The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-03-29
FROM The BOOKS OF THE RECORDERS
How the Government Estimates
the County's indebtedness
From an Interview with A. n. Hill, the
AbstractOr for La Sale ounty. the
system of Working Is Made
Participated Life and
Inquiry Ounties.
TIE COUNTY'S DEBT.

| A"f""y ou"t'USs
THE COUNTY's DEBT.
Every ten years, according to law
passed over a century ago, a census Is
taken by the United States govern
ment under the direction of the cen,
sus bureau Of the department of the
interior. The census now being taken
is the eleventh census of the United
States. According to the specitica.
tions Of an amendment to the origi-
nal census bill the recorded indebted
ness of the county is also taken. This
is very difficult task. In 1880 a par
tial estimate was obtained, but
it was anything but correct This
year the plan of the work is entirely
different and it may have better and
more complete results, but it is doubt
full.
One special agent is appointed by
the department of the interior for
each state, and these agents are given
power to employ any needed help. In
taking the recorded Indebtedness the
instructions call for a number of diff
ferent things. The abstractor must find
the comparative number of acres
mortgaged and the comparative num-
Der that are free from mortgage. He
must also get the average amount of
Indebtedness on each acre, in acre
property, or lot in city property. In
case a mortgage was given between
1884 and 1889 inclusive, the year only
need be given in the report. But be-
tween the years 1880 to 1883 inclusive,
the year, month and day on which a
mortgage is released, must be given.
If a mortgage is made between 1880
and 1889 inclusive, with the exceptions
as above stated, then the amount, rate
per cent. of interest before maturity
and the number of acres on lots as the
case may be, must be given by the alb
straCtOr.
Mortgages made by public corpora
tions, such as railroad companies, are
not taken.
Any act of carelesSneSS on the part
of the abstractor is punishable by Il
heavy fine. They are bound to COM
ply with the instructions in every
particular, and are expected to look
over 600 pages of mortgage records
each day.
J. S. Lord, of Springfield, is the spe-
cial agent for Illinois, and has charge
Of the work in this state. Each alb
stractor is required to send in the re-
suit of the days work every evening
on report card.
A. n. Hill. of Joliet, one of the alb
stractors appointed by Mr.. Lord, and
a son of Congressman Hill, came to
Ottawa three weeks ago, and has
been delving into the rrcOrdS in the
recorders office since coming here,
and it will take several more weeks to
complete the work. La Sale county
is what is called an equated life
county. The principal things sought
for in this county are the life of the
mortgage and the average amount
paid yearly on each Indebtedness.
There are other counties which are
termed inquiry counties. There are
very few of these in this state, how
ever. In looking up the Indebtedness
in such counties the abstractOr must
follow up every mortgage recorded and
find out the exact amount which has
been paid on the Indebtedness, and
thus determine how much is yet due.
This is very difficult undertaking.
Circulars are sent out to the mOrtga-
gOr and mortgage, whose names are
given on each mortgage, and they are
asked to state by mail just how much
has been paid on the mortgage. In
case they do not answer the abstrac-
tor interviews them personally. He
is also instructed to see all the real
estate men in the city where he is
working, and get from them any in
formation that they may be able to
give.
Those who read this article may say
it does not seem possible that any
correct result can be obtained from
the plan followed. True, no abS0-
lutely correct result can be obtained.
1t would be almost impossible to
the United States during ten years
and find out the exact amount that
has been paid thereon. All that is
necessary or possible is to get the
amount, rate per cent. OF interest and
other essentials as stated above, and
from this the average Indebtedness
can be obtained.
The officials have some way of figur-
ing up the reports which brings the
average result.
or course this Is not necessarily cor
rect. 1t may be accurate enough for
all practical purposes, and still 1T may
not be anywhere near right. But this
is the way in which the average in
debtedness is procured.
Christine Terhune Herrick has writ
ten a new series of household articles
for Hdrper's Bdzar. The series is en-
titled ''Three Meals a Day." and the
first paper will appear in the number
| to be published March %.
Messrs. Harper & Brothers have Jus,
published an important anonymous
work entitled God in HIS World; d'
Interpretation.
| At Utica.