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*4 VOL XII It I DO WE WANT THE'COLLEGE? A Chance for Jamestown People to Secure the Location of a Business College. The Business of the Postofl0.ee Shows a 'Very Gratifying Inereaso. Attorney General liickeus Tells How the New Tax Law will Work. Chance to Secure Another College. Here is a chance for the Commercial Union. H. L. Kucker, President North West College of Commerce, Minneapolis wants to establish business college and short hand institute in Jamestown and has written one of the business men of this city the following letter. The letter is sufficient explanation of the ad vantages to be derived from such an in stitution and the way to secure it. It is as follows: "I contemplate establishing a Business college and Shorthand institute in that part of North Dakota and Miss— who is now attending my school, advises me to investigate the feasibility of such an enterprise at Jamestown. Will you be kind enough to present the matter to any body of your citizens who are disposed to encourage laudable enterprises to establish in your city? I will say that in 1884 I established a Business college at Marshalltown, Iowa, and today it is a large and prosperous school. In 1885 I established the Grand Island Business College of Grand Island, Nebraska, and last year the enrollment reached 350 pupils, and last September at Aberdeon IS. D. and the enrollment up to the present time has reached 125 pupils. If von compare the above record with that made by the academy or university you will find that the Business College is" occupying the vantage ground, not withstanding the fact that the pupils are required to pay nearly double the tui tion required to attend the Academy* That all theso schools have been suc cessful proves conclusively that business education is tho popular and I may say profitable education of the tiifiss. Reducing it to figures, it costs for tui tion, board etc., at the least estimate over $300, for a pupil to complete the prescribed business course in any reput able college, and assuming that it is worth as much to those residing in your city you will see that for the poorest re cord made, that of Aberdeen, it amounts to $375,000, and it is true that tbe pat ronage of the city in which a school is located forms a very small part of the support of such a college. In offering to establish a college, I do not ask a bonus but I do ask the citizens to subscribe from $1500, to $2000, worth of scholarships to be paid for at the opening of the college. Postoffice Business Increasing. It is an encouraging sign of the revival in trade and of the solidity of our busi ness interests that the receipts of the Jamestowir poBtoffice for the last year show a considerable increase, in Bpite of the partial failure of the wheat in this region last year. It shows that the turn ing point has been reached and passed and that jfrur city is now on the ascending Incline. The receipts in the money order de partment show the largest increase, be ing 25 per cent larger than last year. This is especially gratifying, showing that our people are n»t only holding their own but are able to send away a large amount of money to other states and especially to Europe, to help their fanihes and relatives to come out and join them. The money order is especially the medium of exchange made use of by the poorer classess and the increase or decrease of business in that department forms an infallible guide to the prosper ity of the country. When the volume of business transacted by the money order department is large and increasing it shows a healthy state of finance in the neighborhood and especially so when taken in connection with the partial fail ure of the wheat crop before mentioned. Jamestown is not claiming any boom, but she is claiming a substantial advance in material welfare, while many towns around her have fallen back. The total receipts of the office do not show so large an increase as tbe money order department, but under the circum stances even a 5 per cent advance is en couraging. The total receipts of the Jamestown office for the last two years areas follows, the amounts being the receipts during the quarters ending on the dates given: 1887 June 30 $1,510 70 September 30 1,516 48 December 30 1,710 47 March 31 1,436 48 1888 61,688 08 1,332 02 1,815 83 1,636 30 Total 86,174 13 86,472 23 It will be noticed that while the in crease for the whole year is only $300, the quarter just ended shows an advance of 8200 over the same period of last year. With the Establishment of the headquar ters of the insurance company at James town and th& selection of this plaoe aa the location of the warehouses of the North Dakota Farmer's alliance, the postoffice receipts may be confidently expected to be swelled sufficiently this year to place Jamestown in the rank of second class offices, taking in over $10,000 per year. This would not only entitle the city to the benefits of the special delivery system, but will also raise the amount allowed for clerk hire to $1,800 instead of $300 the present figure. It is sincerely to be hoped that all our business men will do their level best to bring about this desirable result and aid in securing for the citizens of Jamestown nil tho benefits that can be enjoyed un der the postoffice laws. The Gross .Earnings Tax. A good deal of interest is felt in many counties in the manner in which the money which has been paid into the treasury this spring will be distributed to the various counties, and whether this distribution should be made under the act of 1883, or that past at- the recent session in 1889. Attorny General Nick eus has been consulted as to these ques tions, and has recently sent an «.pinionto Territorial Treasurer Bailey covering these points. It will be remembered that under the gross-earnings law passed this spring va rious railroad companies, and notably the Northern Pacific,have paid large amounts of taxes on inter-state business, over and hbove the taxes levied upon business originating and terminating within this territory. The attorney general is of opinion that this money must be distrib uted under the act of 1889, under which it is levied. In fact all money paid into the treasury since March 7,1889, must be distributed under that act, because while that act provides that certain moneys shall be paid in under the act of 1883, it nowhere provides that any money 6hall be paid "out" under that act. A further reason is that the supreme court in the case of Raymond vs. the Northern Pacific Railroad company has decided that the company has fully paid up its taxes under tho law of 1883, and that nothing more was due the territory. The only case in which the moneys would be distributed under the act of 1883, would be where any taxes are due under the construction of the supreme co-art in the Raymond case, and which have not been jjaid in prior to the act of 1889. The attorney general alc.» tenders an opinion ou tho manner in which these taxes will be apportioned among the dif ferent counties. He states that there are four classes of counties. First, counties through which a rail way having uo land grant passes. Second, counties through which a rail way passes, and in which no unsold lands are situated. Third, counties through which a rail way having a land grant passes, in which unsold lands of the railway are Bituated. Fourth, counties through which no railway passes, but in which unsold lands are situated. The counties of the first class should receive 66% per cent of such gross earn ings, according to the number of miles of main track situated in such counties. The second class should receive 40 per cent of such gross earnings according to the number of miles of main track situ ated in the county. The third class should receive 40 per cent of such gross earnings, and in addition such proportion of 30 per cent of the gross earnings of such railway, as the number of acres of unsold lands in such county bears to the number of acres of surveyed and unsold land in the several counties in which such land grant is situated. The fourth class should receive such proportion of the 30 per cent of such gross earnings as the number of acres of unsold lands in such county bears to the number of acres of surveyed and unsold lands in the «everal counties in which snch land grant is situated. As an instance of the different classes of counties, Benson county is in the first class, Cass county in the second, Stuts man in the third, and LaMoure or Eddy in the fourth. Liet's Have a Gopher Hunt. Gopher hunts area fruitful source of amusement in some parts of the territory at this season of the year. Two teams of crack shots start out in the morning and the party that brings in the greatest number of gopher tails in the evening partakes of a supper at the expense of the other fellows. What is the matter of introducing this kind of a hunt in Stutsman county? Gophers, notwith standing the free poison which the county commissioners wisely distributed last year, are still numerous in this county. They are about as destructive to crops as drouth, hail or rust and it behooves the farmers to exterminate the tribe if possible. What's the matter with the Jamestown crack shots making a raid on the go pher? How it Works in Traill. In another column is printed a peti tion asking the commissioners to keep the county liquor license at $1000, which if they have the power to do, it would put tbe lowest license that could be granted in the city at 81,400. It is only neces sary to look at other counties to see what the result would be to the tax payers. The following is from the last issue of the Traill County Times: About $1,100 has been paid in fines by parties indicted for the unlawful sale of liquors. It has cost Traill county this year $11,000 to prosecute them, and still the blind pigs are multiplying. HOW THEY CELEBRATED. Being a Full, True and Complete Record ol What The Alert Reporters Saw, Ih re the (Jglebration by the Pat riotic Citizens of James town. "Evangelical Alliance of Christian Churches" Wants a Sky Scraping License. The bystanders laughed to see him del Every body had a good tiiho'tind'IiSfie# they would enjoy the next centennial as much as they did this. Charley Mitchell collected "rocks" for the new band's instruments. E. P. Wells bid on blooded stock at John Haggert's sale. Charley Gray increased his fund of in formation by devouring some horticultu ral literature. Dr. Blum penned a few more pages in his forthcoming book, "Every man his Own Physician or tho Secret of Longev ity." The girls all put on their best dresses and looked prettier than ever. So did the married ladies,—only more so. Mr. Klaus, Mr. Driscoll and Capt. Ingraham hoisted the star spangled banner. W. R. Kellogg attended the centenial banquet in New York, as one of the "four hundred." E. W. Camp stayed in his office, and sawed wood. District Attorney Frye wore his Blaine hat. L. B. Miner taught his dog some new tricks. Mike Lynch made a new mash. Eh, Sam? F. B. Fancher rehearsed the deep, dyed in the wool villian act which he will do at the play tonight. Charley Rattinger gave the Gladstone guests abetter dinner than usual. Ed Bowman was telling about that fine new stock of dry goods and groceries'. Hank Niemeyer smiled—as usual. Detctive Fox struck a new clue. The school children had a vacation. Jim Bellivou said, "wouldn't that knock you!" Some Fine Horses. On Saturday our streets in the vicinity of Ringer's stable presented quite the appearance of a French Horse fair. Messrs. Kemp & Lowrey of 111., who are large importers of horses, sent out a car load of their finest Percheron stallions for the approval or selection of Mr. E. P. Wells, who has recently added a consid erable number of fine mares to his stock at both his LaMoure and Stutsman county farms. The parade and exhibit of these superior specimens of the mag nificent French Percheron horses, at tracted a large crowd of our local horse men and others interested in such sub jects and there were many expressions of regret that the entire bunch of horses were not to be left here to improve the stock of our county. Mr. Wells selected the four year old dapple gFay stallion Piston, weighing 1812 pounds and pro nounced by all who saw him the finest horse now seen in the county for beauty of outline, perfection of points, grace of action and magnificent style, it is hard to see how he could be improved on. Piston was foaled May 1 1885 in the Commune de Cormes, Department La Ferti, France and imported in 1887. He was breed by Tachean one of the two leading breeders of France and descends in a direst line from Monarch 734 and Chopine 4847. It is fortunate for Da kota that our farmers are turning their attention away from wheat and toward JAMESTOWNS DAKOTA THURSDAY MAY 2 1889 X- How They Celebrated. in&his A. A. Allen nailed d'own carpets new house. W. B. S. Trimble stayed in his o^Bce and wrote a letter to his best girl. Chas. T. Hills tied a wet towel rottnd his head and"studied his part in "Among the Breakers." F. D. Alexander went out in the coikn try and shot—at—some gophers. Justice W. V. Wells wrote a poem'.on "Spring-" Chan Lathrop took his girl out ridfng. George Purchase set up the cigars. Jim Lloyd took the other fellows £irl out buggy riding.* The Fort Seward ball club,—didn't play ball. Major Warnock wrote an editorial to prove that the Farmers' alliance wouldn't join with the democrats this fall to se cure the offices. Charley Avis explained Grover's de feat, held sweet communion with the patron sinners of early democracy and expiated oracularly upon the degeneracy of "Jimmy" Blame. The railroad boys and The Alert peo ple worked—they always do. Gus Lieber dreamed about how the band of which ho is manager would sur prise the people with classic music to night. Major Lyon talked politics. Charley Rattinger practiced playing "White Wings" on his new-horn. His neighbors swore at him for doin, it. Anton Ott had a tumble off his bicycle. rr WEEKLY the production of horses and cattle of high breed and it is to be hoped that Mr. Wells will be willing to allow the use of his last purchase by other farmers in the neighborhood. Wants $1000 County License. At the last meeting of the county com missioners the following petition was pre sented, signed by six gentlemen compos ing tho "executive commiteo of the Evangelical Alliance of Christian churches." The petition was accepted and placed on file. It is as follows: To the Honorable Board of County Com missioners of Stutsman Counry, D.T.: GENTLEMEN:—Having been informed that an effort is to be maue to secure that action upon your part whereby the county licenses to be paid by saloon keepers shall be fixed below the maxi mum of 81000, and believing such action to be inimical to the moral interests of the community and prejudicial to the financial interests of the county we, the executive committee of the Evangelical Alliance of Christian churches, respect fully petition your honorable body not to take such action, but to establish the maximum license of §1000. While no official opinion has yet been rendered by the district attorney in the matter, it is probable that the board will do nothiug for the present to compel the saloon keepers to take out a county li cense for wo. reasons. First, they al ready have a license from the city run ning until July 1st, which was issued before the latest legislation on the sub ject was passed,and it is extremely doubt ful whether the county could now have those licenses declared void. Secondly, on account of the peculiar wording of the a--t, it is doubtful whether the county has the power to demand a license at all within the city. Several of tho best law yers in the city express the opinion that the new law does not repeal the exclusive power to issue license, granted to the city under the special charter. The reason for this construction is that the repealing clause of the act, which runs "all acts and parts of acts, in conflict with this act, are hereby repealed," is not sufficient to repeal a special act. In order to do that it would be necessary for the clause to read "all acts, and parts of acts, both special and general," are hereby repeal ed. These. wordsj "both special and gen eral,'' were inserted in the act fixing the amount of the license, but were omitted from trho act making a county license necesary. and it therefore appears that the city retains the exclusive power to grant liquor licenses within its bounda ries. There area number of these counties which the same question arises, but so far they have all taken tho same view as the Stutsman county officials, that the county cannot levy a license, where a city has a special charter. Interviews. ago ex-Treasurer Ileady-Made Some two weeks Lawler was in St. Paul, and a morning newspaper there published an alleged in terview in which he was credited with saying that Ordway would become one of North Dakota's senators by the use of boodle. Now Lawler says he never said any such thing, and that he was not in terviewed. The aforesaid morning news paper corrects, retracts and apologizes, and says, "doubtless it was a case of mis taken identity." Perhaps it was this same "ill-informed reporter" who fulmi nated that bogus interview with Hon. W E. Dodge a few days ago. From a news paper standpoint the allegsd interview with Mr. Dodge was a good one—that is, it was full of spice and attracted atten tion. But it, as in the case of Mr. Law ler, misrepresented the gentleman whom it pretended to quote and placed him in an uncomfortable position. It is said that this newspaper, which has been par ticularly unfortunate in interviewing people of late, has a pigeon hole stuffed full of ready-made interviews, all prepar ed for the printer, and that when a prominent man comes to town the city editor selects one at iandom, fills in the blank left for the name, and the inter viewing is done. The scheme is an enter prising one, but it requires great judg ment in its execution to make it work smoothly. The mistake in tho cases of Mr. Lawler and Mr. Dodge was one that of course was liable to occur—the editor got the wrong interview. In this co nnectiou it might be stated that Mr. Dodge is making a brilliant success in his management of the legal department of the "Manitoba road for Dakota. Last year he made the re markable record of winning every case which he tried for the company. The Manitoba appreciates ability in any de partment and that they appreciate the valuable services of the bead of the Dakota legal department is pretty conclusively proven if it be true—and the rumor by the way is pretty well authen ticated—that they have tecently increas ed by $1000 a salary which was generous before the raise came. There is a good deal of talk at Fargo, about making W. E., Judge Dodge if he would consent. Sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Walker arrived from Fargo on the noon train on Saturday, to make his regular visitation of the Episcopal church at this place, and to administer the sacrament of confirmation to such as were ready. The Bishop conducted the morning service yesterday, and confirmed the following persons, Mrs. A. Parkinson Miss Katie Tilden, Miss Rosa Baseett, and Miss Annie Kelley. The bishop left for Fargo on the afternoon train. "y urn C-L-c- LOCAL DRAMATIC TALENT. The Amateur Dramatic Club Scores Success in Presenting "Among the Breakers." a A Large Crowd Witnesses the Pre sentation and Joins in the Verdict "Well Done." Jamestown Secures the Headquar ters of the Alliance Insur ance Company. Rivaling Professionals. The Amateur Dramatic club covered itself with glory Tuesday. Its members presented the pla, "Among the Break ers," and the verdict was, "well done." There have been less meritorious presen tations in this city by professional, trav eling companies than that which the local dramatic club gave last night. And this notwithstanding the fact that sickness and other reasons have made it necessa ry to recast the play several times. The presentation was first decided on nearly three months ago, but only one or two of those who were in the original cast re mained through until last night. There were two members who were only as signed the parts which they personated four days ago. The play is a pleasant intermixture of, trials, tribulations and villiany with vic tory, joy and love, punctuated with the usual quantity of marriage and giving in marriage. The hero fomes out of his dramatic vicissitudes victorious, the yil lian repents, reforms and is reclaimed, the heroine marries a handsome follow, and when the curtain drops on the last act everything has eventuated just as it should have done,without any bloodshed, and on the principle that virtue and up rightness are ever triumphant. The fol lowing is ihe cast: David Murray, keeper of Kail-point Lights F. B. Fanelier Larry Divine, his assistant W. P.Larcy Hon. Bruce Hunter I. A. Frye Clarence Hunter, his ward Dr. 1). S. Moore Peter. Paragrajtfi, si new-twjapar porter .' .: Vtctr&f. T.' Kills Scud, Hunter's colored servant.. F. H. Chapman Hiss Bess Starbright, "cast up Tjy the waves" Miss .Tuna Eddy Miss Minnie Daze, Hunter's niece r- Mrs. F. Chapman Mother Carey, a reputed fortune tel ler Mrs. 11. D. Adams Biddy Bean, an Irish girl.. .Miss Grace Vincent The evening's entertainment opened with a musical selection by the James town brass band, under Leader Tunstall. A male quartette, consisting of Messrs. Voigt, Holgate, Adams and Karcher sang, and then the curtain was rung up and the play proceeded. Sandwiched in between the first and second acts, were a finely rendered^and loudly applauded solo by Mr. Holgate, a cornet solo by Mr. Voigt, which was encored, and another selection by the male quartette. It is not the purpose of The Alert to criticize this performance, but were it such there would be but little opportu nity. The scene of the play is laid along the sea coast near the light house of which David Murray is the keeper. The first act opens with a scene in which Larry Divine,* Murray's "Hiburnicum" assistant, gets smitten with the charms of Biddy Bean. W. P. Larcy, as Larry, was easy, natural and could hardly have been improved upon. His make up was especially good. His red wig, flannel shirt and high top ^boots, enclosing his trousers, gave him a decidedly Irish ap pearance, and his accent, while it easily disclosed his nationality, proclaimed the wisdom of his selection, and left nothing to be desired in his impersonation. Miss Grace Vincent won many compliments in her role as Biddy Bean, who captures Larry's heart. Her mastery of dialect was almost equal to Mr. Larcy's. The Alert is unable to pass upon the realism of the love scenes, but accepting the ver dict of experienced married people, pro nounces it "perfectly natural." F. B. Fancher did the heavy tragedy of the raning, playing David Murray,t he lighthouse keeper who is the convention al villian. His] manner and bearing are those of an actor and he seems quite at home on the stage. His excellent acting convinced everyone that no play by local talent would be completo without he had a place in the cast. F. Chap man as Scud, the colored servant, was the favorite^with the boys. Jamestown theater goers have seen colored parts less satisfactorily 'impersonated by profes sionals. He knew his lines, said them just as a darkey would and cut up the coon capersjin a very realistic manner. J. A. Frye was Hon. Brace Hunter, the dignified, gentlemanly and important personage of the play. Jesse did the part full justice and never failed to rise to the dignity of the occasion. Dr. Moore as Clarence Hunter had a part which gave no particularly opportunity for the display of unusual dramatic talent but he made the most of it. Charley Hills found his former repor torial experience useful and kept the vv ,' '•V ''S NO 37 audience smiling at his happy caricature of the enterprising news gatherer. He made love to two ladies and got in no end of trouble thereby but managed to square himself and marry the one ho wanted. Charley's previous amateur dramatic experience showed itself in his good work. The acting of Mrs. H. D. Adams as Mother Carey, the supposed witch, was extremely well done. Her make up was good and her enunciation clear and distinct. Miss Bess Starbright "cast up by the waves," was cleverly played by Miss Juna Eddy. The part was a bright and attractive one and Miss Eddy acted its piquancy with a natural unaff'ectedness which was appreciated. Mrs. F. H. Chapman took the part of Miss Minnie Daze, a stately and digni fied part well suited to the lady. Mrs. Chapman's stage presence was one of the best of the evening. The rink was filled, every seat beiner oc cupied. The amount of tho proceeds was not ascertained but they are expected to exceed SI50 which will be used for the benefit of the no®r of the citv. JAMESTOWN IS HEADQUARTERS Of the Farmers Alliance Hail and Fire, and Fidelity Life Insurance Companies. A transfer which has been in contem plation for some time, has now tqjten def inite shape and may be regarded as finally settled. Ever since the passage of the bill for the division and admission of the territory, the Farmer's Alliance Insurance company has been looking around for a suitable location, for the headquarters for North Dakota, and they have finally decided on Jamestown, as best suited for their purpose. James town's position as a railroad center, with roads running north, south, east and west gives her mail facilities for the rapid transmission of correspondence unequalled by any other town in the territory. That these advantages are appreciated by outside parties, is shown by the selection of Jamestown for tho North Dak ta headquarters of this In surance company, in the same week that she was chosen by tho Catholics for the location of their new cathedral, college and convent. The now company will occupy the ground floor of the Metropolitan block, on Fifth avenue, and Mr. Lloyd says that he has already rented several of the Stherrooms South Dakota headquarters the company now employs about 20 clerks and they will doubtless require nearly as many for Jamestown before the end of the year, as their business is rapidly increasing. It will however take some time to make a complete transcript of the records for North Dakota. The company's book keeper arrives to take posssession on Saturday. The new institution is an amalgama tion of the Huron Fidelity Fire Com pany, with the Farmer's Alliance Hail and Life companies, the three being under one management, and practically the same. One good result of the selec tion of Jamestown as the headquarters is that the postoffice receipts will be swelled by about $1500 a year which will bring the city within measurable distance of the free delivery service. Great credit is due to the gentlemen who have spared no time and pains to bring this important institution to Jamestown, and the eitizens should show their appreciation of the compliment, by giving the new company a liberal support. The Goplier Hunt. It was rather unfortunate that the gopher hunt was mentioned in The Alert on Monday, as the gophers heard the farmers talking about it, and were not receiving visitors, when the boys called at their residences Tuesday. At least that is the reason that the boys give,why they brought home so few tails yester day, and probably it is as good an excuse as they could invent. It is unnecessary to state that each of the boys swears that he shot lots of gophers, that tumbled dead into their holes and could not be secured. Everybody knows that gophers are built that way and do it on pur pose to spite their murderers. Another reason given for the small score is that the weather was too cold, which shows that the gophers are naturally ungrate ful, as the boys went out for the express purpose of making it hot for them. When the gopher bustles were finally counted it was found that George Web ster's team were the victors by six tails, the score being 121 to 115. Assessors' Bouds. Under the new law all township asses sors will have to give bonds in the penal sum of 8500, with two good and sufficient sureties, to be approved by the board of supervisors of the township for which snch nssessor is elected. These bonds must be handed to the township clerk whoso duty it shall be to tile tho same with the clerk of the district court. If a township clerk refuses or neglects to procure and file the bonds of township officers he shall be liable to a fine of not less than $10 or more than $50. The township shall make an appropriation of fifty cents for each bond required to be filed and pay the same to the clerk of the district court. Mandan Pioneer: If the legislature or the constitution makers or anybody else, propose to put the capital on wheels, let them drop it somewhere wbeie the' resi dents have some idea of the metropolitan ways. There is Jamestown, Fargo. Grand Forks —all of them are more up to the times than rural, backwoods Devils Lake. iffPPIW Wr