Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-04-22
ALTURAS COUNTY FINANCES.

The county warrants are said to be
going a-begging at 80 cents. OF the
$4,000 worth issuei in payment of
bills allowed at the last meeting Of
the Board of County Commissioners,
about $4,000 worth have been placed
ut 80 cents on the dollar. A. J. Nc
Gowan. of Kingsbury & McGowan, of
this city, has bought $4,000 worth of
these. This was more than he in
tended to lake. He only expected to
buy $4,000 or $4,000 worth; but as
more was offered, and he considers it
one of the very best investments in
the country, he strained u point-sev
eral points, in fact-and took more
Next quarter he will be prepared to
buy an equal amount.
AS above sta led, about S 900 worth
Of warrants were issued this quarter,
of which about $4,000 have brought
90 cents. OF the remaining $4,000,
about one fourth of the entire issue
was retained by those to whom issued,
as is usual in such cases. This would
leave only about $500 or $4,000
more, at the most, to be placed.
These can find ready market, to-
day, at So or s., cents; and in very
fow days, there will doubtless be
money here to take up all floating
warrants at 80 cents This being the
state of affairs, the county's credit
has not suffered to that extent that
parties interested in decrying the
TINES would have us believe. But
the misguided Efforts show to what
length the TIMEs's opponents will 20
in their enaeavors to njure it in the
esteem of the community.
But, supposng the county's credit
had been injured 10y the articles pub
lished in this paper, from time to
time, in relation to coan'y affairs,
during the past few months? Would
the TINES be deserving of blame in
the matter? Not by any means. On
the contrary, it would be deserving
of praise for daring to point to the
abyss to the edge of which the tax
payers of the county were being
drawn. If our county affairs were in
such bad condition that Il full state
ment of them, accompanied by intel
llgent and impartial comments, would
damage her credit with moneyed men
to the extent of depreciating the
value Of her warrants, it would be
high time that the public were in
formed of this state of affairs.
Eut the fact is, that our county at
fairs nave never, in the history Of this
county, been on such Il good basis as
now. The Commissioners, frankly
admitting their mistake last year, have
determined that the maintenance Of
tho INDECENT sick shall cost the county
as little as possible. Tho present con-
tract will expire in July; prior to that
time they will advertise for bids for
next year. That will doubtless cali
forth several bids; and il the cost Of
this department Of the county govern
ment is not reduced by three ourths
we Will admit that we were much mis-,
taken.
With this wide gauge source of ex-
pense reduced to proper limits, and
the enormous cost of the public roads
and bridges done away with altogcth-
er, there will not be another waste
channel OF any moment open i'll county
affairs, and the cost of running the
county government will not exceed
$4,000 per annum. The revenue
cannot possibly fall short Of $4,000.
There will erefore be an annual sur
plus Of $4,000 or so that can be APP
piled to the payment of the county il :
debtedness, and in two and-a- hall
Years from the present time, Alturas
county will not only be free from debt,
but She will have a good round sum
in her treasury that will permit of II
reduction OF the rate Of taxation to less
than 81 ON the 500 OF taxable prop
er'y.