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Report of the General Meeting of the
Doukhobor Community held in Nadezhda Village, February 15,
1906
Manitoba Morning Free Press
During the first decades of
the twentieth century, the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood was
governed by general meetings that were held early each year to receive the
annual report and financial statement prepared by the representative
committee and to vote on various matters of policy and practice brought
before them. These gatherings were typically attended by two delegates from
each village, the administrators in charge of community affairs and the
leader Peter Lordly Verigin. The following is a rare extant report of the
general meeting of the Doukhobor Community held at Nadezhda village,
Saskatchewan, on February 16, 1906, as published in the Manitoba Morning
Free Press, Wednesday, April 25, 1906. The minutes provide extraordinary
insight into the administrative matters of the day, including the role of
women in the Community and their participation in general meetings,
immigration assistance to the Yakutsk exiles, the leaders interpretation of
a Doukhobor psalm, the treatment of animals, need for a hospital, and
capital expenditures. In addition, the general account leaves no doubt of
the extent of the material achievements of the Community under Verigins
leadership at this time.
The number of people attending
from the 44 villages (two men delegates and one woman from each village) was
132. Besides these there were present those in charge of various Doukhobor
affairs: Nicholas Zibaroff, V. A. Potapoff, Ivan Podovinnikoff, Paul Planidin,
Fedor Soukhocheff, Evan Verigin, Evan Konkin, English translator Simeon Reibin,
and, as representative of the Doukhobor Social-Religious society, Peter Veigin.
Total present, 141. The meeting started at 10 a.m.
1. The meeting was opened by the
Lords Prayer, Our Father, by Anastasia V. Popova, delegate from Otradnoe
village.
2. Peter Vasiilivitch Verigin
remarked that the meeting place (one of the village houses) was very small for
so large a number of people as 141, and that the Doukhobors in the three years
they lived in community should have been able to erect a larger building for
meetings. All present agreed to this.
3. Peter Verigin also expressed
himself that the attendance of women at these meetings was very remarkable for
our time; as all cultured people now commenced to feel that women must be equal
partners with men in all their life, and probably the Doukhobors were the first
to invite women to attend such a meeting, which reflected honor to the men.
Peter Verigin then spoke in turn to the women, saying that women should with
gratitude accept such invitation, and in future with full feeling of equal
power, start on the same footing as men in our common life. The women were very
satisfied and thankful.
4. The community accounts for
1905 were then rendered, being read by Simeon Reibin. Explanations were made by
those in charge of the buying of goods and implements: Nicholas Zibaroff and V.A.
Potapoff, and questions having been asked by some delegates, the accounts were
passed by the meeting as correct and very satisfactory.
5. Evan E. Konkin gave an account
of his expenditure while assisting the immigration of the Yakoutsk brethren. The
rumour that Konkin had been spending money without keeping account during this
journey was found incorrect, as he gave very particular account of income and
expenditure regarding every man separately. His personal expenditure was not
specially large. His account is included in the generally account for 1905.
6. The general account having
been accepted as satisfactory by the meeting, it was decided to proceed with the
election of managers of community affairs for 1906. The meeting rendered its
thanks to those in charge for the past year, and asked them to continue for
another year, they being fully acquainted with all affairs. The following were
elected for 1906.
For purchasing goods and
implements: Nicholas Zibaroff and V.A. Potapoff, re-elected and Vasil
Sherstobitoff and Dimitry Gritchin in addition.
To superintend village horses,
and, if necessary to buy more: Paul Planidin and Fedor Sookhocheff, re-elected,
and Simeon Negraeff and Peter Chernoff in addition. Simeon Reibin was re-elected
as English correspondent and Evan Konkin was appointed assistant Russian
correspondent.
7. It was suggested to make an
inventory of all property belonging to the community beyond the village outfits,
viz., engines, separators, sawmills, etc., and this was then made and attached
to the general accounts.
8. Altogether, in three years
time of community life the purchases amounted to six hundred thousand ($600,000)
dollars (for 1905 about $240,000; 1904, $160,000; 1903, $200,000), and as all
goods have been bought as far as possible at first hand from wholesale houses,
there has been a saving of at least one hundred and fifty thousand ($150,000)
dollars, for instance: Prices enamelled saucepans costing in local towns $1
each, were bought from factory warehouses for 60c; binders, $165 for $115;
cloth, 90c per yard, for 60c; Prints, 12c for 8c; Axes (Best) $1.25 for 85c;
Denims, 25c for 18c; Black Drill 20c for 13c; Horses which cost were $150.00
each were bought in a large bunch of 300 heads in 1903 for $75.00 each.
Deducting freight of goods and expenses of buyers there remains a net profit of
25 percent.
At 6 p.m. the meeting was
declared closed. At 1 p.m., there was an interval of 1, 1-2 hours for dinner and
during the day the meeting adjourned twice to change the air of the house,
singing hymns meanwhile.
9. February 16th. All delegates
met at 9 a.m., the meeting was opened with prayer of psalm, Being born young
youth from holy Clouds . . . Peter V. Verigin explained the meaning of this
psalm for our life: We the Doukhobors as young children accepted the Covenant
from the holy Clouds, by which we should understand from holy, enlightened men
who renewed the life of humanity from the time of Christ up to our own days. We
must look back on the past with feelings of thankfulness as on the commencement
of our life and in future more and more to strengthen and attain, passing from
the age of youth to more consciously wide existence. Referring to olden times,
before Christ, Peter Verigin refused to examine or estimate the holiness of
people in the sense of real truth and enlightenment, he took as an example from
the Bible the life of Samson. Notwithstanding that Samson was very strong
physically, once tearing the mouth of a lion, he was not ashamed to kill 30 men,
whose clothing he brought as a payment to the parents of the girl he intended to
marry. In conclusion Peter Verigin said that if they want examples there are
sufficient holy enlightened men of newest time starting from Christ, and
especially it is necessary for each man to be controlled in his life by his own
conscience.
10. The whole meeting expressed a
desire that for future understanding, the meaning of community life should be
more clearly defined as: - 1. Spiritual fellowship and meakness between men in
which people are understanding great gentleness and (2) Material profit.
11. The question was raised, How
should we treat animals? It was decided by the whole meeting that as we are not
killing animals for food we should treat them as well as possible; as for
instance: especially cows, should have nice light, dry quarters, work horses
should not draw too heavy loads and in winter should not be taken out of the
stables for heavy work if it be colder than 20 degrees Reaumur (-13 Faht) and
generally work should not be done with horses during very severe frosts.
12. Sieves have been fitted all
Community Flour Mills; and the meeting unanimously decided that notwithstanding
the heavy crop of 1905 the sieves should be arranged to take out not more bran
than 1 in 10, so not to waste the wheat uselessly. All wheat for grinding must
be perfectly clean and dry.
13. The question of building
large roller flour mills was brought up. The whole meeting agreed that it was
necessary to build such mills, as at present each village had, from the crop of
1905 far more wheat than was needed for one year and it would be most profitable
to grind surplus wheat into flour and sell it in that form. There will be a
large profit in such operation as it is possible to sell flour for more than
wheat. For such purpose it will be necessary in time to build on railway lines
warehouses for flour. The meeting decided to build a flour mill near the railway
at Verigin Station. It will be necessary to build with flour mill an oatmeal
mill as well. The whole meeting agreed that this would be very desirable, as
oatmeal will be very valuable as a food, especially with milk for children.
14. It was decided to build a
warehouse for flour at Yorkton during the coming summer.
15. Peter V. Verigin brought
forward the question as to whether it would be desirable to build a hospital, as
he had noticed very many Doukhobors were going to the doctors in the local
towns. Our own hospital would be more useful and satisfactory in every way. At
this time a letter was read from Russia from Ivan and Olga Vasileva who offered
their services to the Community, one as a teacher and the other as a nurse. By
the desire of the majority the question as to a hospital was left undecided, the
meeting agreeing that the delegates should speak of the matter in their villages
and decide definitely later.
16. It was unanimously decided to
buy about 100 teams of horses, which will be necessary for executing the railway
contract. Delegate Michael Androsoff from Village Novoe remarked that it would
be wise to buy young horses, 3 to 4 years old, and put same in the villages,
while heavy, strong horses are sent from the villages to the railway. The latter
will bear heavy work better and the young <indecipherable>. The whole meeting
was in agreement with this.
17. It was decided that for the
same railway contract must be bought as soon as possible oats, and also all
tools such as scrapers, wheelbarrows, shovels, etc.
18. In conclusion the men of the
meeting referred to the women delegates, asking them to tell all the women in
the villages to be imbued with the sentiment of high duty as mothers of manhood;
to commence in future to ennoble man; as by nature itself women are much softer
in character than men. They, men in daily life are moving amid ruder
surroundings, doing hard work, hauling timber, and suffering from winter colds,
and there is no wonder that the character is much ruder than that of women. It
is very desirable that when men will return from their outdoor work, women
should give them solace and good comfort in their homes.
A psalm was then sung Protect us
Lord and have mercy upon us, and with sincere wishes for every success from the
Lord in their future life and with greetings from all to all brothers and
sisters in every village, the meeting was declared ended at 7 p.m.
Glory to God.
An account of Income and
Expenditures of The Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood in Canada, for
1905:
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Income from Villages
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Part 1.
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Village
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1 Otradnoe
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$3,910.05 |
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2 Smirenie
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$2,516.70 |
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3 Nadeshda
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$2,243.45 |
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4 Prakuratovo
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$1,530.50 |
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5 Spaskoe
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$2,954.70 |
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6 Lubovnoe
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$2,478.35 |
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7 Efremovo and Trushdenie
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$3,265.60 |
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8 Voskresenie
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$3,082.85 |
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9 Trudolubivoe
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$2,368.80 |
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10 Tambovskoe
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$3,765.15 |
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11 Vossianie
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$2,600.10 |
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12 Petrovo
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$2,792.75 |
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13 Vernoe
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$2,034.35 |
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14 Blagodarnoe
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$3,046.20 |
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15 Terpenie
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$2,543.95 |
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16 Rodionovo
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$3,289.10 |
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17 Sovetnoe
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$3,350.70 |
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18 Besednoe
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$2,656.05 |
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19 Novoe
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$1,000.65 |
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20 Blagoveshenie
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$4,830.30 |
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21 Slavnoe
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$2,198.15 |
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22 Kapoostino
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$2,661.90 |
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23 Osvobojdenie
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$2,749.80 |
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24 Lebedeva
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$2,693.25 |
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25 Lubomirnoe
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$3,250.35 |
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26 Klebodarnoe
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$2,629.20 |
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27 Pakrovskoe
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$2,821.30 |
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28 Vosnosenie
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$3,197.00 |
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29 Vera
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$2,033.15 |
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30 Simeonova
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$2,080.55 |
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31 Tichomirnoe
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$2,370.50 |
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32 Kamenka
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$2,488.40 |
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33 Michaelovo
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$2,261.60 |
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34 Troetskoe
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$1,200.00 |
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35 Oospenie
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$3,011.50 |
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36 Bogom-Dannoe
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$2,012.55 |
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37 Pavlovo
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$2,577.70 |
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38 Blagosklonnoe
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$2,830.65 |
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39 Kolmikovo
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$2,286.60 |
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40 Ooteshenie
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$2,252.20 |
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41 Razbegaylovo
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$1,142.15 |
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42 Moesaevo
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$2,917.30 |
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43 Kirilovo
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$1,914.50 |
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44 Goreloe
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$1,160.70 |
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Total
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$114,136.60 |
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Income Common
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Part No 2
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1 Loan from Bank B.N.A.
Yorkton
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$50,500.00 |
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2 To cash received from
Prince Albert brothers towards
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payment for land near
village Vernoe $5,000.00
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3 To sale of 13,771 lbs of
1904 senega root at 55 cts. per lb
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$7,754.00 |
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4 To sale of 14,060 lbs of
1905 senega root at 50 cts. per lb
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$7,030.00 |
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5 Balance in hand
from last acct.
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$1,704.60 |
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6 To cash from threshing
grain from V. Salikin
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$900.20 |
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7 To cash from threshing
grain from A.F. Reibin
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$628.95 |
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8 To cash from
villages (1904 debts)
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$368.50 |
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9 To cash for sleigh, sand,
etc. sold in Yorkton by Evan Podovinnikoff
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$479.10 |
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10 To cash from V.A. Potapoff,
being net profit from store sales by him
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$428.25 |
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11 To cash for gristing from
Blagoveshenie village
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$100.00 |
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12 To cash from Alexaevka
village for needle work
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$25.30 |
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13 To cash from Yakutsk
brothers:
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M.
Arishenkoff, Vosnesenie
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$90.00 |
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M.
Novokshonoff, Blagoveshenie
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$50.00 |
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P. Kinakin,
Klebodarnoe
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$15.00 |
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T. Markin,
Oospenie
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$5.00 |
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N. N.
Sookhocheff, Razbegaylovo
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$18.00 |
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F. Arishenkoff, Kamenka
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$15.00 |
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Total
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$75,646.30 |
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Expenditure
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Part 1, Land
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1 - By entry fees for land,
being balance due on 1,372 homesteads
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at
$5.00 (except some Devils Lake townships)
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$6,860.00 |
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2 - By third payment on land
purchased near village Vernoe
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$13,275.00 |
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3 - By deposit on one section of
land near Slavnoe
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$1,067.90 |
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4 - By deposit on 160 acres of
H.B. Co land near village Pokrovka
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$130.60 |
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5 - By deposit on 160 acres of
land near Vossianie village
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$799.00 |
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6 - By purchase of land with
building, sand pit and machine for
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making cement blocks at
Yorkton
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$3,265.40 |
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7 - By balance on house in
Yorkton
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$250.00 |
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8 - By purchase on land at
Swan River, Man.
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$170.00 |
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9 - By deposit on land in Canora
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$85.00 |
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Total
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$25,841.40 |
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Part 2, Horses and Oxen
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1 - By interest on purchase
price of horses bought in 1903
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$713.85 |
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2 - By purchase of one horse for
village Slavnoe
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$180.00 |
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3 - By purchase of horse by
Simeon Kabatoff, village Spaskoe
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$217.25 |
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4 - By purchase of oxen for
village Razbegaylovo
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$272.60 |
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5 - By expense of Paul Planidin
and Fedor Sookocheff when
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buying horses
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$120.00 |
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Total
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$1,503.10 |
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Part 3, Implements and Machinery
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1 - By purchase of one 25 h.p.
traction engine with separator
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from Gaar,
Scott & Co.
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$3,300.00 |
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2 - By purchase of one 25 h.p.
engine (traction) with separator
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from American Abell
Co.
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$3,300.00 |
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3 - By purchase of one
separator from American Abell Co.
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$750.00 |
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4 - By purchase of 3, 25 h.p.
plowing engines, Reeves & Co.,
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at $2,410 each
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$7,230.00 |
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5 - By purchase of one 25 h.p.
engine (plowing) with separator,
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from Reeves & Co.
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$3,241.00 |
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6 - By purchase of one 20 h.p.
plowing Reeves engine with
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separator for Devils Lake Colony
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$2,890.00 |
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7 - By purchase of one 25 h.p.
plowing Reeves engine with
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Separator for Devils Lake Colony
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$3,500.00 |
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8 - By purchase of 38
binders at $115 each
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$4,370.00 |
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9 - By purchase of 52
mowers at $41 each
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$2,182.00 |
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10 By purchase 30,000 lbs of
Manilla twine at $12.30 per 100 lbs
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$3,690.00 |
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11 By purchase 50 sickles at
$3.75 each
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$187.50 |
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12 Balance for 1904 on binders
and mowers
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$5,457.00 |
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13 Balance for 1904 on drills,
wagons, disc harrows, etc.
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$2,607.50 |
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14 Balance for 1904 for engines
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$3,898.55 |
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15 By purchase 25 wagons at
$51.50 each
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$1,287.50 |
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16 By purchase 25 drills at
$74.50 each
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$1,862.50 |
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17 By purchase 20 disc harrows
at $35.25
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$705.00 |
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18 By purchase 60 plows at
$18.00 each
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$1,080.00 |
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19 By purchase 30 wagons at
$52.50 each
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$1,587.00 |
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20 By purchase 40 sleighs, 20
at $22.00 and 20 at $25.00
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$940.00 |
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21 By purchase 7 gang plows, 4
shares at $133.00 each
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$931.90 |
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22 By purchase one hay press
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$220.00 |
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23 By difference to Gaar Scott
for exchanging 18 h.p. portable
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engine for new 20 h.p.
traction, freight on same
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$750.50 |
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24 By purchase of one wind
stacker for separator
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$510.00 |
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25 By purchase of ten bellows
for blacksmithing
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$135.25 |
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26 By purchase of 4 gang plows
(2 shares) at $37.00 each
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$148.00 |
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27 By purchase of shares and
the repairs from Massey Harris Co.
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$669.88 |
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28 By purchase of shares and
repairs from Fairchild Co.
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$289.90 |
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29 By purchase of one buggy & | |