The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-06-27
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY

To the Honorable c.. 0. Stockslager, Pre-
siding Judge Of the District Court Of the
Fourth judicial District in and for A.
turas County, State Of Idaho:
We the grand jury lmpaneled for the
June term of the district court, in and
for Alturas county, respectfully report
that we examined all cases brought be-
fore US and have found no true bills.
Charges were preferred regarding the
owner of a sawmill running the sawdust
into Wood river, thereby destroying fish
in said stream; and in this case we were
advised by the district attorney that there
was no law under which a conviction
could be had or an indictment properly
formed, but from other legal sources we
found that a conviction had been made
in this county, under common law, for
the pollution of running streams, and
therefore recommend that if at any future
time similar charges be brought to the
county commissioners, that they bring
action through their attorney either be-
fore justice or probate court; and it is
further recommended to the honorable
board of county commissioners that steps
be taken to prevent the dumping of offal
and the bodies of dead animals along the
different roads or streams, or near towns.
BY request, we Investigated the recent
issue of so-called illegal county warrants,
and after searching investigation and
inquiry into this matter, the action of the
county commissioners was sustained by
a unanimous vote OF the grand jury.
The attorney employed for the county
made verbal statement regarding the
collection of licenses in arrears. He has
collected and turned over to the proper
officials the sum Of between $500 and
$1,000, and there remained at the expira
ton of his contract with the county the
sum of $4,000 uncollected, of which sum
the greater amount, be informed US, can
be collected if immediate steps are taken.
We therefore urge the county commits
sioners to secure the services of the same
attorney, at the earliest possible oppor
tunity, to enforce the collection of said
uncollected licenses.
We also investigated the present de-
plorable condition of our county court
house, and recommend that the honorable
board of county commissioners take the
necessary steps to have the same thor
oughly repaired, including repairs to roof,
plastering, painting of all the exterior
woodwork, and the placing of sufficient
supports under the court house floor to
make it absolutely safe.
We examined the books and accounts
of the different county officers, and beg
leave to make the following report:
ASSESSOR AND COLLECTORS OFFICE.
We found the books aud accounts Of
this Office we'll kept and in good condi
ton, with no cause for complaint.
sHERIFF's OFFICE.
We made an examination of this Office
and found it in good condition. The
license collected since the second Monday
in January amounted to $2,35O, and the
amount paid into the treasury was $2,076.
We found the Jail in 6rst-class condition,
and no persons confined therein.
AUDITOR AND RECORDERS OFFICE.
We find the abstracts in this Office writ
ten up only to January 1, 1889, at a cost
only of about $500. To write them up
to the present date would cost about $500
or $500, and as the vaults containing this
unfinished work are not fire. proof, and
it would cost considerable sum to make |
them so, and whereas, the safes contain
ing the abstract books are absolutely fire.
proof, and as the destruction of the unab-
stracted work would be an irreparable
loss, we most earnestly recommend the
completion of the abstract books without
delay.
COUNTY TREAsURER's OFFICE.
We examined the BOOKS IN tnls once
and found them in good condition, with
the following balances, and cash on hand
to meet the same deposited with the Firs:
National Bank of Haley:
Cash OH hand So, $50 10
To credit of respective funds:
Current Ex and K. fund. 81 ,219 63
Hospital fund -. ......; a 93
school fund-apportioned l ,164 Al
State Observation-Disclosures. 96 81
County bond tax. ........ 1867 81
Court house bond tax fund G3
Road und bridge fund.-. 46 81
Total. al...... 50, $50 10
school district No. specially -. All %
School district No. Ii special )... A "
Total cash on deposit in bank, "a. las 7S
We also made an examination into the
condition of the county Indebtedness,