Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1903 — The Old Iroquois Ditch Costs. [ARTICLE]

The Old Iroquois Ditch Costs.

The last card in the long and illadvised fight against the petitioners and bondsmen of the old Iroquois ditoh paying the costs therein, having been played, there is now nothing left but for the surviving responsible petitioners and bondsmen to go down into their pockets, and pay tbdlr prorata shares. Not only has this long fight in the courts added very largely to the amount to be paid in the way of interest and 006 ts, but it has also very materially added to the amount eaoh party , will have to pay, because of deaths, removals and failures among the parties originally liable. 1 The total amount that must now be refunded to the county, and costs and interest, is $4290.30. Bome 44 people were originally iable, but only about 30 can now >e collected from, so that eaoh one will be called on for $l5O, in round numbers. ,

Attorney Hunt is now sending out letters to each of these 30 >ersone, informing them of these acts and urging each one to pay lie pro rata amount but informing them that'no executions will be ordered issued until September. Thus allowing that much time to raise the money,

Under the law, the oounty is not obliged to pro rate this judgement at all but can hold the property of any of the judgement defendants for the whole amount. But the law further provides that in case any of the parties held liable pay their pro rata share, while it does not exempt ..them from legal liability for the whole amount, it does give theqa the right if their property is levied on to compel the nther bondsmen and signers to pay their shares. It is thus a matter of business prudence for those whose property is large and easily reached to pay their shares promptly, in which prudent move Judge Thompson has already set the example, by paying $l5O into the olerk’s office.