Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, August 13, 1913, Page 1

VoL, XXIV. No. 6 Granp Rapids, Irasca County, MINN _ THE BOND SE UP NEXT TUESOAY Important Matter of Raising $300,- 000 to Build Roads--Receiving \ County-Wide Attention _ INTERESTING MEET AT VILLAGE HALL Discussions Monday Evening Devel- oped Strong Sentiment Favor- able to Proposed Bond Issue for Building. In its last issue the Herald-Re- view endeavored to present facts and figures to the taxpayers of Itusea county, that would answer the most pertinent questions be- ing asked relative to the proposed issue of bonds in the sum of $300,- CCQ with which to build public roads. County Auitor Spang went to no little trouble to make a intelligent reply to the informa- tion scught, and no one will © question the accuracy of his state- ments. No intelligent citizen who can read the English language need ke in ignorance of the coun- ty’s present fin al condition, or the additional yearly tax that will be levied upon the average prop- erty owner as a result of the bona issue. These are the two paramoun after deciding inadvisability to questions involved, the advisability or | of raising mopgy with which Y construct a trunk line s: highways in the county. here from Mr. Spang’s comparative figures of last week as published in the Herald-Review: “The rate for bends and int st for several years past-are: £907) 4.54-mnills; 1908; 7.38 a mills; 49C9, 1.34 mil 1910, 1.26 mills; 1914 97 mi 49 80 mills. That is to say. a man’s home was assessed for he would in wo 4912 pay 8&0 ce taxes for the bonds and interest funds of the county. Now, if the propcsed bond issue is consummated, and if the absurd proposition is taken that t'g value of Itasca county will not in- crease during the life of these proposed bonds, then in 1913 tax year, which taxes are payable in 4914, the rates will be for bonds and interest purposes .86 mills; in 41914, .86 mills; in 1915, .86 mills; in 1916 86 mills; in 1917, 1.06 mills iw 1948, 1.22 mills; im 1919, 1.34 mills; in 1920, 1.33 mills; in 1921, 4.31 mills} in 1922, 1.27 mills; in 1923, 1.24 mills; im 1924, 1.06 mills; jm 1925, 1.01 mills; in 1926, 1.00 mills; in 1927, .96 mills; in 1928, .92 miils; in 1929, 89 mills; in ez0, 86 mills; and in 1934, 81 mills. This means for the next four years the rate for such pur- poses will be the same, requiring a / ,., eontribution of 86 cents for every $1,000 valuation cf property, as ' against 80 cents of the present year.” These figures ought to be satis- fying to the man who wants to { know. On an assessed valuation of $1,000 during the life of these bondsatax of about $1.00 per | year would be levied. Is it worth | * -while to have a system of road- } ways throughout Itasca county. that will make possible ramifica- j tions of laterals in every direc- tion for this amount of expendi- ture on each one thousand dollars of assessed valuation? No argu- tment is necessary on this point. ‘The answer is emphatically, YES. At the meeting in Village hall | in Grand Rapids Monday evening, under the auspices of the Town and County Booster club, there was not one dissenting voice to the proposition that roads are needed and that money should be raised } for their building. The meeting wa wot as largely attended as _ it should have been, but those pres- ent were representative men from Grand Rapids, Deer River and elsewhere. Most of those who ex- pressed their views were unreser- wedly in favor of the bond issue. Others favored the proposition on general principles—but, “Will the contracts be properly ) Jet, and the, work properly super- { vised and be completed according -to plans and specifications?” “Will the money thus raised be expended to construct the highways as described in the official notices, r will the commissioners divert hese funds into other channels for other purposes or for other roads? “If these roads are made will they be kept in repair, or be allow- to become almost impassable in time, as so many others have? “Wyo will supervise the work as it progresses?” In answer to the first question it may be said all forms of road contracts are prepared by the state highway commission of Min- nesota, and are+submitted by an engineer of that department, un- der whose supervision the work is carried on. The matter of comply- ing fully with the plans and speci- ficatiens are on a par with ~any public contract to be carried out under state and county direction. The same safe-guards will sur- round this work that attaches to any similar undertaking that is au- thorized by the laws of the state of Minnesota. If it is to be feared that fraud cannot be prevented, if it should be attempted through the connivance of engineers and contractors, and fcr this reason such an enterprise should not be undertaken, then we can only of- tfer that Itasca county should be disorganized and the territory within its confines turned over to the care and keeping of the Chip- pewa Indians, It would be an ad- mission that the people of this county are not capable of self gov- ernment. There are plenty of laws upon the statute books of the state to deal with such acondition as the morbid imaginations of some worthy citizens produce, and if they cannct be efiectively applied it follows that this country is made ur of the most remarkable aggre- gation of human _ incompetents that ever got together in a civil organization. But this is not the e. Itasca county people will average up with any in the state, gad they are just as capable as any to protect their own interests. As to the prcper expenditure of the £300,000 propcsed to be raised or. roads as designated in the offi- cial notice, that is another matter entirely contrclled by , statute. Money raised Ly bond or other- wise for a specific purpose can- nul Le diverted to other uses— net even to other reads. The bonds could not be legally issued, and wecuid not be taken by bond-buy- ers, if the specific purposes for which the money is raisedis not set forth im the preliminary pro- ceedings. To divert this money to any other channel would be in violation of the statutes and would subject the members of the board of county commissioners to crimi- nal prosecution should they dosuch a thing. The members of the board, individually or collectively, have net, in the past, been, guilty of high crimes or misdemeanors, so far as the Herald Review has been alle to ascertain. It is not even probable they would have any de- sire to use any part of the bond issue money in any manner other than as stipulated and expressly provided for. But if they should so desire they would searcely dare to venture on so dangerous an undertaking. Such a contingency is absurd to eonsider. The matter of the up-keep of roads after construction is just as necessary as is the original build- ing. No one can be more cognizant of this fact thna the commission- ers themselves. They would be very gratified if county funds would permit them fo employ men to constantly care for every road in the county. But remember this, Mr. Kicker man: If this system had been followed in the past the county board would be charged with showing favoritism to cer- tain sections. That considerable number of settlers who are prac- tically without roads would justly complain of their condition and point to the fact that some people are nct only provided with good roads but what money is left goes to keep in good repair these same highways, while others have no highways at all. It has been the rolicy of the board to make ti read funds go as far as possible and to accommodate, as nearly as available revenues would permit, all sections of the county. The in- creased revenues of the road and bridge fund will permit of a ge Grand Vapids Wepnespay AvuGusT 13, 1913 | not be Disposed of at Four Per Cent Interest Rate Failing This, Permission Will Be Asked to Raise Rate to Six Per Cent—Meeting August 30. The trustees of School District No. 14 on Monday rejected all bids for the $40,000 issue advertised to be sold for the purpose of making improvements to the Grand Ra- pids High school. Bidders were present from Duluth, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago and Boston, and all submitted bids for the is- sue, but the conditions under which they would take up the bonds were such as make it impossible for the Leard to accept them. Money is very high everywhere in the coun- try and it is decidedly hard ta dispose of any kind of bonds except at a sacrifice in the way of prem- iums. a < It was decided to reject all bids submitted and call for another mect ing of the electors to be held on August 30. At this meeting the board will request that they be authorized to secure the necessary money by borrowing from the state, and if this is not found possible, to raise the interest rate on the bonds to 6 per cent. At the present state of the money market the ef- fort to secure lcans on a basis of ‘any. thing under five and a half or six per cent will prove a failure, or if found acceptable to buyers, conditions will have to be attach- ed which will in the end bring the cost of the loan up to the prevail- jing interest rate or even higher. The board thinks it better business to matke the price of the issue high enough to make it attractive to investors and thus secure the best price at the outset. The sell- ing of bonds at a rate of interest |lower than that prevailing would gain the community nothing, as conditions would be attached that ‘| would mean a higher price event- ually. 12-YEAR OLD GIRL FOUND DEAD IN BED Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Campbell is Called While Household Sleeps. Rubia, the twelve-year-old daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew ‘Camp- bell, residing twelve miles west of Cohasset, was found dead in her bed when her father went to call her about five o’clock on Monday morning. She had retired at her usual hour the night before com- plaining of a headache. About 3 o'clock Mrs..Campbell had been in tosee how she was getting along, and found her apparently asleep. Death must have followed shortly after this as when the father en- tered_the room two hours later the condition of the body indicated that life had been extinct some little time. all county roads. This plan has long been cherished by the board, and the provisions of the Dunn measure, passed by the last legis- lature, makes it possible to carry out such a plan. All of the roads proposed to be *‘Luilt will be designated “state highways,” and .the work of con- structing them will be directly under the supervision of the state highway commissionn. Z f The Herald-Review has endeav- ored to authoratively ascertain and publish such information as the taxpayers generally are seeking with referennce to the important matter that their votes will de- FLED TO SELL. |WOGHENT ASKED SCHOOL BONDS) ON VILLAGE DBT Forty Thousand Dollar Issue Can-| First State Bank of Grand Rapids WILL REQUEST LOAN FROM STATE) SOME KNOTTY QUESTIONS INVOLVED tea Notifies Council That $14,000 Will be Put in Judgment Council Not so Sure Judgment Can be Secured—Bank Wanted Village Deposits and Coun- cil Turned it Down. Cashier Bolter of the First State bank has madé good his therats to put in judgment against the vil- lage of Grand ltapids about $14,000 of orders issued by the municipal corporation and held by his in- stitwlion. At the first meeting of the;present council held in March, would bé paid in two years, Mr. Bolter calls attention to they fact that the claim against the village would outlaw in two more} years, and in justice to the First) State bank he could not afford to let the matter run any longer. Sold Mortgaged Cows, .. John Waltenen, a Trout Lake far mer, was arrested Saturday at.\Du- luth, by Deputy Sheriff Gunderson, charged with having disposed of property upon which there was a mortgage. Waltenen sold the cows to Frank Provenski of Bovey, and as Joseph Stevens held a mortgage against the animals, he proceeded to replevin them as soon as he found out about the transaction. Sheriff Riley went after the cows and brought them to Grand Rapids and a warrant was sworn out against Waltenen. The latter could not be found, however, having left for other parts. Deptty Sheriff Gunderson was sent out to find him and made his errand known to Chief Troyer of the Duluth depart- ment, who assigned a Finnish de- tective to aid in locating the run? away. This was quickly done, and ing before Judge Kearney Monday the case was continued for ten days, and the probabilities are Mr.}Bolter, en bekalf of his bank; appeared and made application for thejdesignatiou of the First State bank as the village depository. He called attenfion to the fact that his bank was carrying several thou- san@ doliars in village orders that were long past due, and as a mat- ter; of justice it. should be give preference in the matter of cartying the village account. He ad- vised the council that if his bank were nnot so recognized he would put the warrants in judgment. Upon a vote being taken the First Nation- al bank was designated as the of- ficial depository for Grand Rapids village funds. At this action Mr. Bolter was very nfuch displeased and again assured the council in no uncertain terms that the First Stat« adighwould- put its holdings agaimis ‘the village in judgment for imme- diate collection. Through Attorney Stone the council was served with official notice of the bank’s action last Monday evening. The village authorifies have twenty days in which to make answer. Members of the council say that answer will be made and that the legality of the orders in question will be attacked. Four years ago the First State bank took about thirty thousand dollars worth of orders on which the village paid a discount of two per cent directly te the bantk. This-action by the council is said to be illegal and hence invalidates the orders issued. In addition~to the payment of the two per cent Mr. Bolter says it was understood between the bank and the council that the orders would be taken up within sixty days after their issue. This would have been a very profit- able transaction for the bank, pro- vided the agreement’ had been ful- filled. The 2 per cent, together with the 6 per cent allowed by law, on sixty days’ time would net a yearly interest of 13 per cent. But for some reason the council failed te make good its agreement, and the acecounnt remained open. The present council has been paying up the First State bank holdings until the original $30,000 has been re- duced to about $14,000. In bringing the action Attorney Stone sues on that the matter will be settled by the payment of costs and an agree- ment between the principals. CREAMERY PICNIC. AT FAIR GROUNDS Next Saturday the Third Annual Outing of Association Will _ Take Place. ise Nearly all arrangéments for the third annual picnic of the patrons of the Itasca Co-operative creamery will be held at the county fair grounds on Saturday _ afternoon. The creamery is an institution of which we should all be proud, as it ‘is making a showing that-dssseted throughout the northern part’ of the state. While its production of utter is not as great as that. of some of the older institttions, certain details of management and results are being held up as ‘éxam- ples for other creameries «to fol- low. wee There will be a short program of addresses in the afternoon, ‘a re- port of the advance made in dairy- ing im this section since thé.last gathering and a report of the busi- ness transacted during the year. ‘There will also be a baseball game between the Split Hand far- mers and Grand Rapids farmers. Picnicers are requested to bring their lunch baskets and dishes but not to bother with cream, coffee or sugar, as these will be furnished free on the grounds. It is to be hoped that everyone will come and help make the affair a success. They will be welcome. FARMERS PICNIC AT BLACKBERRY Annual Outing of Citizens of Black- ‘berry, Harris and Split Hand Is Great Success More than one hundred farmers from Blackberry, Harris and Split- he was ‘brought back. At the hear-| on, these days scouring the forty-eight separate warrants. In| hand townships gathered at Black- the event of judgmennt being giv-|berry last Wednesday to enjoy one en, each of the forty-eight would|of the most successful picnics that oO es . ;: $240. Unfavorable ‘comment has ae in Ais scoion 2 ean been made on this method of pro-| Country. ceedure, the inference being that| The forenoon was devoted to a it is done for the purpose of in-|program consisting of addresses creasing the costs likely to be as-|upon various phases of agriculture sessed against the village. Attorney |by Superintendent McGuire of the Stone and Cashier Bolter disclaim] State farm, who discussed the ques any such intention.. tion of the proper rotation Ke ae It is pointed out by certain mem-} 04 the building up of the soil. bers of the council that the bank| He was followed by 0. J. Niles, cannot gain much time in closing |Who talked on the relationship of up its account with the village |the creamery to the farmers, and through the plan adopted. The|the advantages of the creamery in ease cannot be tried at th - the cee country on account of its «great dairying opportunities. The farmers’ wives brought the basket dinner, which was greatly enjoyed by all. “ The afternoon was given over to a variety of spors. One of the races conducted was by the speak- ers at the picnic. “yt The Splithand and Blackberry ember term, and hence it would be a year from next spring before a tax levy could be made to meet the judgment, if red. Then a year would elapse before the col- lection could be made im taxes. As there is always a considerable per cent of village taxes defaulted,an- other year would pass by before th developinng this section of plains Road Porposition.” plains Road Prcposition. AT THE STATE Fa Itasca County Wants to Make the Best Display in Its History’ and Will Do It. QUESTION OF A LITTLE MONEY Secretary Buell Thinks That a Three Hundred Dollar Ap- Propriation is TooSmall to do County Justice Cc. A. Buell, secretary of the Itasca County Agricultural associa- tion, and Prof. W. J. Corwin, the new agricultural instructor for School District No. 1, are busy county for products to be sent to the state fair at Hamline, on Sept. 4 to 6, inclusive. Both of these gen- Uemen are enthusiastic over ‘the outlcok this year and say that if Itasca county does not secure a, place up at the head of the col- umn it will be on account of a lack of funds making it impossi- ble to get the exhibit together and. not because of any inferiority in the products themselves. . Secre- tary Buell says that seldom if ever has he seen the crops inthe coun- ty sO uniformly good. In this Prof. Corwin bears him out. One of the ather of these gentlemen have Leen in nearly every. part of the ecurty and while tey/doh not report. bumper conditions, the yields of every kind of produce raised in this latitude will be above the average and of most ex- cellent quality. it would bea pity if the lack of a few dollars should prevent samples of this fine-har- vest from securing the place to which it is entitled among the ccunties of the state. But Itasca counnty will have a display of some kind at the fair, and if it is found impossible to secure this extra $200 the managers will go ahead and do the best they can with the amount at hand. When it is con- sidered that counties like Kooch- iching are able to appropriate $500 for this very important purpose, it would seam as if Itasca should not be allowed to lag behind. The following are the items that go to make up an agricultural dis- play at the fair and the maximum points allowed on each: Grains, 20 varieties—two quarts each, 100 poimts. Grains in the sheaf, 20 samples— 2 inches at band, 100 points. Corn in ear, 6 varieties, viz. yel- low, white and any other color of Dent, Flint, Sweet corn, Pop corn, 20 ears each, 100 points. : Native or wild grasses, 20 sam- ples, two inches at band, 50 points. Tame grasses and clovers, includ- ing alfalfa, 10 varieties, 3 inches at band, 100 points. Forage, including millets, rape, scrghum, peas and vetches’ in straw fodder corn, ete, 100 points. Potatoes, 7 varieties 1-2 bushel each, 200 points. 4 Stock vegetables, 10 varieties, three specimens each, 150 points. Culinary and other garden vege- tables, best collection, fresh and in glass, 100 points. 5 Fresh fruits, Southern Section, 30 varieties, Central section 20 varieties, Northern Section 415 varieties, 50 poimts. y Fruits in glass that can be shown fresh, 50 points. Miscellaneous, 100 points.” Any farmer having an exception- ally fine article in any ofthe pro- ducts mentioned above should no- tify the secretary, C. A. Buell, La- prairie, or same may be left at the stores of Henry Hughes &Co., or the Itasca Mercantile Co., and same will be gathered up and ar- ranged in their proper places by those having the exhibit inc! Read the articel on pa under the caption “ r betterment of conditions in the fu- cide next Tuesday, August 19. The ture, and among other very de- | matter is now up to the electors sirable changes will be the orea- jand it is for them to do as their tion of a fund for the up-keep of ' judgments may dictate. a TN full amount could be paid. At the jall teams played two | discussion on the rate of payment made in thelhoth of which were won by Black-|bond issue of $300,000, ‘past the entire remaining amount ja. | [Spang as the source of berry. oe is a