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The Bemidji Pioneer. KAISER & GREELEY. Publishers EQloi'ed In the postoflice t Bentfdji an second-clase mutter. Pr/BMSIIED E.VEKY THURSDAY Official County and City Paper. THE FUTURE OF BEMIDJI. It seems somewhat dangerous to prognosticate the future of a place like Bemidji at a time when the crucial question of whether the citizens appreciate their op portunities by displaying wisdom in government is at hand, yet the PIONEER has always had such confidence in the town that it takes the liberty again to pro phesy. The geographical location of Bemidji is far better than that of Brainerd or Crookston, and the town starts in its career with a much better equipment of rail ways than either of those cities had until they had been doing business for many years. It combines agriculture with lum bering and logging as resources, and has, besides, a summer re sort horoscope that is most un usual Its tributary country is large, and is being so rapidly settled with an aggressive farm ing community that it has be eome the marvel of the state how Bemidji has grown and paid cash. Between Red Lake and Lake George, in Hubbard county, lies a territory one hundred miles long from north to south, with east and west sides at Polk and Itasca counties, ninety miles wide, capable of maintaining' a population of 50,000, and still be no more thickly settled than Morrison county now isand Be midji, in the center of it all, toil ing and thriving like a bee hive. With the Minnesota & Interna tional railway completed to Big Falls and Rainy River, still an other field is opened up, and peo ple will come here to trade from as far north as the Canadian line if our own people now, at the present time, to-day, properly appreciate what is forward to them. But if they do not so ap preciate, they will suffer far more than Brainerd has, from the has ty passage through the city of all that trade which ought to and can easily be made to stop off and be with us. The first lesson for our citizens to learn is: That to-day is not for ever that the fat days of logging operations are the most deceptive of all promises, for they are has ty, prodigal, improvident and open to gross abuse. Bemidji must be beautified, but not at the expense of public hon esty must be beautified, but not at the expense of the community for the benefit of one man or five men. Personal abuse is not pub lic spirit, and ribald brags of cor rupt practices at the expense of the people should not be toler ated, for it is the certain indica tion of a traitor or a boodler. Bemidji can become a city of ten thousand population if it does' not burden itself at its childhood with the nasty reputation that its taxing powers have become the instrument' of corruption and boodleism. The record of Brainerd and Grand Rapids in that line has held them with nose to the grind stone for the last fifteen years, and it is a conceded fact that Grand Rapids sold her birthright for a mess of pottage for bood Jing commissioners. Important industrial institutions will not head in to a nest of corruption ists. That is so well established that any decent business man of experience needs no telling of it. And, if it be necessary, in order to create a decent public senti ment, and to have good govern ment, that the vices of Bemidji should go, then let them go, at least the grosser and more irre sponsible ones. Every business man and home-maker in Bemidji should realize what is before him if he joins in good government, and what he will lose if good gov ernment continues to shirk our office-holders. The PIONEER has no fear for the county under the present board of commissioners. Will the village do as well as the county during the coming year? Just now that is the important ques tion. During the early part of the winter T. B. Walker gave it out that he would erect a mammoth sawmill on. the south shore of Lake Bemidji, about one mile from the business portion of the city, and did, in fact, cause a con siderable amount of material to be placed on the location. Later he was politely invited to step up to the county treasurer's office and pay his accumulated tax bill, which he absolutely refused to do. Afterward he asked the coun ty commissioners to cut the bill in twain, which they refused to doright back. They concluded that if Mr. Walker owed the bill it was their duty to see that he paid it. Results, so far: "nary sawmill and Mr. Walker is try ing to convince the legislature that he is not compelled to pay taxes on his pine lands in the state. "But time ut lust sets all thins even. And If we do but,watch the hour There never yet was human power Which could evade, it unforgiven, The uctive watch and vigil long Of him who treasuesup a wrong/' Byron's Mivzeppa. A resolution has been intro duced in the legislature calling upon the state to recognize the heroic deed of Miss Mae Oryall in risking her life to rescue the baby of Mr. and Mrs. I. Whitney at Lake Itasca. Nearly a month ago Mr. Whitney's home burned in the night and in the hurried escape of the family the baby was overlooked. Miss Oryall, who boarding with the family while teaching school in the neighbor hood, plunged into the flames and rescued the child. It was a deed worthy of legislative recognition, although the history of Northern Minnesota is replete with other examples of heroic actions of its fearless daughters. Our city has been afflicted dur ing a portion of the winter with a concern under the cognomen of the "Empire Theatre." It has been the home of questionable vaudeville performances, fistic encounters, wrestling matches, etc. The new city council re cently passed an ordinance tax ing such concerns the knock-out license fee of $150 per month, and if that sum does not cause the doors to close forever the ordi nance will undoubtedly be amen ded and codified until the propri tors of the .questionable joint will be glad to hie them hence to fields where they will be more welcome. Representative Jacobson says he will swear that members of the house have been bribed. And the people of the state will be lieve him. If he could point to a session where money and beer have not leaked into the thirsty throat of some grafting member at the expense of lobyists, Mr. Jacobson would show stronger signs of being a historian. The editor of the Enterprise spent Sunday at Bemidji'and Monday at Nary. Bemidji is a busy place, its ho tels crowded to overflowing and lot3 of business transacted. Nary merchants are doing a good business and are very hopeful that many new settlers will locate along the Brainerd & Northern Railway this season. The soil is ex cellent and markets .for everything a man can raise ripht at his door. Why shouldn't new settlers come inV -Park Rapids Enterprise. 4m& This nigaatnre is on every box of the genuine Laxative Bromo-Quiniae T*Met the remedy that cure* eold to one day The "Stirring-Up' of Shiftless John. A RonmiD'e of the BaekWoods. A. M. GUEKLEY. Old Si Wenter sat in his accustomed place in front of his tar-papered shan ty which stood on the wooded edge of a Northern Minnesota town. With his chair tilted back against his open door, Si could be seen every fair day in summer wrapt in meditation and to bacco smoke. The neighbors passed by without the trouble of saying "good morning "for he was a grouchy old fellow, without an ounce of socia bility in his system. But lately the young men of the neighborhood seemed to take a sudden interest in the old man, and many a visitor had called at the shanty "just to be neighborly." A niece of Si's had come from some where, and this attractive young lady had lent a sudden charm to the place. The young lady now sits by the side of the old man, sharing his popular game of silent meditation. A young man of the neighborhood, wearing a flannel shirt and a new pair of corked shoes, shuffles up in front of the door. "Howdedo, 81." "Hulloa, John." "Well to-dayV" "Aint a squalin." "Old mn sent me over: got a sick hoss to home. Did you ever have a hoss with the botts?" "Yes." "What did you give'?" "Turpentine." The young, man shuffled around on one foot, with one corner of one eye fastened upon the young lady. She was intensely engaged in watch ing the smoke from a sawmill down the river. If John had expectations of a rous ing recognition his hopes were soon frost bitten. "Did you say turpentine, Si?" "I hope so.,' "Yes and how much?" "All ther way from a tablespoon to a gallon." "Oh, yes." He still shifted from one foot to the other, but with both eyes sweltering in emotion, now fixed upon the medita tive maiden. She continued to gaze at the sawmill down the river. "Wouldn't jar me if we had a rain to-night heard a tree toad a9 I come up." The old man grunted in a language that might imply a corroborative or negative opinion. "Turpentine, you said? Guess I'll trot along." The only answer came from a gur gle in the old man's pipe stem. John shook loose his appealing glance from the meditative lady,- kick ed a chip from a spike in his shoe and reluctantly sauntered away. The young lady continued to gaze at the sawmill down the river. "Who was that fellow?" asked the young lady, with a sudden interest. It was full an half-hour after John's de parture. "Him?" the old man growled: "he's no good name's John Hacks haint wuth the powder takes to blow him up. Father's got the humstead next to us: no good, neither poisoned my dog once father's been there six years an' haint proved up yit haint got 'nough land cleared to make a cabbage patch: no 'count family." Old Si had pioneered so long that his speech had caught the brevity of the Indian and the slang of the "lum berjack." "I think he's kind of good looking," remarked the girl, after another long silence, in the tone of one who had made a great discovery. "Who? him? Never'll hurt his good looks by work. Worked in a lumber camp once: forgot to get up 'forenoon and the bull cook woke him up with a cant hook cum home next day 'an been restin' ever since." A few days later as Si and Luoy, his niece, were indulging in their usual game of silent meditation, John re turned. In a hesitating manner he approached. "Howdedo, Si." "Hulloa, John." John smiled at the old man and would have bowed to*the young lady, but her gaze was firmly fixed upon the smoke arising from the sawmill down the river. "You said tur]entine Si?" "Turpentine is ther stuff." "Good for botts?" "Botts it were." "Well, we tried turpentine 'nd ther hoss died." "Yes: my hoss died too." Then more silencea cold, harsh si lence that grated upon the young man. He stood upon one foot and then upon the other, a vain longing coming to him for more feet to shift upon. "Looks like rain, but I dunknow. We need it too bad, I guess, for it to come never rains when you want it." The young man smiled blandly at his little joke, but the goddess of mirth seemed strangely lock-jawed. The old man knocked the ashes from his pipe and solemnly closed his eyes the young lady continued to find new beauties in the cloud of smoke arising from the sawmill. John turned slowly and gazed at the foad and back to the face of Lucy. Finally he turned to go. He had gone but a few steps when the young lady awoke from her reverie: "Mr. Hacks." A dynamite explosion in a prayer meeting would not have more aston ished the young man. There was such a sweet softness in her voice that his ears fairly leaped at the sound. She gazed at him with a tender look in her eyes and a sympathetic smile upon her gleaming lips: Mr. Hacks I'm sorry for you for the loss of your horse!" He said nothing he groped for words, but .they danced away from him. His heels took pity upon him and hurried him off down the road. And the girl continued to gaze at the smoke arising from the sawmill down the river, whoily unconscious that her bright eyes had burned the brand of love upon his soul, and that her golden hair had woven a net around his captive heart. And thus began the courtship of shiftless, aimless John and the cold and distant Lucy. The summer days had fled, but the rose of love, which had fully blown in the garden of his heart, bad not felt the touch of changing season's blight. In their frequent walks through the sweet-scented pine woods, over paths strewn with golden-rods and gentians, and by streams that seemed to imbibe the purity of the silvery clouds, many a time was he tempted to declare him self. But, although love is swift it often has but dilatory messengers. When finally he published his love he felt sorry for speaking so soon. Lucy threw up her haughty chin and burst into a peal of shocking merriment. "Me marry YOU? HOW dare you ask it? Hasn't your father all on his hands now that he can support? Do you intend to even make him buy the marriage license? Before you think of marriage you should prove that you can keep a wife out of the poor house. The wife you need is one who can handle a pevy to get a move on you. You had better go now, but when you can show that you are able to support a wife you may call again." Another outbui st of scornful laugh ter followed him homeward and whis tled in his ears for many a thought ful day. Winter had gone when he came again. The robin and the sparrow were flitting among the never-changing pines and the frogs had re-established their concert halls in the river bot tom. Old Si sat in front of his shanty door, while by his side sat Lucy gaz ing at the new-born smoke arising from the smokstaok of the sawmill down the river. John it was, but not the John of old. The Mackinaw jacket had made way for a neat-fitting suit, and a diamond as large as a nest egg gleamed from bis shirt front. There was no "How dedo, Si," this time, for love is impu dent as well as ungrateful. Lucy put forth a dainty hand im pulsively. And John broke in: "You told me to call again when I could prove that I could support a wife. You words fired me with am bition, and I thank you for your ad vice. I struck out the next day with an ambition as big as a barn. I got hold of a piece of land where a rail road was going through. I staked out aitovvnsite. I sold lotsI made 'em buy. I'd think of you and I wouldn't let a buyer pass me un. Well, I've g6t money to burn, if the money aint too wet with sweat. I've bought that sawmill over there and that sleek en gineer is making smoke for me now." With a blushing face and sweet, penitent glances Lucy placed her hards on his shoulders. But John stepped back. "Hold on it's my deal. How did I get that townsite? did not take it as a claim. I had no capital. I was thinking of you, and you inspired me. I killed an old trapper and robbed him. But I'm all in now. Those fel lows out there by the road are sheriffs and I am on my road to the pen. Tbey kindly let me stop long enough to pay my respects and make my re port. Well, so long. Them fellows out there 'pear nervous, and I must go and take my turpentine. So long." 'I always knowed there was the right stuff in that man when he got stirred up once," placidly remarked Lucy, after a long and earnest con templation of the smoke clouds hov ering above the sawmill down the river. Upholstering. I have just received a new Line of Samples consisting of Tapestry, Pan tasote and Plushes of all kinds, and am prepared to do all kinds of Up holstering and repairing. If parties, wanting any work done in this line, will drop me a card I will call and look over their work. I will be open until APRIL 1ST, only, and those wanting work done should bring it in earlv. All work guaranteed. I. MORSE. in the Basement under Benny Newton, Another Photographer. R. W. Reed, of Ortonville, has decided to locate in Bemidji and will occupy the studio now being erected for him on the corner of Bemidji avenue and third street. He is a clever artist, as will be proven by the following clipping from the.Ortonyille Star: R. W. Reed has definitely and finally determined upon a change of location, and has accordingly made arrangements. During the two years he has operated the Reed Studio here he has turned out a class and a quantity of work that has been a revelation to the people of this vicinity. With his natural abilities as an artist he has combined industry and a pa tient attention to details that has made his work conspicuous among the productions of. the best artists of the country. He has come very near reaching perfection in pho tography, and it will be* distinct loss to this communication by his departure, though evidences of his skill and artistic talent, as seen in many beautiful views of lake scenerv,residences and famil iar laces will long remain. The character and class of Mr. Reed's work has been a constant and ad mirable advertisement for Orton ville and Big Stone county, and has perpetuated innumerable beautiful views of real worth and artistic merit. It is too bad that Ortonville loses Mr. Reed, but with a large and more inviting field before him, the change was inevitable. THREE GREAT RY.SYSTEMS. Three great railroad schemes will probably be realized in the 20th century. From Cairo to the Cape is building, from St.Peters burg to Vladivostock is being rap idly to completion, and third great road, from New York to Buenos Ay res is already progected. Of this last system, 5,500 miles are alreadj' in operation and 4,300 would be required to complete it. The total mileage of the three systems, when completed would be 18,000 miles of which 9,000 are now in use. One thing can be said definitely in regard to th coming century it will produce for health or appetite nothing better than 'Golden Grain Belt" beer, for it is absolutely pure, brewed from prime barley and seleqtad hops, and aged with the utmost care finally, it is botteled with absolute eleauleness and sent out to all parts of the country to make men strong and healthy. If vou wish to better your health keep this beer in your house. Order fron your dealer or you can be supplied by Fred S. HazeiL Just try. BKMHMI, MINNESOTA. Booth's Pokegama A Good Smoke. Delicious Flavor. Sold by the Leading Merchants and Dealers. Manufactured by Geo. Booth, Grand Rapids, Minn *-1 MM CENTRAL MINNESOTA PoWer ai}d MiHi^ G. SAUK CENTRE, MINN. Central Minnesota Power and Milling Co., SAUK CENTRE, MINNESOTA. At Hotel Markham. H. E. BROOKS, Jr., Representative. PATENTS GUARANTEED Our fee returned if we fail. Any one sending sketch and description of any invention will promptly receive our opinion free concerning the patent- ability of same. "How to obtain a patent" sent upon request. Patents secured through us advertised for sale at our expense. Patents taken out through us receive special notice^ without charge, in THE PATENT RECORD, an illustrated and widely circulated journal, consulted by Manufacturers and Investors. Send for sample copy FREE. Address, VICTOR J. EVANS CO., {Patent Attorneys,) A standard first class sleeper for Kansas City via C. H, & St. P. Ry's pop'lar HedrickRoute leaves Minneap olis 7:50 A. M., St. Paul 8:00 A. M. daily and arrives Kansas City 7:00 o'clock next morning. The "Hedrick" is the mostdlrect andcomfortable route from the Twin Cities to Kansas City, the South, Southwest and California. Apply to ticket agencs or write to J. T. Conley, Asst. Gen. Pass. Agent, St. Paul, Minn., for lowest one way and round trip rates to all point* south and west. THROUGH SLEEPING CAR SERVICE TO KANSAS CITY VIA "THE MILWAUKEE." O YO NEED MONEY We make loans to salaried people holding permanent positions with re liable concerns, upon their own names, without endorsers, payable in partial payments,monthly or weekly,according to the pay-day of borrower. Write us for terms, giving name of employer, length of service, salary and amount desired. Allour business is confidential. Reference-National German American Bank. Minnesota Mortgage Loan Co., 316-318 Pioneer Press Bldg., ST. PAUL, MINN F. Schmidt Proprietor of CITY MEAT MAttKE Dealer in all kinds of Fresh and Salt MEATS. All kinds of SAUSAGE Constantly on band. GASH* Paid for HIDES* Telephone No. 54 If you want--, C.L..Gilbert, General Contractor. And Dealer in-^ BRICK, LIME, CEMENT, ADAMENT, DEADENING FELT, IMPERIAL PLASTER FIRE BRICK, CLAY. Agent for Carey's Roofing. Warehouse, B. & N. M. Tracks. Save your Back And Have your Wood Sawed by as GASOLINE SA W RIG. In Perfect Running order. Wood sawed on short notice. Those wanting wood sawed call on Nay lor & Young and leave orders. Leonard Smith, Prop, BEMIDJI, MINN. "Dat's de genuine article, Missus." That's your faithful cook's ex clamation on beholding a sack or barrel of GEM Flour. She knows a good thing when she sees it. Can't fool her by flowery phrases f.bout other floursshe wants the Gem. You do yourself good wheri yon buy it for her, because you must have it in bread, pie or cake. Alwavs order the Gem. Elf mom Building, WASHINGTON, 0. G*