Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, February 5, 1913, Page 12

PAGE EIGHT MOUNTED POLICE FORCE FOR NORTHERN WILDS Plan for Body Modeled After Canadian Border Squads Advocated fo" Itasca County by J. B. Michela. It Promises Protection And Aid to Isolated Settlers in Big New Country ACT AS FOREST GUARDS AND GAME WARDENS Three Services Could Be Combined Under Present Cumbersome and More Effectively Done Thay Overlapping System, Under Which Forestry Crews and Wardens Potrol Same Territory, and Limit Activities to Their Own Prescribed Duties. The building of good roads, schools, the development of agri- cultura] resources, and the protec- tion of farming lands against the wiles of the speculator, have re- ceived much attention locally, and been handled in a way that is more than creditable to the men and organizations involved. But the welfare of the individual settler, and his protection against sudden misfortune in his rude home in the woods, far from neighbors or the possibility of succor from city or village, seems to have been neglected, or not to have been thought of. It has been a case of letting him shift for himself, while all were being benefitted by his stern task of taming the wilder- | nessa J. B. Michela, chief of the Oliver Iron Mining company’s police in the Canisteo district, has a plan that will ° remedy this condition, if applied, as well as police the wilderness, where now every man is a Jaw unto himself for the time being. This plan is the creation of a mounted police body, modeled on the same lines as the Cana- dian mounted police, to serve in the county, outside of the cities and villages. It is meeting with favor, and if an amendment to the Jaw, permitting its working out, can be secured at the present Ses- sion of the legislature, it is pro- bable that the county will soon be 80 policed. Speaking on this subject at a recent meeting of the Itasea Coun- ty Development association at Deer River, Mr. Michela, said: “It is well to advocate the build- ing of good roads and establish- ing goods schools for the settlers in Northern Minnesota, but it is also becoming more apparent each year that additional aid and pro- tection should be afforded the is- aloted homesteader and settler. Th dangers of forest fires should be} averted, early and efficient aid in| case of sev ckness and serious | injury, and a feeling of helpful se- curity and means of communica-| tion with neighbors and village | communities should be established. “The. people of the towns and| villages have good streets and cement sidewalks for their con-| venience; nevertheless, they have} many other comforts and necessi- ties which help in making life worth living. Fire and police pro- tection are furnished to safeguard property and life. In time of trouble help can be quickly sum- moned. But the frontier far-} mer has no one to depend upon | for assisstance, except his dis- tant neighbor. If he or a mem- ber of his family becomes _ sick or meets with a bad accident, or his property is threatened with fire or flood he has no recourse for aid. Why, then should he not be given the same kind of help that is afforded the people of cities and towns? Some may say that the conditions are different, and that the same system cannot be ap- plied to rural communities. Of course conditions are different, but a system can be organized that would fit the conditions. “It may be alleged that we are already furnishing the rural popula tion protection by the forest ran- gers and their patrolmen. That is true, but that is not all. Their duties end at a defined place. They are hired for fire purposes only and when they do not see a smoke raising above the tree-tops, they do not trouble themselves ‘to find out what further aid they may ren der the farmers in their district. There are also game wardens who cover the same territory as the fcrest rangers and their business is to see that the game laws are not violated. Their in- *QOIAJOS UO VY} YPM Spus 4saJe' They offer = ae lp the ettasea Nor is that all. Both of the above officials cover the same ground, ‘over-lap each other’s work, and draw two mne’s wages. Besides the |mounted patrolman could do the jeune of both and also assist and \render additional and greater ser- jvice to the scattered |his district. | Nor are the fire patrolmen and jthe game wardens to blame. It jis the system that is at fault. They are probably doing work as well as they can. The state is not using \its forees to good advantage. There jis too much politics and red-tape jabout the system, as some of |these men declare. Just as long las they are working under these {conditions and these appointments {are made more or less because of politicae] pull, these men can not {dc justice to themselves, to the settlers in |communities they serve of to the state, because they are bound to play the political game and to show partiality in some cases and overlap each otheers duties. If these same men could be used on a mounted patrol system, they coul give three times the service they are giving at present. “It seems reasonable, in view of these conditions, that a general law should be passed by the legis- lature, making it optional with any county in the state to adopt its method of protecting settlers, the forests and the game. The meth- od would bring the control of that work closer to the community it serves, or in other words would leave it to the people of each coun ty to inaugurate the most efficient j system adapted to local conditions. If such laws were passed and the ;state would allow Itasca County that portion of the appropriation that is now made each year to that work, this county could or- ganize a rural mounted patrol sys- tem. Under such a plan I am confident that in twelve months it would prove, not only to the peo ple of Itasca County but to the citizens of Minnesota, that’ we {would have in our county the best organized, most efficient, and least expensive methed of protecting not only our game and forests but, what is more important, assist- ing greatly in advancing the welfare of the settlers. This sysem should not in any way be compared with a state constabulary such as they have in Pennsylvania, but rather with the splendid sysem of mount- ed police of Western Canada. The rural mounted patrol are not to be thought of primarily as policemen but rather as welfare workers among their fellow-men. “For Itasca County some such system as this could be organized. There should be selected a small company of mounted patrolmen— six, eight or ten men—under the direction of a well qualified chief —a man who knew what the duties of mounted patrolmen were and who knew how to have those men render the services expected of them. Each patrolman should be |paid good wages, be supplied with a first class equipment, and there should be selected men not only physically fit for hte work but men cayumged and mentally qualified also. “The service should be kept out |of politics and it should be made plain to the men that as long as they do their work well they had a life tenure of their positions. No fees of any kind should be allow- ed them, and all fees and fines collected in any way should be turned into the county treasurer. The county should be divided into as many districts as there were patrolmen, so that the system of protection would cover the entire county. as nearly as possible in the center of his district, so that he could cover his territory as frequently as possible. He should be on his job-all the time. The chief should live in the town most convenient for him to direct the work of his men. “The present system of forest patrolmen and game should bee abolished, and the rural mounted patrol do the work now as- signed to them. That is, each man would be doing work in a ter- ritory in which he constantly re- sided, and not as at present trying to direct that work from the eapi- tal of the state. And as suggest- ed above, the rural mounted patrol game protection, would afford to {the farmers of his district a feel- ing of safety and render addition- al service as _ indicated below. These settlers would feel that there was a friend passing in and out among them affording protection, jtoo, for farmers and property, to {advise them, to assist them in time of trouble, and to visit them as often as he can cover his dis- trict, regardless of good or bad roads and regardless of weather conditions. When the people once became accustomed to this guar- dian of their welfare, thy would never want to be without a rural mounted patrol. “Let us mention a few of the duties a mounted patrolman could do in his district besides the work wardens: “By properly arranging his route so that he could often visit the farmers the mounted patrol would be enabled to keep in close touch with them and learn their needs and also render them assistance much more expeditiously than at Present. should be to study the text book ;on “First Aid to the Injured” by the American Red Cross Assoia - tion and also carry the first aid so that if he found a farmer, a hunter or a traveler who had met with an accident, temporary re- lief could be given until a doctor could be summoned, or until the injured one could be taken to a place of relief. In this one thing alone he could render a_ greatly needed service and probably often saveghuman life. wardens | | in addition to offording forest and ' GRAND “Part of the patrolman’s duties | § “The njunted patrolman would be in a position to prevent loss of life or serious damage to property by fire ing all of the approaching danger of either. He would also be of service in protecting the settler’s frem school, especially where they had to travel any great distance. “This friend of the settlers should make it his business to learn if there were any persons in desti- tute circumstances and lend them assistance in their need, or re- port such conditions to the proper officials. Some times great suf- fering in endured by those living apart from more populous com- munities before they will let their urgent needs be-known. It is re- ported that those leading a lonely life sometimes become insane while brooding over their misfor- tunes, which might have been pre- vented. Even awful crimes are {committed because of such neglect. and floods by checking | and even the progress made in the the spread of the one or by notify- | children while going to or coming | peacemaker among the settlers in ~ MILLINERY Bl The latest and best inLadids’,Mis- -ses and Children’s trimmer who kncews her business. DRESS MAKING You will “have a fit’’ and be delight- ed if our expert DRESS t MATERIALS 3 » Voiles, nice O Chiffons, Mar- quisettes, Etc. : Laces, Bandings, Fancy Trimmings, Beautiful Exclus- ive Designs. to be a strong arument in favor of the mounted patrol. Not only would he be an invaluable aid to the above officials, but he could inform the county commissioners as to the condition of the roads and bridges improvement of roads within his district. “Another important duty of the mounted patrol would be to act as his district by helping them settle their disputes amicably without go- ing to law, and if he, as peace- maker, used diplomacy and good judgment on those .occasions, he would soon become popular among those whom he served and they would recognize that he’ was a necessity in their district. “This rural mounted patrol serv- ice, in my estimation, would also be one of the biggest inducements and drawing cards to outsiders to come and settle in our county be- cause of the fact that the new-con ers would receive protection that no other county is now giving them. “Now, I do not claim that this patrol system would prevent every amis FURNISHING HOUSE. ribbons, I offer a special sale on them cues re sow | Piday & Saturday | rts re, and Workmanship work for pretty guaranteed. singers. . Girls here’s your chance for | cheap also, One man should be placed village police and to the county] Rosa P Viment; Franklin Steele; “The patrolman’s presence would have a salutary effect: in prevent- ing evil doing of various kinds and unpleasant feature of pioneer life, but I do cliam that under that sys- tem we would have a more simple even be a terror to those who ma-| and less expensive way of pro- liciously plan to waylay the far- | tecting our people who live in rur- mer going to or from the city.|al districts than we now have. I Then, too, he could probably of- | say this absolutely without any self ten have occasion to help the/ishness or any intention on my settler on his way home who, per- | part of casting reflections on those chance, had imbibed to freely in|.who may be serving under ° the town. ‘Sometimes a person under |'present system. the influence of liquor is found “Many people have heard of the by the way-side unconscious, and | Canadian mounted police and of the in this climate may be severely, |'splendid men they are and what or fatally frozen. He could |-great good they have accomplished. also be useful in directing those |.Of course, our conditions are dif- who become lost or showing the |‘ent, but a Minnesota mounted pa- way to inquiring travelers. ‘trol could be made to fit the con- “In new and sparsely _ settled | ditions. , stray away and is lost. The “In conclusion let me say that country the settlers’ stock often |‘there are several ways of organiz- mounted patrol could be of ser-j<ing a mounted patrol besides that vice in directing the owners to |‘above mentioned, but in my opin- where they might be found. Like- ‘ion this is the best way. I very ly he could deliver messages from \greatly appreciate the interest mar< one farmer to another while cov- |/ifested by the Itasca County Devel- ering his beat, thereby saving the ‘opment association in the possibi- busy man much valuable time. (lities of a mounted patrol system “In all sparsely settled and wood-‘and appreciate their splendid en- ed country an orportunity is af-|dorsements of these subjects.” forded for robbery, arson and even Tuurder, as in the case of the Ken- 'arcel nedy affair at Crooked lake. Had That Sinful P: Law. a patrolman in that district, who ‘The pareel post law has been knew the criminal tendencies of |™uch praised, but now that it is this man when drunk, happened | eing soem sure -soloeehy, ab along on his horse and found him | Will evidently be made the goat under the influence of liquor in his}? S0me instances. The state shack, he could have taken care |€ame department is fearful that that no crime was committed. It; birds may be shipped out of the is not unusual to have a number of} BOttke:n counties to market thru. that class of shackers living in| the postoffices, as eS Ach pioneer conditions and they are | that allows inspection by the war- quite as likely to get rdunk in thei | 4ens. And the state cannot make shanties as in the saloon in town. | aay law intervening with the United “An official of this kind would bq =2t¢8 mail in any way. of great assistance to the city and * Se = Frances McCauléy; Sarah S. Wiltse; officers in helping to capture men Torrens No. 90. who have committed robberies and | sta Minnesota, County of Itasca— other crimes and seek to hide in’ ay é the woods. His assistance would be| District Court, Fifteenth Judicial Dis. effective even more if telephone} ct : ‘matter plication of stations wereplaced on the patrol- ae ok on ig Iron Com- man’s route. This service of ak i ~ pany and Guilford G, Hartley, to reg- ing gross criminals ought of itself | ist#r the title to the following des- S MINNESOTA. LADIES’ TAILORING Suits, Skirts, and Coats, well welllined and a per- fect fit guaranteed. FANCY WORK Pillows, Towels, Centerpieces, Scarfs, Doilies, Aprons, Pin Cush- ions, Caps, Bags, RAPIDS. ack Ribbons verstocked on black taffeta CORSETES 4 BRASSIERRS A full line of Case Corsets always on hand. Once worn, always worn. Cor- sess made to order. The best on the market. hair bows. ther ribbons remnants PARABREBERBECRERE CERO CaEOOVECCEE TE CO OS eee SERRE FHP FERRE EEE RESP EPSP EPP EP EEE PEST E EE OT? Telephoning Saves More Than Dollars and Cents By telephone you waste no time, no energy, and avoid tiresome trips. Telephoning is the pleasant, the convenient and the economical way to travel, whether for a short distance or for hundreds of miles. Suppose you compare long distance telephone rates with the railroad fare to any town, and add the cost of lost time and wasted energy in making the trip. Then, it’s very likely you’ll decide in favor of the telephone. BELL ® SYSTEM —__ —_—_—_—! MESABA TELEPHONE COMPANY a : cribed reai estate, situated inItasca; Caroline H. Addison (formerly Carolin County, Minnesota, namely: HL Steele; William E. Steele; Henry J ‘The south half of the southwest| Hemmens; The Shogomoc Company, quarter (S 1-2 of SW 1.4) and the south 4 west quarter Of.the southeast quarter (SW 1-4 of the SE 1-4) of Section twen- ty- nine (29), and the northeast quar- ter of the northeast quarter (ne 1-4 of ne 1.4) Of section thirty-two (32), all in Township fifty-six, (56) north of range twenty-four (24) west of the Fourth Principal Meridian according to the United States government sur- vey thereof, Applicants, vs. The New York Trust Company of New York, a corporation; Great Northern Railway Company, a corporation; Bank ers Trust Company of New York, a corporation; The E. I. du Pont de Nemours Powder Company, a corpora. tion; Thomas Kingston, Edward forth;Fannie Goforth; Isaac E.Goforth, unknown heirs of Walter C. Goforth, deceased; Jerusha L, Wells; F other persons or parties - claiming any right, title, estate, lien or interest in the real estata describ- ed in the application herein, . Defendants. ~ Summons in Application for Registration Mesaba of Land. 3|The State of Mimnesota to the above T. P. Hornseth, Dan McKeeby, Bovey| mamed Defendants: —~ Base Bali Association, a co-partner-| You are hereby summoned and juir. ship; Independent Sehool District No. 2, of Itasca county, Minnesota, a public corporation; August Raisanen, Joe Streetar, Edward Chucker, Jack 3 Sovilly; Nick Alecksich, Iron Range Coal & Ice Company, a copart. J. Wells; Frances S. Wells, and all * ca epee