The Billings gazette. [volume], September 17, 1909, Page 6, Image 6

About The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919

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DECLINING STATUS OF AGRICULTURE
THREATENS DISASTER TO COUNTRY
Unless We Can Increase Agricultural Population and Pro
ducts the Question of Home Food Supply Will
Become Grave, Says James J. Hill
SHICAGO, Sept. 14.-"The idea that
we feed the world is being cor
rected; and unless we can in
crease the agricultural population
and their product, the question of a
source of food supply at home will
soon supersede the question of a
market for our own products aboard."
This was the warning given by James
J. Hill at the convention of the Amer
ican Bankers' association today, dur
ing a discussion of the decline of ag
riculture and its consequences. Mr.
Hill's subject was "National Wealth
and the Farm."
"We have," said the speaker, "al
most reached a point where, owing to
increased population without in
creased production per acre, our honze
food supply will be insufficient for
our own needs; within ten years, pos
sibly less, we are likely to become a
wheat-importing nation; the percent
age of the population engaged in ag
riculture and the wheat product per
acre are both falling; at the same
time the cost of living is raised every
where by this relative scarcity of
bread, by artificial increase in the
price of all manufactured articles,
and by a habit of extravagance which
has enlarged the view of both rich
and poor of what are to be considered
the necessaries of life. These plain
facts should disturb and arouse not
only the economic student but the
men who are most intimately related
to the wealth of the nation and most
concerned that it shall not suffer loss
or decreases."
Mr. Hill declared that never yet
has enhanced cost of living, when due
to agricultural decline and inability
to supply national needs, failed to end
in national disaster.
Mr. Hill said the farm is our main
reliance and that every other activity
depends on that. He asserted, how
ever, that the majority of people fail
to realize practically the declining
status of agriculture in the country.
"They are misled by the statistics of
farm values and products, mounting
annually by great leaps, into thinking
that this absolute increase implies a
relative advance of this industry as
compared with others," said he. "Ex
actly the opposite is the case. I refer
not merely to the quality and results
of our tillage, but to the setting of
the human tide away from the culti
vated field and toward the factory
gate or the city slum. This is some
thing whose consequences for evil are
as certain as if the aggregate depos
its in all the banks of this country
were decreasing by a fixed percent
age every ten years, while their loans
were increasing by another percent
age just ap stable. You would know
what cat~j tirophe that assured by and
by. .
"Ij/means the same thing, in kind
anV consequences, when the agricul
_iral population, the producers and
. depositors in the great national treas
ury of wealth, is declining year by
year, while the city population, which
thrives only by drawing drafts upon
the land and cannot live a year after
these cease to be honored, rises at its
expense. Yet not only is such a crisis
approaching, but it is being hastened
by legislative stimulation in favor of
other industries while overlooking
this.
"In 1790 only about 3.4 per cent of
the American people lived in towns.
At the time of the Civil war the per
centage had risen to 16. In 1900
more than 31 per cent of our popu
lation was urban. The change is por
tentous; and there is no doubt that
the coming census will show it to
have proceeded in the last ten years
with accelerated speed. In spite of
the warnings of economists, the
amelioration of farm life, the opening
of new and attractive employment on
the land through the spread of irriga
tion and the growth of the fruit in
dustry, the encouragement of public
men and the wider dissemination of
agricultural education, the percent
age of our population who work on
the farm constantly declines. If that
proceeds too far, it is as if dry-rot
had eaten through the timbers sup
porting some great structure. We
should consider now the change ac
complished and that impending.
"With our annual increase of over
1.5 per cent in population from natu
ral causes, and immigraaion that has
not been less than three-quarters of
a million any year since 1902, there
will be from two to two and a half
million more mouths to feed every
year. Having in view this increase
in population, the declining average
yield per acre of cultivated land in
the United States after it has been
farmed for a few years, the rise of
per capita consumption with a higher
cost of living and the movement of
the working population away from
the land, the time is ow approaching
when we shall not only cease to be a
wheat-selling nation, but will find it
necessary to import a portion of
what we consume.
"Our foreign trade in the past has
rested mainly on our exports of pro
ducts drawn from the earth directly,
or only once removed. Our manu
factures for export are to a large
extent natural products subjected to
a few simple processes. How are we
to meet the immense trade balance
against us, how prevent financial
storms of frequent occurrence and
destructive force; how feed the com
aig millions, if the farmer, who pays
most of the bills, has retired to the
city or the country town in order
that his children may the better enjoy
their automobiles and enter into the
delights of the social game?
"A stationary or declining product,
a soil becoming annually less pro
ductive, a revolt against the life of
the farm and a consequent rise in
I wages amounting, since 1895, to 55.6
per cent with board, compel such a
rise of all prices as bears ruinously
upon town and country alike. Our
real concern is not so much to save
the home market from the inroads of
the foreigner as to keep it from de
struction by an enlarged city life and
a neglected country life, a crowded
artisan population clamoring for food
and a foreign demand for the product
of their wages limited to fields where
the competition of all the world
must be met and overcome.
"The consumers of bread through
out the world increase by probably
from four to five millions every year.
In our country we shall require from
13,000,000 to 15,000,000 bushels more
annually for seed and home con
sumption. The domestic supply can
not be maintained by present meth
ods. Not only is the cultivation of
the soil being neglected, but it is also
notoriously ineffective. Our wheat
product per acre from the older lands
falls steadily. Our national average
is less than half that of England or
Germany, both of which have soil in
ferior to our own. Only by bringing
rich new land under cultivation have
we prevented the fall from becoming
abrupt. Good farms in the Mohawk
valley in New York state forty years
ago were worth from $100 to $150 per
acre; now many are sold at from $25
to $30. This is not because wheat has
become cheap, for it is dear; not en
tirely because of western competition,
but because there is neither good cul
tivation nor enough cultivation. The
younger generation throngs the
cities; and the land, rented by its
owners to tenants careless of every
thing but immediate profit, is abused
and robbed of its fertility. In New
York state 20,000 farms are for sale.
The southern central portion shows a
progressive loss of population. If
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
County Commissioners, Yellowstone
County, State of Montana,
Regular Session.
Third Day.
Billings, Mont., Sept. 8, 1909.
The board met this day at 10:00
o'clock a. m., pursuant to adjourn
ment.
There were present C. H. Newman,
chairman, M. W. Cramer and G. F.
Burla, commissioners, and A. B. Ren
wick, clerk.
The minutes of the last session
were read and approved.
The quarterly report of F. L. Mann,
justice of the peace, Billings town
ship, for the quarter ending August
31, 1909, was presented to the board
and approved.
The quarterly report of E. F. Davis,
justice of the peace, Huntley town
ship, for the quarter ending August
31, 1909, was presented to the board
and approved.
The official bond of T. H. Symms,
as special road supervisor, was pre
sented to the board and approved.
The following bills were presented,
approved and warrants ordered drawn
in amounts named:
Claimant. Nature of Claim. Amt.
E. T. Barnum Iron Works,
jail cells at Custer ......$ 113.96
Mrs. Sample, laundry for
court house ........ ...... 3.45
Geo. Kinnick, mileage and
telegram . ........ 4.40
Twin City Photo Co., sup
plies ........ ...... ..... 5.00
Smith Cab Co., cab for sheriff 10.25
A. J. Mitchell, salary county
attorney stenographer, July 100.00
Joe Sample, salary janitor.. 85.00
Joe Sample, salary assistant
janitor .......... ........ 65.00
Joe Sample, salary, assistant
janitor ........ .......... 65.00
A. J. Mitchell, salary county
attorney stenographer, Au
gust ....... ........... 125.00
Jas. A. Clifford, justice fees. 33.00
F. L. Mann, justice fees..... 94.50
First National bank, services
deputy assessor, account as
signed ......... ....... 151.80
Smith Cab Co., hack hire... 1.50
First National bank, witness
fees, insanity case, account
assigned ........ ........ 3.00
Booth Burton, painting at
jail .............. ........ 62.00
B. C. Lillis, work on county
records .................. 4.00
McDowell Bros., supplies for
court house ...... ....... 25.40
expenses ........ ........ 8.80
State Publishing Co., codes.. 42.00
F. L. Mann, services as acting
coroner .................. 28.70
Yegen Bros. Inc., supplies for
jail ............ .......... 17.80
Howland & Ask, team for ap
praisers .................. 3.00
Art Metal Const. Co., locks
for boxes .......... ..... 3.00
William Gallagher, taking
deposition .. .... ....... 8.00
H. E. Howell, livery for post
ing election notics ....... 3.00
Harry L. Wilson, office ex
pense .......... ......... 10.00
Billings Repair Co., repairing
lawn mower ......... ..... 1.75
Rice, Fulton & May, typewrit
er for auditor ............ 110.00
A. M. Lanier, livery hire.... 3.50
Carl Chandler, depositions.. 13.16
anybody imagines that this process of
exhaustion and abandonment or trans
fer to other uses is peculiar to the
east, let him look at Iowa, whose av
erage wheat crop in the five years
1883-87 was 29,682,560 bushels, and in
the five years 1904-08 was 9,976,488
bushels. In 1908 it was 8,068,000.
"All this has come about notwith
standing economic changes favorable
to the occupant of the farm. The per
fection of our transportation system
has made a market accessible to every
farmer, and carries his produce at
the lowest rates in the world. His
life has become more comfortable
and desirable. But the increased cost
of living bears most hardly upon
him, while it entices his children to
the centers where they think that the
larger income now found necessary
may be won more easily. And while
the enhanced price of grain may in
duce him to enlarge his wheat acre
age, it does not lead him to more
careful tillage.
"You deal with wealth in its most
condensed and universal form. That
wealth is the slow accretion of many
centuries. It changes its form and
occupation with wonderful facility;
but, so slight at all times is the mar
gin between the world's production
and its consumption, that its savings
have been acquired almost as slowly
and painfully as the miser's hoard.
Practically only a few months lie be
tween a universal cessation of pro
duction and the destruction of the
human race by starvation. The mar
velous diversity of modern industry
and its products blinds us to the
bare simplicity of the situation. Those
who, like you, are main factors in
supplying to industry the means to
carry it on, who open up the main
and lateral channels through which
the fertilizing stream of capital may
be turned upon the otherwise barren
field of labor, should always be mind
ful of the first great source and
storehouse of national wealth, and
the most sensitive whenever it is de
pleted or endangered."
Billings Coal & Ice company,
ice for court house ....... 5.00
W. H. Tippet, developing for
sheriff ................. 3.20
A. B. Renwick, postage and
express .......... ....... 13.30
J. C. Orrick, kindling for jail 4.00
Irwin-Hodson Co., supplies
for county clerk ......... 4.00
Geo. Kinnick, mileage and
transportation ........... 5.90
H. M. Brayton, examining pa
pers .................... 36.00
First National bank, defend
ing prisoner, account as
signed ................... 50.00
J. R. Nelson, services as de
tective ....... ......... 48.25
W. L. Bishop, services exam
ining physician ........ 5.00
Robt. J. Brennen, justice fees 18.25
Billings & Eastern Montana
Power Co., light court
house and jail ............ 35.70
L. F. Davis, justice fees..... 15.00
J. C. Orrick, transportation. 42.50
C. S. Prater, mileage court
stenographer ....... .... 31.00
Cliff Lindsey, examining phy
sician insanity case ...... 5.00
Crystal Ice Co., ice for diph
theria patient ............ 2.50
Logan & Mullison, lock for
jail .................. . 9.00
Bacon & Calhoun, work on
ownership books ......... 147.50
John Todd, services as ap
r lil p ..... ............. 16.00
Bell Phone Co., phone rent. 14.10
Montana Water Co., water for
jail ............ ......... 34.25
Montana Water Co., water for
court house ........... 42.05
W. F. Williamson, freight and
labor on jail cells at Cus
ter .......... ............ 30.04
W. A. Enochs, hack hire for
sheriff ................. 10.25
C. S. Prater, salary court
stenographer ........ .... 110.70
Chas. A. Taylor, salary depu
ty attorney .............. 150.00
F. E. Williams, salary depu
ty county clerk ........... 125.00
Ira L. Whitney, salary county
treasurer ........ ....... 250.00
H. L. Wilson, salary county
attorney ........ ........ 104.16
George Douglas, salary under
sheriff ..... .... ........ 150.00
T. C. Pound, salary deputy
sheriff ........ .. 125.00
E. W. Dunne, salary deputy
clerk of court ........... 150.00
F. A. Morse, salary assistant
county clerk ........ .... 125.00
G. F. Burla, per diem and
mileage ................ 215.60
A. B. Renwick, salary county
clerk .................... 229.16
Ceron B. Taylor, salary dep
uty treasurer ....... .... 125.00
W. B. Calhoun, salary deputy
assessor ............... 150.00
A. P. Smith, salary assessor. 187.50
J. C. Orrick, salary sheriff... 291.66
Sara Morse, salary county su
perintendent of schools... 125.00
J. E. Sleeperfl salary county
auditor ..................145.84
ii. E. Howell, salary deputy
county clerk ........ .... 125.00
W\. F. Williamson, salary dep
uty sheriff ............. 50.00
Goo. Kinnick, salary deputy
sheriff ...... ............ 50.00
Wright Harvey, salary depu
ty sheriff ............... 75.00
.. B. Platt, salary deputy
sheriff ................... 75.00
F. H. Young, salary deputy
sheriff, July, August....... 150.00
Samuel N. Young, salary dep
uty sheriff . ........ ...... 50.00
THEATRE THREE DAYS SPECIAL NOTICE!
BABCOCK BILLINGS MONDAY SEAT SALE
WM. A. BRADY SHEPHERD
M WTEN TOUR OF TEE YOUNG ROITICTO TUESDAY SH
WRIGHT LORIMER WEDNESDAY KING
IN THE POWERFUL ROMANTIC DRAMA,
THE and OPENS
SHEPHERD Wedneday atinee Thursday Sept. 6
SKIN At Red Cross Drug Store
PROC .EVR SE20-2 -22 NO SEATS LAID ASIDE
LRTHE LAROE. DRAMATIO PHONE ORDERS TAKEN
PRODUCTION EVER STA GED .. a"
OPINIONS OF THE EASTERN PRESS:
The Shepherd Bns' will take Its place
#< a " debysidew ýit ;and " -werT COUNTRY PATRONS
asked to decide which of the two has the Prices Prces TOCOUNTRYPATRONS
highest standard of aremce m l.dgment
Would be deededl, I,. ara of 'The Shepherd
Bing." '-New York Globe. A ORDERS
"Wright Lorlmer, a star of whom Boston right Iatinee AIL ORDERS
Is proud."--Boston American.
" The epherd King,' at the Knickerbocker 50c 25C When accompanied by Check, Addressed to
Theater, was a most interesting event, and C
lift. Wright Lorimer ao a posilton of the 75C 50c A. L. BABCOCK
Shehighest .onslderatlon In the world of players."
i Weeks Knlkerbak Tht, Neww r -N York erald. S1.00 75c Manger Babcock Theatre, Billing, Mont.
Borsto. skilled actor of great artistic ablllty."-New $1.50 $1.00
to Weeks MVioker's Theatero, Chalgo. York W orld. Will be filled in order of receipt as near as
Weeks Academy ef Meslic Baltimore. $2.00 $1.50
NOTE--During this Engagement, Arrangements have been made for Excursions on all Railroads possible to SEATS DESIRED
-
F. E. Bateman, salary deputy
sheriff ............ . 50.00
Daniel Wood, salary deputy
sheriff .......... ......... 75.00
W. A. Enochs, hack for poor. 1.20
Russell Lumber Co.. coal for
poor .......... .......... 2.50
Lillian C. Miller, services
county physician .......... 27.08
Ira L. Whitney, transportation
for poor ................. 69.40
F. P. Sterling, cash advanced
to poor ................ 12.80
Yegen Bros. Inc., supplies for
poor ...................... 5.00
I. O. O. F. Building associa
tion, burial of county poor 54.00
Elva Black, refund of poor
tax ...................... 2.00
J. V. Winn, refund of poor
tax ...................... 2.00
A. George, refund of poor
tax ......... ............ 2.00
C. E. Smith, refund of poor
tax, account assigned...... 2.00
Frank Vacca, refund of poor
tax ........... .......... 2.00
Mrs. A. Babcock, care of
poor ................... 2.00
Ogden Beeman, refund of poor
tax ............... ...2.00
Ira L. Whitney, refunds of
poor tax .............. 22.00
C. M. Ask, viewing roads ... 6.00
J. S. Todd, viewing roads.... 6.00
Robert Bryson, viewing roads
and team hire ............ 11.00
S. R. Miller, viewing roads.. 3.00
S. C. Tolliver, viewing roads 3.00
P. H. Smith, viewin groads.. 3.00
P. H. Smith, viewing roads.. 3.00
H. A. Frith, lumber for roads,
account assigned ......... 80.00
Frank Porter, viewing roads
and team hire ........... 10.50
Russell Lumber Co., lumber
for roads .............. 32.25
M. Sorenson, road work..... 127.00
J. W. Sackett, road work.... 100.00
John W. Stearns, road work 192.00
D. McLaughlin, repairing road
tools .......... ......... 7.00
Trombly Bros., supplies for
roads .......... ... .... 2.75
Templeton Lumber Co., lum
ber for roads ............. 33.70
Billings Hardware Co., road
supplies ........ ......... 2.50
Yegen Bros. Inc., supplies for
roads ................... 1.00
Billings Lumber Co., lumber
for roads ................ 25.55
Yegen Bros., building fence,
claimed $412.80, allowed... 224.00
Henry Wendte, road work .. 24.00
Thos. Shipp, road work..... 48.00
Clifford Bros., road work, ac
count assigned .......... 34.00
Joel Hallowell, road work.. 30.00
Geo. R. Davenport, road
work .................... 4.00
.W. B. DeGroat, road work... 10.00
Stoltz Lumber Co., lumber
for roads ................ 78.76
C. E. Sandeen, supplies for
roads .................. 3.50
M. E. Dayelong, road work.. 22.00
Columbus Merc. Co., supplies
for roads ................ 6.00
R. E. Shepherd & Co., lum
ber for roads ........ :... 26.66
F. B. Connelly, road tools... 47.68
Columbus State bank, road
work, account assigned ... 38.00
E. C. Sampson, road work.... 5.00
C. D. Camp, road work ..... 279.00
Harry W. Paige, road work,
account assigned ......... 15.00
B. B. Clarke, road work .... 83.50
G. B. Colyer, road work...... 22.00
Clifford Bros., road work, ac
count assigned ........ .. 72.00
Heenan Becraft, road work.. 48.00
John Murphy, road work .. 23.00
R. L. Potter, road work.... 74.00
Sam Ragsdale, road work... 44.00
J. W. Coombs, road work... 163.00
A. C. Huntington, road work 22.00
Ernest Cardwell, road work. 10.00
Jackson & Kobelin, team hire
for surveyor ........ .... 19.00
Ira L. Whitney, refund of
taxes .......... ......... 4.00
C. W. Sparr Co., road sup
plies .......... .......... 6.05
Burt Mlitchell, road work ... 510.50
C. C. Brown, refund of road
tax ........ .............. 4.00
Tames Dayelomng, road work. 22.00
C. C. Brown, refund of poor
tax ........... ......... 2.00
W. B. Denton. livery hire.... 3.00
Marce Sorenson, repairing
drain .................. 25.00
D. F. Sullivan, services drain
commissioner ........ .... 10.65
Billings Hardware Co., hinges .25
D. F. Sullivan, services drain
commissioner ............ 23.58
Billings Hardware Co., irri
gating shovel ............ 1.25
D. F. Sullivan, services drain
commissioner ........... 7.00
D. F. Sullivan, services drain
commissioner ............ 3.50
Henry Gerharz Eng. Co., ser
vices of engineer ........ 57.55
D. F. Sullivan, services drain
commissioner ........... 105.51
W. B. Denton, livery hire ... 8.00
Estimate No. 1 for $244.75 of J. L.
May, contractor for grading roads
west of Billings, was presented to the
board, approved, allowed and warrant
ordered drawn on the road fund in
payment of same.
The board, upon motion, adjourned
to meet Thursday, September 9, 1909,
at 10:00 o'clock a. m. Approved,
C. H. NEWMAN,
Attest: Chairman.
A. B. RENWICK, Clerk.
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
County Commissioners, Yellowstone
County, State of Montana, Regu.
lar Session-Fourth Day.
Billings, Mont., Sept, 9, 1909.
The board met this day at 10:00
) o'clock a. m.. pursuant to adjourn
) ment.
There were present C. H. Newman,
chairman; M. W. Cramer and G. F.
Burla, commissioners, and A. B. Ren
wick, clerk.
The minutes of the last session were
read and approved.
The viewers' report on the road
petitioned for by Sam Holland and
others, hearing on which had been
set for this day at 10:00 o'clock a. m.,
was presented to the board, and the
board, upon motion, rejected the re
port of the viewers and denied said
petition.
The viewers' report on the road
petitioned for by C. L. Heron and oth
ers, hearing on which had been post
poned to this day at 11:00 o'clock a.
m., was presented to the board, and
the board, upon motion, postponed
said hearing until October 7, 1909, at
11:00 o'clock a. m.
The viewers' report on the road
petitioned for by M. D. Young and
others, hearing on which had been set
for this (lay at 2:00 o'clock p.m., was
presented to the board, and the board,
upon motion, accepted the report of
the viewers and granted said petition
in accordance with the viewers' re
ports.
The viewers' report on the road
petitioned for by Charles King and
others, hearing on which had been set
for this clay at 3:00 o'clock p. m., was
presented to the board, and the board,
upon motion, accepted the report of
the viewers and granted said petition
in accordance with the viewers' re
port.
The viewers' report on the road
petition for by R. E. Workman and
others, hearing on which had been set
for this day at 4:00 o'clock p. m., was
presented to the board, and the board.
uplon motion accepted the report of
the viewers and granted said petition
in accordance with the viewers' re
port.
The viewers' report on the road
petition for by E. C. Hoffman and
others, hearing on which had been set
for this day at 4:30 o'clock p. m., was
presented to the hoard, and the board
upon motion, postponed said hearing
until October 7, 1909, at 2:00 o'clock
Sp. m.
A petition signed by twenty-three
residents of the vicinity of Central
Park, praying the hoard to grant a
license to Theodore Thorison to con
duct a retail liquor business at Cen
tral Park, was presented to the
board.
Acting on the foregoing petition.
the board, upon motion, denied- said
petition.
A petition, dated September 2, 1909.
signed by C. A. Ramsey and others,
praying as follows: "Open a public
road from the northwest corner of
section 17, thence along the north line
of section 17 to the northeast corner
of section 17, thence south on the sec
tion line between sections 16 and 17
and sections 20 and 21, located in
township 4 N., range 33 east," was
presented to the board.
Acting on the foregoing petition,
the board appointed as viewers, B. C.
Lillis, county surveyor; W. F. Wil
liamson and William Besaw, who shall
meet on the 2nd day of October, 1909,
at 10:00 o'clock a. m., view the route
petitioned for and report thereon in
writing not later than October 7,
1909.
A petition, dated September 1, 1909,
signed by H. G. Loudenslager and oth
ers, praying as follows: "Grant and
open to travel a public highway begin
ning at the end of the H. H. Thoren
road, the same being at the S. W.
corner of Sec. 7, T. 4 N.. R. 24 E., and
continuing east along the section lines
for a distance for a distance of five
miles in the S. E. corner nof Sec. 11,
T. 4 N., R. 25 E.," was presented to
the board.
Acting on the foregoing petition,
the board appointed as viewers, B. C.
Lillis, county surveyor; John Todd
and David Fratt, who shall meet on
the 28th day of September, 1909, at
10:00 o'clock a. m., view the route
petitioned for and report thereon not
later than October 7, 1909.
A petiton, dated September 1, 1909,
signed by B. H. Brown and others,
praying as follows: "Lay out a road
starting at the N. E. corner of Sec.
13, T. 6 N., R. 21 E., running south
one mile, intersecting with a laid-out
road running from Lavina to Martin
dale, then following said road west
to the west boundary of T. 6 N., R. 21
P., then leaving said laid-out road and
ollow the most practical route un the
B3ig Coulee valley to the Gibson P. O.
On Sec. 4, T. 4 N., R. 19 E., was pre
sented to the board.
Acting on the foregoing petition,
the board appointed as viewers, B. C.
Lillis. county surveyor: John Todd
and David Fratt, who shall meet on
the 29th day of September, 1909, at
10:00 o'clock a. m.. view the route
petitioned for and report thereon in
writing not later than October 7, 1909.
A petition praying that the board
take the necessary steps to have cer
tain plats hereinafter particularly de
scribed, and now on file and of record
in Custer county, Montana, transfer
red to Yellowstone county, Montana,
and filed for record with the county
clerk of said Yellowstone county, and
it appearing from the allegations of
said petition, and from the records of
Yellowstone county, that all of said
plates relate to property situate whol
ly within Yellowstone county, Mont.,
and that the same were made and field
before the creation of Yellowstone
county, and while the territory now
embraced therein was a portion of
said Custer county; and it further ap
pearing to the board that purported
certified copies of said original plats
are on file in Yellowstone county, and
that because of the correctnesP and
authenticity of certain of said plats
having been called into question at
various times, thereby affecting and
impairing the title to a portion of the
property covered by said plats, and it
further appearing to the board that
said original plats are not now need
ed and can be of no possible use to
the said county of Custer, and it is
important that they be filed of record
in said Yellowstone county.
in said Yellowstone countuy.
Now, Therefore, Be it resolved that
the county clerk of Yellowstone coun
ty be, and he is, directed to formally
request the hoard of county commis
sioners of Custer county, Montana, to
deliver up and surrender such orig
Inal plats to the county clerk and re
corder of Yellowstone county. Mon
tana, to be filed of record in said last
named county, and it is further direct
ed that a true copy of this resolution
he transmitted to the county clerk and
recorder of said Custer county.
The plats to which reference Is
above made, and in respect to which
this resolution is adopted, are as fol
lows, to-wit:
Plat: The town of Coulson, filed
November 2, 1881.
Plat: The town of Billings, filed
June 1, 1882.
Plat: The town of Park City, filed
September 4, 1882.
Plat: The town of Junction, filed
March 8, 1883.
Plat: The First Addition to Bill
ings, filed JTune 1. 1882.
Plat: Additon "A" to Billings, filed
July 3, 1882.
1 Plat: The Second Addition to Bill-I
ings, filed July 3, 1882.
Plat: Alderson' s Addition to Bill
ings, filed July 1, 1882.
Plat: McAdow's Addition to Bill
ings, filed May 25, 1882.
The folblwings road supervisors'
reports were presented, approved and
order filed:
John Shipp, supervisor road dii
trict No. 1.
R. B. May, supervisor road district
No. 2.
Joel Hallowell, supervisor road
district No. 2. Special.
Sam Ragsdale, supervisor road dis
trict No. 3.
Butt Mitchell, supervisor road dis
trict N±o. 5.
R. L. Potter, supervisor road dis
trict No. 6.
C. D. Camp, supervisor road district
No. 7.
M. Sorenson, supervisor road dis
trict No. 8.
J. W. Sackett, supervisor road dis
trict No. 11.
John W. Stearns, supervisor road
district No. 13.
Wm. J. Marsh, supervisor road dis
trict No. 14.
Henry Wendte, supervisor road dis
trict No. 17.
J. W Coombs, supervisor road dis
trict No. 18.
W. B. DeGroat, supervisor road dis
trict No. 23.
B. B. Clarke, supervisor road dis
trict No. 24.
Heenan Becraft, supervisor rad dis
trict No. 26.
The county treasurer's quarterly re
port was presented to the board and
approved.
The bond of M. S. Easton. as con
stable in and for Park City township,
was presented to the board and ap
proved.
The quarterly report of J. W. John
ston, justice of the peace Hardin
township, for the quarter ending May
31, 1909, was presented to the board
and approved.
The quarterly report of S. H. Men
denhall, justice of the peace Billings
township, for quarter ending January
4, 1909, was presented to the board
and approved.
The sheriff's report of jail boarders
for the month ending August 31, 1909,
was presented to the board and ap
proved.
The following bills were presented
to the board, approved, allowed and
warrants ordered drawn in amounts
named:
named:
Claimant. Nature of Claim. Amount.
J. C. Orrick, expenses of wit
ness to identify prisoner... 68.45
Vale & Potter, coroner juror
fees, account assigned..... 1.50
Vale & Potter, coroner juror
fees, account assigned..... 1.50
Vale & Potter, coroner juror
fees, account assigned..... 1.50
Vale & Potter, coroner juror
fees, account assigned .... 1.50
Vale & Potter, coroner juror
fees, account assigned..... 1.50
E. O. Blais, work in treasu
urer's and clerk's office.... 31.80
Fleming Hdw. Co., supplies
for court house and jail.... 24.35
Mutual Phone Co., telephone
rent .... ................ 49.90
J. C. Orrick, expenses with
with prisoner ........... 118.40
Laurel Concrete Block Co.,
sidewalk around Laurel jail 70.00
Rosalia Leight, milk for
diphtheria patient ........ 7.56
A. Cederholm, work on fire
box and boiler ........... 48.95
John D. Losekamp, supplies
for prisoners ............. 13.00
J. C. Orrick, boarding prison
ers ...................... 482.75
Ed Wimsett, road work...... 12.00
Wm. J. Marsh, road work.... 20.00
John Kinney, road work..... 10.00
B. C. Lillis, road work...... 237.15
R. B. May, road work...... 10.50
Green Riggs, refund of poor
tax .................... 2.00
B. C. Lillis. bridge work.... 96.95
D. F. Sullivan, services drain
commissioner ............ 34.40
0. M. Solson, work on drain.. 20.50
The final estimate for $2,272.33,
Carbon county's share on deposit
with Yellowstone county, on the Lau
rel bridge, was presented to the board,
approved. allowed and warrant order
ed drawn on the bridge fund in pay
ment of same.
The board, upon motion, adjourned
to meet Friday, September 10, 1909,
at 10:00 o'clock a. m.
Approved: C. H. NEWMAN,
Attest: Chairman.
A. B. RENWICK, Clerk.