Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-10-28
COUNTY FINANCES.
"A Brief Statement Of the Improved
Condition Of the Finances Of
the County.
What Has Been Accomplished BY the
Commissioners and Officials in
Reducing Debt.
Comparative Statement of the cond:-
tion Of the County in the
Present and Past.
Some County Finances.

Some County Finances.
In 1891 the indebtedness of Burleigh
county was largely in outstanding war
rants drawing Z per cent interest. The
board of county commissioners at that
time endeavored to take up these war
runts with bonds drawing less interest.
Aftcr several attempts to sell bonds and
rs many failures the board of commits
sioners succeeded in getting the holders
of s71, go Of those Z per cent warrants
to exchange them for 6 per cent bonds,
payable in twenty years and subject to
call after five years.
Early this year the present board of
county commissioners believed that they
could refund these ST. 900 of 6 per ceot
bonds with a 4 per cent bond, but the
war with Spain coming on just at tho
time of the offer no bids were received
at a 4 per cent rate.
At a special meeting, held for that
purpose on October II, 1898, the chair
man Of the county board and the county
auditor entered into contract with the
N. w. Harris T. Company Banking com
pany to refund those s71,C0O 6 per ce,t
bonds with s71,OOO4k per cent bonds.
It will be seen that this is a saving of
8 yO65 per year in the matter of interest,
aud the saving of s21, 300 in the twenty
years that the bonds have to run.
1t is proper that the taxpayers of tho
county should know how the affairs Of
tho county nre being managed by their
commissioners. While the books in the
auditors and treasurer's Office are open at
all times to the inspection of any tax
payer, few if any ever take the trouble
to investigate for themselves.
sSThe fiscal year always ends on June 80,
so in making a comparison you can only
take the condition ON that date. Upon
an examination of the books the follow
ing condition is disclosed:
July 1, 1897--The total bonded
indebtedness was. I. S1G0,SO 90
Total c%ertificateso OF indebted
ness outstanding ....... :34.1G0 81
I.otal 80. .Sl95,OD "a
Cash in the county and inter-
est and sinking fund 1880. 1882 IS
Net Indebtedness. .s1s7,so 0 60
July /, 1898-The total bonded
indebtedness was 1900. . 1851, 500 60
Certificates of Indebtedness. 23,968 81
Total .S1S1,46S 81
Cash in county and interest
and sinking fund. ........ 1895 Al
Net Indebtedness $500. ..S172,562 AZ
This shows that during this fiscal yea,
ending June 80, 1898, the bonded in.
, debtedncss was reduced by the payment
of $3.50 old bonds that were drawing II
: per cent interest, by reducing the certi
~ticates outstanding of s1O,221.A2, and
those two items together with the excess
! of cash in the county and interest auG
sinking fund of s ,773.82 makes a diff
ference of SIS 1852 less Indebtedness OF
!. July l, 1888 than on July /, 1897.
There is still a large amount of delin
quent taxes outstanding, some Of it, on
the best property in the county and
eventually will be paid. The commits
sioners have endeavored to collect the
old delinquent tax without distressing
anybody and without resorting to the
harsh terms tho Woods delinquent ia,
bill, which they will only do as a last
extremity. A great deal of extra labol
has been put on the auditor and treas
urer in the collection of the delinquent
taxes and the work has been economically
done.
Karl's Clover Root Tea is a pleasant
laxative. Regulates the bowels, purifie.
the blood. Clears the complexion
Easy to make and pleasant to take. 2:
cents. Sold by p. G. Remington, tn,
druggist.
Prospects for Militia Companies
Fargo Forum: General Miller re
turned this morning from the Forks
where he went to take some preliminar,
action in regard to mastering in Co. F
Preliminary steps have been taken o.
the companies at Grand Forks, Langdol
and Hillsboro. Many Of the old mem
beers will ~re-enlist in the two forme
towns, and there are q sufficient humble
of young men at Hillsboro anxious t,
enlist at once. Muster rolls have bcel
sent each place. General Miller did no
60 to Langdon and did not stop of a
Hillsboro this morning, but has receives
encouraging reports from there. At tn
Forks an effort is still being made o}ge
that armory-so long talkedof. II j
is built there will be no question abou
the success Of a company there. Tn
Lh ELn