The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-07-07
MESSAGE OF
JUDGE GRAY
Interesting Document Read at the
Opening Of the County
Court.
REvIEwsFIsHERMEN'ss STRIKE
Causes Which Led to the Calling OF the Nj
litia Set Forth Financial Reports
Tax Matters Explained
Other Matters

Upon the opening OF the county court
Yesterday. Judge Cry read the fol-
lowing interesting report:
Under the laws OF the state ls is not
obligatory for the county Judge TO
make a report or file message: still
| believe that much good. and no
harm. can arise. when public officials
annually or oftener n they deem II
advisable. inform the Taxpayers fully
OF the past and present condition OF
the public AFFAIRS over which they have
control, and 10 outline a policy for the
future Improvement OF our county.
From the very complete and detailed
Fenll-annual statements Of r. T. Dun
bar, county clerk. and Il. T. Ward,
treasurer. the tax payer can readily
see the ltemised expenditures Of this
county for the past six months. The
largest Item Of expense during that
time has been for making the ASSESS
ment, and the collection Of taxes for
the county. city and schools. namely:
2.a63.s2. which added 10 sI.2i6.S5 (pald
account OF assessments In 1855
amounts 10 tj.2lO6I The cost Of this
work has been reduced nearly $1,000
less than FOR 1894. and Is about one
fourth the amount that attempts were
made TO collect from the county In 1898.
4 further reduction can be made In
this work Of fully 5000 when legIsla-
ton can be secured that will dispense
with the costs for sale OF delinquent
property now required. Of levying and
mileage, and making two superiiuous
copies OF the assessment roll
our charity and pauper expenses for
the year just ended. amount to S9.5ll II
aud have increased t52i.29 the past
year The time has arrived when be-
licye that it is economy for the county
TO secure poor farm | would there
fore recommend that the assessor be
instructed to report list OF forty-acre
tracts OF land-within a limit Of ten
miles OF the court house that have
been purchased for the county by the
county Judge for delinquent taxes, aud
the time for redemption has expired,
with a view TO perfecting the title TO
some OF those tracts suitable for
poor farm"
The county treasurer reports S5,7l6.74 |
in the special road fund; S2.4Sl7l Of
this amount is claimed by ,he Astoria
city council, 10 apply on improvement
OF the crossings and streets and ruads
in the city, The county court has so
far refused 10 comply with the demand |
OF the city council for this amount, re-
lying upon the decision OF Judge Nc |
Bride in the case of oregon City VS.. |
Clackamas county, The purport OF that
decision was that special road laws in
city charters to expend public road |
money was In violation of the state |
constitution. Should this decision be |
sustained by the supreme court-to |
which this case was appealed several |
since-I would recommend that |
the county court repair and improve
two or three roads from the city linn
It's In to the improved city crossings
The late wet spring has so Far made |
Il almost impossible TO repair the coun-
ty roads, which are yet in bad condi-
tion. The present cash value OF our
county warrants. namely, from 95 to So
cents, and called up to July 1st, 1864,
VIII Justify us, and l shall favor maxi
Ing an appropriation for $1,000 to the
special road fund-in addition to the
present levy-to be apportioned TO the
several road districts in the county,
and expended while the weather wifi
permit this year, together with the
ash on hand.
The new draw bridge across the
Lewis and Clarke river just completed
lear Caldwell is 2l7 feet long, and is
'eet wide; II has two 50-foot spans, and
'NHNNhSA WIN ehS oBpANoNhCS, 10 o"O
'eet long. The cost of its construction
was N,94S.75. II is a credit to the
county. and Its builders Messers Fry
\ Meyer, The people residing between
he Lewis and Clarke and Youngs
'lvers are hard at work, and will have
! good road completed to the site of
he proposed ferry approach, opposite
Willlamsport, before we have the land
ngs built
l am still strongly in favor of
having plans made, and expendlng
rom sixteen to twenty thousand dol
ars, in building the foundation and
'entral part of court house, that can
,e occupied during the coming year.
The present building has insufficient
'oom now, and additions win be re-
luired inside of two years.
Two years of unprecedented financial
distress have passed over this country,
Iince the present officers were elected
Ind qualified. They found the total
iebt Of this county on July 1. 1894, $lO7.-
lL07; less cash In the general fund,
il,75l.S7; balance, $106, 1850, The out
standing warrants June 80 1896 $751;
1888; estimated two years interest on