The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-04-12
HAWKINS COUNTY FINANCES
The Explanation Demanded
How the Railroad Tax
has been Expended.

RoGERsyILLE, Tenn, March 6, '76.
To the Editor Of Hawkins County Department:
In justification of the county officials
and to explain out of the figures set
forth in rny article in the GAZETTE in
which show that we ought now to
have over $15, 900 of money collected as
railroad tax, it is said that omitted to
deduct the amount of railroad tax re-
ceipts paid in. This won't do, gentle
men; il you will take the trouble to in
vestigate you will find that l deducted
railroad tax receipts and also a sum suf-
ficient to pay expenses of collecting
The net balance is $1S, 600. will stand
/ by these figures on the railroad tax
Let US have another explanation.
W. p. GILLENwATERs.
If do not mistake his meaning,
Mr.. Gillenwaters here broadly as
serts that we ought now to have in
the county treasury a net balance of
over $4,000, collected as railroad
taxes, after the payment of the en-
tire interest on our bonded indebt-
edness since the war and after max
| ing due allowance for losses, CON-
missions, &c, in the collection of
taxes.
In other words, Mr., Gillenwaters
means to insinuate that our county
officials have misappropriated or en-
bezzled over $4,000 of the public
funds.
The following facts and figures,
drawn from the records of the Coun-
ty Court. prove that he has lent the
influence OF his powerful name to the
publication OF an error, that is cal
culated to damage our credit at home
and abroad, and weaken public con-
fdence in the integrity of our finan
cial agents.
1 ask the indulgence of your read
ers while 1 spread the proofs before
them.
OUR COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.
And first l will endeavor to show
the entire amount of our bonded in
debtedness, with accrued interest
and other charges to which the coun-
ty has been subjected, up to the 1st
day of January, 1876. And 1 pre-
mise by saying that almost our en-
tire bonded Indebtedness accrued in
consequence of aid given by the
county to the Rogersville and Jeffer-
son railroad company and the Rog-
ersville and Sneedville turnpike com
pany.
AS appears of record. on the 4th
day Of April, 1859, the County Court |
directed the issuance to the Rogers
Vile and Jefferson railroad company
of bonds to the amount of $1,000, |
payable in six months with interest |
from date. A portion of these bonds !
were afterwards redeemed by the is
suanee therefor of county warrants,
which have long since been paid.
Some-the amount not known
were stolen from the company dur
ing tie war. And others have been
taken up by the Revenue Collectors, |
since the war, in payment Of rail-
road taxes, as will be shown hereaf-
ter. This letter amount is the only |
on account of these bonds,
with which we have to do in the pre-
sent calculation.
At the July term, 1866. the Coun-
ty Court ordered the issuance, to the
and jefferson railroad
company of $40, ,000 in bonds, which
were accordingly issued. dated July
1st, 1866, to mature in twenty years
with interest from date at the rate
of per cent. payable semi-annually.
At the April term. 1867, the Court
adopted the foolish policy of con-
verting a non-interest bearing into
an interest bearing debt, and order
ed the Clerk to issue an additional
OF bonds, for the purpose Of
funding county lcdrrdntS. According
ly bonds to the amount OF $4,000 90
were issued and an equivalent
of WaTrants redeemed and
As there was an excess
Of blank railroad bonds on hands,
the Clerk simply filed up a number
Of these amounting to $4,000 and
snte~dated them to July 1st, 1866,
The date of the issuance of the rail-
road bonds, thereby making the same
appear as a part of our railroad bond
ed Indebtedness, and swelling the
amount thereof to $4,000. due July
st, 1886. This constitutes the princi.
pal of our RR bonded Indebtedness.
Total interest on this amount from
July 1st, 1866, to January lst, 1874,
q SI9,170. U carry interest forward
o this last date because these figures
ire extracted from the report of the
chairman Of the County Court, made
o the April term, 1874, and adopted
md spread of record, which report
vas up to this time.) Total railroad
,onded debt and interest, Janurry /,
.874. $6l,77O.
On the 1st day Of July, 1867.
,onds TO the amount of $4,000 were
ssued-by what authority is un-
the Rogersville and
SneedsvilIe turnpike company. pay
.bie in twenty years. with interest
rom date. Interest on these bonds | !
o lst January. 1874, 81, $50. Total
ernpikc debt, Jan. l. 1874. $3.50,
Under an act of the Ledislature. !
,assed February 26, 1870. the Rev
rue Collectors OF Hawkins county :
fcre required to take up all railroad
ak receipts for county subscriptions {
0 the Rogersyille and Jefferson rail
DAD, before the war. in payment OF
abroad taxes then or thereafter to :
'ecome due. The law brought to I
ight q large quantity OF these old |
AK certificates, and. up 10 january
st, 1874, the Collectors had taken !
ID. in payment OF railroad taxes. old I
eeeipts amounting TO S4.999 rs.
Ia the year 1872. the Collector re-
eived from the tax payers, in pay :
nent Of railroad taxes, bonds OF !
1859, (before referred to) amounting I
o S425 AZ, which became chargeable
0 the county. Cost ofa suit brought
n the Federal Court at Knoxville, :