Arizona citizen., 1878-01-04
YavapaI County Affairs.

| AENaAbaA SounNy AMairS.
 To the Hon. c. A. Tweed, Judge of the ThUd Judicial District, in and for the County of Yavapai, Territory of Arizona
 1 NOVEMBER TERM, 1877.
 The Grand Jury beg leave to submit the following report:
 We have had six cases under exam ation, have found true bills in three cases anH ignored three
 We have also had under cOnsidera- tion and examination the finances of the county. We regret to be com Ipelled 10 report the finances of the county in an uniavorable condition and submit as follows:
 FINANCES.
 Warrants on General Fund, se-
 ries of ..S l45S3 2G Warrants on General Fund, se-
 res or SII JU Warrants on Contingent Fund,
 series Of lSIl........-. ............... 5,ll2 j0 Interest on outstanding warrants
 apprONlmated .......................... 2,400 co
 approximate ......i...'............,..., 6,OOO co
 Total 4s,g73 72 The indebtedness of bonds already issued and to be issued is as follows: l For purchase cf Iron Spring Toll
 Road 10000 co For improving Black Canyon
 5,O0O OO For building Bradshaw rOad....... 32.U10 OO For building Courthouse -........... 60,OOO co
 Total................................slO7 900 co Total indebtedness ................. ljj,g72 = The resources of the county are as follows: The total amount of taxation for 1877 is $j3 6GS.S0; of this amount it Is hardly possible that more than $45, ,0OO can be collected. The prevail Ing drOUth and the hitherto total lack of government appropriation, making it impossible for many of our citizens to bear the burden of heavy taxation Of this amount. or S4j,00O. 46l5 per cent. applies to the county, or the sum of S1S1G to the General Fund, and S2Oo4 to the Contingent Fund, making total revenue Co the county, Oi $20,- S49 over and above amounts received from licenses.
 From the above it will be readily seen that the entire resources of the county will little more than cover the interest on our actual and immediate ly prospective indebtedness, and that such indebtedness imposed upon the taxpayers of our county Is wantonly eXtravag,nt and entirely diSproportiOn- ed to the limited resources of the cOun- ty.
 We further find on examination into the general affairs of the county and in- to the principal items which make up our great indebtedness, such as the care of the indiCent sick. the Prescott and Bradshaw road, and the Court house, and would respectfully report that with regard to the lndigunt sick, that while we acknowledge the incum- bencv of our duties toward this untor- tunaIe class in our midst, that our ti- nancial condition imperatively de mands that the most rigid economy should be practiced in their mainten- ance. and that none should be admitted except such as are absolutely sick and in great Restitution, and in a suffering condition. We regret Co say that great eXtravagauce iS practiced with regard to this cluSS: that in twenty-Scven days the sum of S6j4 was paid for board and lodging alone. or at the rate of SS,O52 per year; that the enormous sum of about S10,00O per year is added to our indebtedness by this charity; that the blls for the board and lodging are unusually and unwdrrantably large; that S2450 per week, the amount now paid, is far in advance of the prices in our midst, even at the present prices our county warrants sell at; that the contractor has under his care, at a great expense 70 the county, persons that from the nature of their diseases had no claims whatever on the charity of the people of this county, already over burdened with heavy taxation, and that the Board of Supervisors are, in the opinion of this Grand Jury, guilty off a criminal neglect in the manner the settlements between the contractor and the Boarl have been made, by paying. the enormous bills to the contractor, certified tO by himself and without any check as to the correctness of the bills;I and we. ,he Gre ld Jury, most respect fully recOmmen to this Court, that the Board of Supervisors be by it in. structed 10 appoint one or more persons to constitute a Board of Examiners to- examine all persons claiming the bene- fits of this county as indigent sick, and admit only such as are entitled to it. and to certify 10 all bills presented by the contractor.
 CONSTRUCTION OF BRADSHAW ROAD.
 On examination into the affairs con-. nected witt the construction of the Bradshaw road, the Grand Jury find that, whi the plans and specificatlons, ! which are part of the contract be- tween the Board of Supervisors and James Patterson, the contractor for the. construction of said road, are for a rood and substantial road for the heav- fest class of teams, and for a rOad-hed sixteen feet wide, yet, by interlineatiOn such plans and specifications and pro visions are rendered nearly negatOry, said interlineatIOns being for a road bed only twelve feet wide, said latter. width being entirely inadequate, and worthless for the purpose for winch said road was contemplated; that said contract, with reference tO the payments therein provided for, was reckles>ly. provided for in its provisions, inthat ltI provides certainly for the payment of Sj000, and possibly for Sl0,0OO beforeI any work shall be done on said road ' that the Board of Supervisors have is- sued the sum of 5000 over and above. the amount by themselves contracted for. before the final completion or. acceptance of said road, in direct viO-.