The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-10-29
County Organization.

5,sss County Organization.
Again has this become subject Of
paramount interest from the fact that
the rate of taxation on the recent assess
ment Of Billings comfy by Stark is now
known and is either twelve OF, thirteen
mills on the dollar. This is the rate on
an assessed valuation in Billings county
Of over $4,000. It takes but little fig
uring to show that. should the amount
of this assessment be paid to Stark coun-
ty, it will be over $1,000, enough in itself
almost to run county organization in
Billings county on a liberal scale. 81
We. have before spoken Of county
organization as an economical plan for
the county and it would be we'll to again
bring it forward in that light. ~. 81
First; as to the officers. There will Be
needed sheriff, justice of the peace,
assessor, county attorney, three COM
missioners, treasurer and register of
deeds. ALI county business can be tran
sacted by this number of officers as we'll
as by a greater number. ,.5,; ..s49
Besides officers, the running expenses
Of the county are included in buildings,
school and few other expenses which
are trifling. The whole will amonnt to
about $1.2CO year. -
The shersf's office will cost more than
any other but ought not to go:over $500
or $500 a year. Sheriff Sebastian Of
Stark county, says that his Office will
cost this year about $4,000. This proba-
bly, includes FIVE times the mileage and
fees that sheriff here will have, as Mr..
Sebastian has made numerous trips into
counties attached to Stark Co. which our
Sheriff will not need to do. $500 should
be abundant for this Office. A justice of
the peace will not cost over s10O a year,
the assessor 500, The county attorney
$3.50; three commissioners each, $3.50.
$3.50; register ofdeeds, $3.50. The treas
urer gets a certain per cent. for hand,
ling the county money, but nothing as a
salary. His per cent. will probably
amount to about $500. This makes a
total for salaries of about $3.50 per
year. To be on the safe side, call it
$500, add the Sl,50O for sundries and
we have as an outside, $4,000 for the
ordinary running expenses of the coun-
ty. .
And now, what resources have we to
meet these expenses? In tile first place,
there is the railroad tax. With mile
age of twenty-four miles, it was estima-
ted by County Attorney Long of Mandan,
that we would receive $3,4oO. Since
then our limits have been stretched so
that We have thirty-six miles Of railroad
with consequent tax of over 5000.
In addition to the railroad tax, we
have the liquor license, which is now
$1,000. This amount, Morton county
now receives, but of course it will stay
in Billings county after organization.
This makes b total Of $500 to pay the
ordinary running expenses and not a
cent raised by taxation. 1's'~
The first year there will be extra ex-
ira expenses, such as books, safes etc.
but scarcely enough to make up the diff:
ference between the running expenses
and the 5000. fssgs...34i, ,..5s zt25< ~.
Suppose now, we add the $1,000 which
must certainly be paid 10 Stark county
unless we organize soon and which Of
itself would lie enough to pay the run.
ming expenses of the county. It will be
raised on an assessment of $5OO,O0O
which with our increased boundaries
and former undervaluation could easily
i be raised to $3.50, 900 or more. This will
almost all be a surplus and will erect
good county buildings, grade roads
build bridges and then leave d handsome
sum in the treasury: 4. .ss..5 -.
In view Of the above facts, the matter
Of organization is being seriously consid
lered by the stockmen, as it cannot bu
result in; good to all. N &53 ,s5ssY I.
l, No definite action has as yet been TAX
en- III respect to county officers. but tn
names most prominently mentioned ar,
/ j. I. Truscott, Jos. A. Ferris and Mr
Rowe of Rowe, Parker & Easton for com
/ Inissioners, Fred Willard for sheriff, VIM
4 YanDriesche for neausurer and aa9udge
Gordon for Justice Of the peace. TIL
choice for commissioners would Of cours
4 have been different but that our count
las been enlarged By the changing q
/ the territorial lines and it Is though
1 best to give Beaver creek d represents
4 tion. OF course all the names mentione
are subject to approval and we; merel
d voice the common sentiment in mention
ing them. They are all good men how
ever, In whose hands no one will fear /
entrust the welfare Of the county IN
are every man Of them above any suspi,
ion d dishonesty