ered into the territorial treasury after a complete organization had been consummated.[1]
THE FIRST FINANCES.
Some two years after the first step had been taken and after the first of the annual migrations across the plains had arrived, the project for organization was revived. It had, however, in the interim been discussed pro and con with little intermission. This time the movement was stimulated to assume active form by the predatory raids of wild animals upon the domestic stock. A "wolf meeting" was held on the first Monday in March, 1843, at which an organization was effected to make war upon animals destructive to their herds and flocks. Bounties were fixed, a treasurer was elected, collectors appointed to receive subscriptions, their commission for collecting funds named, and an auditing committee provided, and a legal tender defined. This was of course only a temporary arrangement for a very restricted purpose, but at this same "wolf meeting" a committee was appointed "to take into consideration the propriety of taking measures for the civil and military protection of the colony."[2] This committee, at a well-advertised and well-attended meeting on May 2 following, reported in favor of organization and decisive action was taken in the adoption of its report. This meeting further appointed a "legislative committee" to draft a code of laws for the government of the community, to be submitted for ratification to a later meeting on July 5. A full corps of officials, excepting an executive, were elected, but "the old officers" were to remain in office "till the laws are made and accepted, or until the next public meeting." A compensation of $1.25 per day was voted for the members of the legislative committee entrusted with the work of drafting a constitution, but their session was limited to six days. The money was to be raised by subscription.[3] As the
