, 1863-12-12
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN
Published Every Saturday Morning

COUNTY AFFARs.-The petition to the Legislature,
alluded to in our last, praying that body to pass
law authorizing the County Commissioners of this
county to levy special tax to relieve the county from
its Indebtedness, is now being circulated among the
taxpayers The petition prays that the tax may be
increased from u to IA mills Mr.. r. Guichard of
this city, who has taken the most lively interest in
the matter furnishes us with the folowr argument
in favor of the plan proposed A-- -e
Three ideas have been advanced 3-
First: To annul the County debt.
Second To take up the County debt and issue
Bonds, or get some to advance the money to the
County and issue Bonds to him or them bearing in
terest at per cent.
Third To circulate petition praying the Legis-
lature to pass law authorizing our County Commis-
sioners to levy a County tax of IA mills.
The first proposition is in consistent, since our
County solvent in the very highest degree of the
word-ibs last assessment roll showing $ll00,O0O
The second proposition would amount to nothing,
it would be of no benefit to either the County or
scrip holder for the that the present revenue
is just sufficient to pay current expenses and interest
recorded scrp and If there be no delinquent tax
payers of which there has been frightful number,
hardly enough to pay the additional interest on bor-
rowed money proposed, and with no possibility OF
creating sinking fund, for the payment of the
the County debt, as my figures will clearly show.
The third proposition, in my estimation, is the only
one that can be beneficial to the County. 1t redu-
ces the County debt than half and will enable
the Commissioners to make Improvements at Dry
Creek Tucanon, Touchet and many other localities,
which in reality need immediate Improvements. The
present County tax at ~ mills and County scrip at
its low value t being worth only 25c on the dolla)
is equivalent to Ia mills in gold coin. And if it
be said-whch deny-that the scrip is worth SOC,
on the dollar, it would then be only equal to 81
mills in gold coin, and still sufficiently o@, to com
pei the County restrain from making any of the so
much needed improvements.
Ny figures will show that IA mills for ono year,
and seven mills the next will bring above water
inside of two years. .
make my calculations follows
Assessable property, as per last assessment roll,
81 1000 (Which viii likely reach 81 100000, if a
competent assessor can be employed; that, however,
will not figure upon but will take our last assess
nent of sllOO,OOO, which at mills County tax.
Namounts to . observation-disclosures. s7,7OO 90
Licenses and Fines, estimated at......... $500 90
~ Total Revenue, ,........... $1,000 10
C0Htrd-
County Expenses. Observation-Disclosures. 5000 90
Interest on Recorded Scrip. ......... 1900 90
zoo Total Expenses ses................ $500 90
Leaving balance of 50, 200 for calling in scrip
and making improvements, if our delinquent tax list
did not show larger amount than the one calculated
to remain in the treasury.
On the other hand calculating at IL mills on 81
100 900, will give us. Observation-Disclosures Is, 400 90
Licenses and Fines, estimated at t...,... $500 90
Z Total Revenue e............. $l8,7Oo 90
COntra-
County Expenses ..--.-..............' *6,OOO W
Scrip bearing legal interest ........,. 900 90
Total expenses 49,. 80. .......- $500 90
Leaving balance of $40, 900 to take up scrip, with
very fine prospect, indeed, of larger amount.
All this may be effected without material injury to
any tx payer, and with great advantage to the
County by elevatng the value of County scrip to that
ofU.S. Legal Tender notes. ao esrsr ccr