Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-09-14
c. 4. HOAR AS COUNTY CLERK.

c. h. HOAR AS COUNT CLERK.
In 1885 our county tax levy was six
mills on the dollar. The last year it was
twelve. In the former year lands were
assessed generally at S1.25 per acre.
Now they range from $500 to $500 per
acre. To illustrate the difference in the
taxes of the two years under considera-
ton, take section l, town IL, range %.
In 1885 the state tax was $3.50; the
county tax, $3.50. On the same land in
1888 the state tax was 1886; the county
tax, S21.S0; the court house bond tax.
S20S-a total tax of $4S.9S, as against a
total of $24.70 in 1885. Take W. E. Til
toms section, on the Saline, 3-11-29.
The 1885 state tax was $3.50; the county
tax, $40. In 1883 the state and county
taxes were $3.50 and Sl672, respectively,
and the court house bond tax was S1.52.
On Mrs. Hunters section, 29-11-23, the
1885 and the 1888 county taxes were $3.50
and $3.50, respectively. On the Kyle
quarter. just north of Wa-Keeney, the
county tax in 1885 was Sl.5O; in 1883,
1926. On Thomas Caddick's quarter the
county taxes we're $40 and $70. and
total taxes, $500 and 1892, respectively,
in the two years under consideration. A.
B. Mumert paid on his quarter Sl.95 Of
county tax in 1885, and $3.50 in 1888; or
in all, the first year, STAB; the last,
W. S. Harrison, in 1885, paid
$3.50 of county tax on his section, 49,
1913, and &25.19 in 1888; or in all,
$3.50 in one year, as against S69S6 in the
last year. Hugh Tidbal, on the Saline,
north of Collyer, paid, in 1885, county
taxes amounting to $l.20; in 1889, S2S6.
Aaron Halienbeck, near Coiiyer, paid
81 20 Of county tax in 1855, and 1885
in 1888. Mr.. McMichael paid to the
support of the county government in
1885 on his northeast quarter OF 5-12-
q, the sum of S1.2O; in 1883 it cost him
S7.04, besides sixty-four cents for the
court house bonds. His total taxes were
SS4.5S in 1885, as against 1882 in 1883.
Comparisons of this nature could be
extended almost Indefinitely, showing
most glazing increase of taxes in the
space of three years. In short, the tax
payers of Trego county are paying from
two to six times as much state and county
taxes now as they did in 1885; and this
they are doing in the face of an immense
increase of taxable property. In 1885 we
had less than $1,000 acres of taxable
lands, valued at $4,000, while in 1889
there were 10000 acres, valued at
ss3o,OC0.
These lands have not been assessed
equally throughout the county. Parties
who have paid taxes on their lands in
townships have noticed sur
prlslng difference in the taxes on their
adjacent tracts. One quarter will be
valued at S290.00, and the adjoining
quarter, OF the same quality, but over the
township line, at $4,000. Evidently the
attention of the board of equalization was
not called to the matter.
The reader may judge for himself
whether or not there has been an increase
in the real value of our real estate in the
last two years. Be that as it may, the
assessed values were greatly increased last
year. Notwithstanding this, the state
board raised our valuation SS3 800, re-
luiring an increase of per cent. in our
state tax, except as to the Union Pacific
Railway Company. There are two levies
IN Trego county higher is paid by
Dur hard-pressed citizens, tie lower by
hat wealthy corporation, the Union Pa
,ific Railway Company.
In 1885 the current expenses of the
county were $3.50, with the counties of
Cove, Logan and Wallace attached, and
their expenses paid out of our treasury. |
With the low levy of six mills the county
current expenses were m L, and, in ad- |
iition, county bonds were purchased
rom the state to the amount of 1880, |
leaving Trego county without cent OF |
II in 1885 Trego county,
with three unorganized counties attached, |
Or four counties in one, could be run for
$3.50. what ought Trego county, going
it alone, to have been run for in the year
last past?
The county levy for the last year |
amounted to 216, 51269, of which 81, $50 90 |
was for the court house bonds. We
characterize that levy as excessive, out
and uncalled for. Who is re-
spensible Tor this excessive tax? It is |
c. a. Hoar, the present county clerk. |
From the position he holds, the clerk