The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-11-01


will follow. With the ability of this
county to pay for valuable properties and
necessary Improvements, we had no hesi-
tation in approving the expenditures,
satisfied that the debt incurred would be
paid without crippling future admins
tratons, aud without the people being
called on to pay any more than the ordi-
nary taxes for the proper support of the
county government.
ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND DEBT.
The statement fixes the outstanding
debt on October s, 1888, against the road
and bridge fund, at $13,76O73.
We propose to show briefly the extraor-
binary expenses that we have been
compelled to meet from this fund during
our administration, and to plainly state
that we are responsible for only a small
part of the items VIC will enumerate, but
that the same are properly chargeable
against Judge Fulmore's administration:
l. We paid Judge Fillmore as an attor-
ney for negotiating change in the
Colorado Bridge bonds iesued under
his administration, from per cent.
bonds to per cent Understanding
bonds. =. -. ..,.. ...........:..".".. S6OO.CO
2. We paid the first intereet that was
psid on the Colorado Bridge bonds
mo interest having been due under
Judge Fulmore's administration, he
having issued the bonde, ............. 4,GS.OO
g. We paid for an iron bridge over Boul-
by Judge Fillmore. ....,..........,. 1,a7a.OO
A. We paid TO the citizens of Travis
county money they advanced during
Judge FulmOre's administration as
loan for the improvement of roads,. 5,l'4.OO
Total paid by us from this fund on &C.
count of contracts Il der Judge Full
more's administration .....".... .S1O,994 90
Therefore, out of the debt against the
road and bridge fund of $13,7b073, it
appears very plainly that if we had
not been forced TO meet the eXtraOr
binary expenses contracted for and
necessitated by the former admins
tration, our present debt would be
To account for this we would cite as few e -
pendi,ures of permanent character and as valu-
able county assets at present:
/. Iron bridge constructed over Walnut
creek, VI, oVOVO
?, Wagons and stock for road purposes
l,UOOUO
sa,SUOOO
These oheet the. "."."..'S 2,66.U W
In the debt ot....... l3,T61.'3
The balance, $1,000, having been in
Cured by us on account of the contracts
and debts of Judge Fulmore's administra-
ton.
AS to the BALANCE of the road and bridge
fund that we have expended, it was spent
in the usual way, and would require de-
tailed account to make q showing. We
would remark that We have been at con-
siderable expense to purchase right Of
way, and otherwise the fund has been
employed economically and applied to the
best of our ability where needed, and in
construction M i'm n re sta hlp q g
the nature of the case would admit of
being made.
RA TEs OF TAXATION.
The people of Travis county will bear
in mind that the rates of county taxation
have been very materially changed during
our administration, and consequently a
decrease of county funds:
For 1856 the rate was 80 cents on the
800 valuation.
For 1887 the rate was 40 cents on the
800 valuation.
For 1883 the rate was 30 cents on the
800 valuation.
1t will be seen in 1888 we had as rev.
enue, from the tax rolls of 1887, one-ffth
less than in 1887, in which year the taxes
of 1886 were in hand. This will account
for our having less money for the ordin-
airy expenses and the reason for some
deficiency.
ALARMING FIGURES.
The people need not be alarmed at the
statements touching our financial cond1-
ton. There will be full ability and ample
resources to carry the county safely on
ward in improvements for the conven-
ience of her citizens and for meeting her
liabilities. A debt created by county is
not to be condemned when necessities de-
mand it and when there is ability to settle
it, as is conceded by all, both with refer
ence to the debts contracted during the
administration of Judges Smith, Fillmore
and Breckenridge.
We would ask why there is such an out
cry and such warning notes OF alarm
sounded at the small indebtedness figured
up against the present administration
when there was not one complaint at debt;
created in the past? The former admin
istration acted according to their best dis
cretion both in expanding the money they
had in the treasury and in creating debts
when the money was lacking. We have
not one word of complaint or criticism tC
offer a to their action, and in making this
com parison in this address between on
administration and the administration OF
the late County Judge Fillmore and thu
commissioners acting with him, we are no
censuring those officers. We commend
them for their work and approve of thel
acts. All we have done in this address Il
to expose errors and fallacies of other!
who have evidently sought by covert at
tacks and comparisons of our Work Will
former administrations to prejudice tn
people of Travis county against US
officers, and to procure our condemnation
in the estimation of the citizens who hon
Ored Us with their confidence.
. We have not obtruded our work on tn
people, but have felt it our duty to repl
to the charges made, to prevent error an
misstatements from misleading tn
people.
We have no apology or regrets to offel
We have acted according to our best di;
cretion in all things in the administrator
of our Office, and, while others may hay