The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-08-23
Es~essnent of Idaho.
Boise Statesman.

task of equalizing. The work
will probably be taken up the
early part of next week when
Attorney General Mcfarland and
Secretary of State Lewis return
to the capitol.
An examination of the assess
ment reports of the counties dis
closes some interesting facts. If
the states resources were meas
ured by the assessment roll the
commonwealth would be forced
into bankruptcy inside of six
months.
The assessment in Idaho for
the most part is a farce, as will
be seen by an examination of the
reports on file with the state
auditor. If a man would judge
of the amount of mercantile busi-
ness transacted in the state by
these reports his estimate would
scarcely do the state credit.
Very few of the counties report
any more merchandise all told
than is contained in their largest
store. Ada county reports mer-
chandise to the amount of only
1924, 355.
The reports show there are in
the neighborhood of 10000
sheep in the state, but the total
amount of wool assessed is Co.
900 pounds. That is a bad rec
ord for Idaho's sheep.
According to the county re-
ports there are not to exceed 300
musical instruments in the state,
while we are almost without
watches. Idaho county reports
five watches, Kootenai, A, Owy-
hee 1910 worth, Custer $345
worth, Boise county $1,000 worth
and Ada 81, ,805 worth of watches
and jewelry. There are no
watches in the other counties.
Bicycles are also scarce. Ada is
the only one that reports any
number. This county has so.
Some counties go in high on
land and others assess at ridicu-
lously low figures. The agri-
cultural land of Custer county is
assessed at 81. so an acre.
Idaho assessors found money
also very scarce. Most of the
reports show there is no cash on
hand, while others report only
small amounts.
The following is an abstract of
the county reports
Ada-Total assessed valuation
So, 100, $50, the highest of any
county in the state. Patented
land 96,050 acres; unpatented
land 264, 565; town lots 5911; 521
miles of irrigating canals; 1869
cattle; 2633 horses; 82,989 sheep;
money So, 200.
Bannock-Total S1,008, 572;
cattle 10, 1874; horses 2234; sheep
"a, 443; money SIS, 500.
Bear Lake-Total S711, 295, 60;
cattle 8063; horses 2406; sheep
13, 745; no money.
Bingham-Total 1888. 848; cat
tie 7O85; horses 1856; sheep Al,
055; money $4,000.
Blaine-Total S505, 913; cattle
1926; horses assessed at $33, ,018,
but no number given;sheep 8130,
money $500.
Boise-Total 1886, 1921 ;12quartz
mills, 12 sawmills; cattle 1928;
horses 897; sheep $500; money
$1145.
Canyon-Total 81, 79O, 917; 1913
miles of irrigating canals; cattle
6398; horses 2784; sheep "a,
money $11,2
Cassia-Total $747, 955; cattle
1906; goats $50; horses 2541;
sheep rs, ,080; no money.
Custer-Total $3.50, 912; cattle
1896; horses 1891; sheep 1915;
money $1047.
Elmore-Total 1874. 1876. 55; 10
quartz mills; cattle 1857; horses
1860; sheep 73, $50; no money.
Fremont-Total $900,517; cat
tie $685.; horses 1886; sheep 66,
824; no money.
Idaho-Total s975,874; cattle
7516; horses 1888; sheep 774;
money 81, ,795.
Kootenai-Total 1904, 819; cat.
tie 1857; horses 2430; sheep 1906;
no money.
Latah-Total 50, 2,537, 555; cat
tie 1858; horses 6323; sheep 402;
money $4,000.
Lemhi-Total 1858, ,019; cattle
10, 558; horses 29S4; sheep 5000;
money $26, 397.
Lincoln-Total S349, ,056; cat
tie 2263; horses 1898; sheep g.
450; no money.
Nez Perce-Total 1864. 500;
cattle 4841; horses 5712; sheep
16, 402; money $3095.