Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1858-07-22
FROM THE COUNTY JUDGE


buildings. and other circumstances, have
caused the amount Of expenditures to be
greater than ever before, have made
the Report more full and specific on that
account. But as the financial interests
of the county are especially matters which
vitality concern every taxpayer, | have
thought some details in addition to the
Report would not be unacceptable to my
fellow citizens, and the kindness of the
proprietors Of the Quasqueton Guardian
and of the independence Civilian enables
me to give these further explanations
without any expense to the county
That citizens of every kind may have an
opportunity to examine what so materi-
ally concerns them, l publish my Report
in 10th the county papers.
In making out the report in regard to
monies received into the treasury and
disbursed therefrom, the Treasurer COM
mences with July 10, 1857, the date of
his predecessors report, and he brings
it up to this date, July 1, 1858, the COM
mencement of a new fiscal year On
his installment into his office, Aug. 8,
1857, there was an amount of Sll76, 80
in the county treasury but when | was
installed into my office, Aug. 10, 1857,
that sum was diminished to $539,33,
warrants, amounting to Ss63: "a, having
been drawn in the interim, by my pre-
decessor, to pay for lumber for the Court
House and other charges.
In giving an account of the Expendi-
lures Of the county, have commenced
with July l., 1857, and ended at this
date, July /, 1853, that period being the
proper fiscal year.
On examining the items of expendi-
ture, it will be seen that by far the great
est one is the Court House but although
! it has been erected during a season of
unprecedented sc hard times" and search
ty of money, and without there being
| funds in the treasury to cash the various
county warrants as they were issued,
yet the cost of the building has been less
than was expected, and while it will ia
vorably compare with the Court Houses
of neighboring counties, they have cost
two and three times as much. The
whole amount of warrants issued for it,
in the fiscal year, was $9,24O,57 of
this, my predecessor, up to Aug. 10,
1857, issued SO, 1927, and | $6,117,-
60; and prior to July /, 1857, my pre-
decessor had issued $517,94, making
the sum total for the Court House So
1881. This amount comprises all that
has been done for the Court House-in-
GLIDING the preparing of the ground,
the lumber, lime, stone, brick, sand,
hardware, DC, DC, the hauling" the
same, railroad freights, the digging and
constructing the deep well in the square,
the materials and construction of the out
buildings belonging to the premises, the
changing of the Court House seats, ac-
cording to Judge Wilson's recommends
ton, and in fact, every species of expense
connected with the grounds or the edi-
fee. The full completion of the latter
will require few hundred dollars more,
for stone steps, lightning rods, stairway
- &c - rzei-,-i--o, o.--'-i..o- 49,,
dc. !; but considering the ample dimen-
sions of the building, its thorough con.
struction by the masons, carpenters and
plasterers, and the excellence of the ma
terials used, it must be pronounced, by
all competent judges, one Of the cheap
est public buildings ever erected.
The next larger items of disbursement
during the fiscal year have been for
Court, Criminal and Pauper expenses
The augmentation of these is inevitable
as the county increases in population and
wealth. The influx of poor persons is
greater than formerly, and the opportu
mites for crime, and the temptations to
Its commission, are more numerous. In
all these departments have strenuously
attempted to keep the expenses as low as
justice, humanity and the law would per-
nit; but Notwithstanding all this, the
amount is formidable one, and there is
no reason to believe that it will be less
at the end of the fiscal year Just com
menced. The pauper liabilities have
been pery largely increased by the cost
OF keeping insane persons, the State not
yet furnishing any asylum for their re
ception. Besides, as if we had not resi-
dent pauper lunatics enough, it has un-
luckily happened that they have been
! i"i'NtSo oPou uo ilOiu OlueT States, ana
the charge of tending and returning them
has formed no inconsiderable item. The
number of paupers being greater has
likewise swelled the fees of township
trustees, who have necessarily had to
look after these persons, and the hard
times have caused almost every man who
performed any service for the county to
exact pay for the same.
do not know that the other items of
expenditure specified in the Report need
any further explanation. unless perhaps
1t be the subject Of Roads. About one
half of the amount of that item was for
State Roads. And, speaking on this
topic, let me digress enough TO urge up
on all who desire to locate or alter roads,
to so discuss the matter with interested
parties, that there shall be no litigation
or strife upon these subjects in the coun-
ty court, and in this way they can secure
their objects without contention or i'll
feeling.
1t will be seen, that saying nothing
about the delinquent tax, the county has
outstanding against it only $780, 90 be-
yOnd tha raSouroac Of fha kccal war md