The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-01-10
THE DELINQUENT
TAXES ARE GOOD
POr a New Court House, and Gould Be
Collected 10 a Pew Years.
CANNOT CLATSOP GET THERE
with Good Showing when She n
Making Every Effort to Attract
People and Capital
CANNOT cLATsop GET THERE

Can Clatsop build a court house out
Of the proceeds Of the delinquent tax
list which viii meet the requirements
Of her business for the ensuing year
and conform TO the dignity of her POSI-
tioB IA the question which Ia now agi-
tatlng many business men throughout
the county
When asked hts opinion regarding the
matter the Hon REM. Young stated
that he was certainly In favor Of a
new courthouse II u could be- obtained
without additional taxation II APP
prove of the suggcttion made by Hon
C. W, Fulton n can be- made Ia
work practically We don't count on
our delinquent taxes as available pres
cnt resources OF the county, and II We
could only trade on that delinquent tax
list for u new courthouse or part or
courth Juse. should consider that n
would bv a piece Of good business policy
on the part Of the county 10 make the
trade. We cannot AFFORD % levy AN eH-
tra tax for u courthouse. but We can
afford 20 give up any prospective profits
In n dead tax list / should think there
would be plenty OF contractors glad 10
make 4 speculation Of that kind Their
money would probably be safe In tho
course OF time. and they stand chance
TO make extra profits, Thirty thousand
dollars will now build a courthouse that
few years ago would have cost $4,000
The whatcom courthouse, which cost
10000 few years ago could now BE-
constructed for $4,000"
County Judge Gray In speaking Of
the question. said Il am strongly in
favor of building courthouse. and II
Il Is possible TO collect the delinquent
taxes and costs. for which the property
Is now held by the county. without pay
Ing more in fees and costs than we
get out of e. the investment would
certainly be good one These tax
purchases on lands sold from 1859 up 70
and including 1898 stlll unpaid. amount
to a7.69s5I Nearly So. 900 of the amount
Is on lax purchases made In 1892. when
mortgages were taxed and large
amount Of the whole list originates
from that source. In estimating our re.
sources from tax purchases the county
clerk has deducted htty per cent for
erroneous assessment OF county school.
road. school districts and city taxes.
which think Ia not far out OF the way
and can be realized when real estate
can be sold, but not az the present time
THE land OF the delinquent taxpayer
has been sold. and the costs and pen
alties added. which they are willing
to pay II they can.
DO the taxpayers wish, at this
time, to force the sale OF lands held
by the county for taxes, costs and PEN
altles, upon which the owners, when
they redeem, must also pay interest;
or do they want the county to sell the
property TO land syndlcates and give
the county's warranty deeds and let
the buyer hold up the county and the
delinquents too, by reason OF errors in
many cases?
II am willing to put up with our old |
courthouse for another year. and | |
think the county court is also willing
to cooperate with a committee OF the |
Chamber OF Commerce to collect our
taxes just as fast as possible, having
due regard for the interests OF the coun-
ty and the people"
Is II not possible that an arrange
ment can be made which viii be COM
promise between the suggestions offer
ed. and will give the delinquent tax
payers all the protection to which they
are entitled. work no additional hard
ship upon them. and at the same time
secure n new courthouse which shall |
be adequate for the conduct OF the
Jounty's business, a safe depository for
It's records. and an ornament to the
city and county commensurate with the
pretenslons its people are now making