The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1881-05-20
Notes from Hancock.

Weather warln-thermometer at
rs, with clouds and sprinkles Of
rain. Hog cholera still raging. The
shearingof sheep has already begun
Il think the general mass of wool
this season will be late in meeting
the market on account of the low
price. Crops is generally looking
well considering the late spring.
Having an opportunity to know
something in regard to the finan-
cial condition of Hancock county,
| am proud to say to the readers Of
the DEMOCRAT STAR that We have
an able and efficient corps of coun.
ty officials at this time. Our un-
tagging sheriff aud tax collector
being elected to the official positions
which they now occupy on the 9th
day OF December, 1880, therefore 1t
was almost a matter Of inpessibili-
ty to begin the collection OF taxes
of 1880 before the last days OF Jan
uary, 1881, in consequence of which
the board OF supervisors extended
the sale of delinquent tax lands un-
til the fourth Monday in April,
1881.
The total amount of taxes on real
and personal assessment for the
year 1880, amount to Sl4, l73.45,
and S60S polls-making in all S14,.
S71.45, exclusive OF privileges and
coffee house license, as here shown,
credit aud amount due; amount of
school TAX for 1881, $l,796.73;
treasurer's receipt shows, 81 ,377.35;
leaving a balance due of $4l9.3S.
Amount of special tax, S5,39O.1S;
treasurer's receipt show, 81, 4,l23.22;
balance due, $l,266.96. Amount
of county tax, $3,593.45; treasurer's
receipt show, s2,746.79; balance
due, SS46.66. Amount of polls S69S;
treasurer's receipt show, $379.05;
balance due, s3lS.95. Total State
tax on real aud personal property
amount to s2,695.O9; State treas
urer's receipt show, $2,062.36
leaving a balance due the State Of
$632.73; making a total as shown
BY the State and county treasurers'
receipts Of s10,6SS.77; five per cent.
commission on total collection,
$534.43; to.al-county, State, aud
commissions, $l1, 1,223.2O.
The above is the amount as
shown by the receipts Of State and
county treasurer mp to the last
settlement. The collector will
probably meet the next settlement
with fifteen hundred or two thous
and dollars, as he has now on hand
oabout fourteen hundred dollars.
lie The delinquent, insolvent and err
heoneous assessment, as allowed by
ane beard of supervisors, aud the
hgedit on lands sold to the State,
iesill run up considerable. l have
,oeasou to believe it is about six
dollats. Well, 81, 400 and
lit6OO placed to the collectors credit
.csill leave a balanceof 81, l,648.25
htue the State and county for the
,yiscal year of 1880. l feel desIrous
,epf running this item out longer.
Comparatively the legislature is the
big wheel that moves the machine
nv of the State government, and
from a constable's Office to the Of
fee of the governor of the State, II
ia a wheel within q wheel, aud
when one wheel fails to roll on as
directed by the moving power, OF
big wheel, it will eventually begin
to drag and run heavy, and the
first class to feel the. weight OF the
cloggcd wheel is the taxpayers.
Now, there is a remedy and ma.
chine shop in each and every cou''-
ty. where those wheels can be re.
paired or removed, aud better ones
put in their place. At least, as far
as county officials are concerned,
the circuit clerk, the sheriff and tax
collector, the county treasurer, aud
the board of supervisors, constitute
the four principal wheels upon
which the county government is to
be rolled along as directed, and'pni
in motion by the great driving
wheel. AS far as it concerns coun'
ty finances the board OF supervisors