to the second floor. The greater portion of fire was con- fronted to rooms directly trol. A large portion of th bove lin roof- j to put out the fire which was burn- ling beneath the roofing and the ' was finally subdued. H. W. Hilling removed a large por- | j tion of his confectionery and gr \stock fore the water was tu on and his damages will be probably | was used as a lodging hou complete loss and the dam total about $1,400. Both carried in- surance. Many of the lodgers escap- ed wit’ only a scanty amount of clo- things, as the rooms-quickly filled wit} smoke, making it impossible to re main but a-short-:space of time. Mr. Hilling immediately secured the Ponti building at the corner of Kindred avenue and Fifth street, formerly oc- cupied by the Unique theatre, moved his stock and speedily made ready to care for the wants of his patrons. Mr. Bileadeau proprietor of the cafe, states he will reingage in the rest- aurant business as soon as a suit- able location can be secured. The building is a wreck, nothing of the rear remaining but the brick walls, the roof has fallen in various places and portions of the north wall is in danger of collapsing. The build- ing was only partially covered by in- surance. Mr. McAlpine states that he does not know the amount of his loss and is undecided as to what he will do in regards to rebuilding. It is understood the insurance is $3,- 500 and the loss probably $10,000. Sold 200 Tickets. That passenger traffic in good on the new Nashwauk extension is evi denced by the following from the Bovey Iron News:—Within eight days, Agent DesJardins of the Great Northern has sold two hundred tickets to Grand Rapids. Each night the station is full of passengers await ing the coming of the train. This seems to indicate that Grand Rapids has a good thing in the coming of this railroad. Already complaints are heard that the hotel Pokegama is too small and that another one should be built.” The Herald-Review for neat and “tasty” printing. S the | Grand ing and cornish was torn off in order |} | Moos« Bends .. Iptevest Apportioned to Towns. Ardenhurst’ .. 0 ae Alvwood Balsam Bass Brook Bass Lake Bearville .. Bigfork Carpenter Deer River Feeley Goodland Bare : Grattan .. .. esate! Oy eee 1 Rar larcell . F & 94 Park . : 205 Ot a . Duis 25 Ne wauk Yopple Sand Lake Bis Trout Lake : Third River .. .. ..... 128 50 Wirt Renee st: Apportioned MEOMOY® 5 jhocs <isisiss0 Cohasset Deer River Grand Rapids Holman Keewatin 12,890 18 Nashwauk sENeaiot Apportioned to Schools. District No. 1 $20,119 83 District No. 2 .. 36,961 67 District No. 5 326 21 District No. 6 a 2,941 36 District No. 9 .. . . 10, 94 District Nos 10 .. 461 81 District No, 11 .. 369 41 Apportioned State Loans. District No.1 .. ....---++ 3 12 District No. 2 .. ..-.-.-- 3,739 40 District No. 6 .. as 13 18 District No. 9 « 4,973 02 District No. 10 .. 19 84 District No. 11 .. eat 17 45 LAST MEETING FOR YEAR 1909 County Commissioners Wind Up the Year’s Business at Meeting ._: Held Tuesday. The final meeting of the board of county commissioners for the year 1909 was held at the court house Tuesday afternoon. The major por- tion of the afternoon was spent in recommending and rejecting petitions for abatement of taxes, there being an unusually large number to pass on. Petitions for new roads were re ceived and it was decided to estab- lish five new roads the coming spring and work will be commenced as soon as possible. The usual grist of bills was allowed. “The annual meeting of the board will be held Tuesday, January 4. gee > . gatg yoegzeduy ides