Evening journal., 1898-06-18

otdtShSAl VI luC ltSOlNtI anu lItdSuItI.
At the beginning of the term covered
by this report, January 8, 1897, there
were no funds in the treasury, and the
county owed the Farmers Bank OF
Wilmington, in addition to temporary
loans amounting to SAC, 600, am overdraft
Of s6,SO9.92, and to John T. Dickey,
late receiver, $2,S69.27, amount
deposited in error to his account as
county treasurer.
The receipts from all sources during
1897 were S3,47S.S5, including ST.
S56.73, balance of negro school tax; and
s., ,66S.22, balance Of the proceeds Of the
sale of the old aImshouse property,
received from the late treasurer; $10,-
572.SS, county and poor taxes for 1894
and 1895; s51, 1882, county and poor
taxes for 1896; 1920, 1896, county and
poor taxes for 1897; SOCIAL, dog tax;
sS5. .436.O2, road tax; and S1,462.S6 ne
gro school tax, received from the sew
eral collectors. In addition to these
and several miscellaneous items the
funds in the treasury were augmented
by temporary loans of $4,000, and a
bond issue that yielded in principal,
accrued interest and premiums, $751;
S6167.
The total disbursements were 1884,
| S5Z57, including the overdraft in the
Farmers Bank and deposit in error by
the late receiver; referred to above, ag-
gregating $9,17919; temporary loans
and bonds amounting to $116, 900; pay
ments of road tax, sSO,O1SOS; and Of
negro school tax, S1,5S7S6; leaving in
the treasury on January A, 1898, bal
ance of 500, O,615.7S, divided into general
funds. s99, ,911.09; road, $5,47294; negro
school, s1,231.75. An examination Of
the treasurer's accounts with the
Farmers Bank showed that these sew
eral sums were on deposit in that in
stitution.
The comparative statement Of ex-
penditures, following the receiver and
treasurer's statements. comprehends
the expenses of the county for the
years 1895, 1896 and 1897, and is de-
signed to explain the large apparent In
crease for the last year.
There appears by the comptroller
! books to be due the county subscrip-
tions toward the building of the Wash
ington street bridge, amounting to s2.-
575. No payments on account Of these
subscriptions have been made for q
long time and they are not regarded as
an available asset.
The comptroller's books also con
tanned, when first examined, a large
number Of open account with collec
tors from 1876 to 1890, inclusive. 1
was ascertained that all except four o
these accounts had been settled, AM
the others were closed. The four opel
accounts are given in an accompany
; ing statement, and show balances OF
January 4, 1898, aggregating $19, ,275.5s
Since that date the account Of John
lDougherty, one of the collectors Of viii
1 IllukLOA ulQuQANAf b6eAAA1A MAAOAA l+A-A
; I appeared a balance Of s16,S6S4S, ha
- been settled for $4,000. so far a
| could be learned the balances due from
the other collectors cannot he realized
>, A very large sum of uncollected de
"A linquent taxes for the years 1891 Z
1894, inclusive, appear on the comp
-s trolier's books, and are set out in ser
W arate statements submitted herewith
The uncollected county and poor take
II alone for these years amount to $44
i. O66.21. The accounts of the collector
for 1891, 1892 and 1898 have been close
40 by a credit Of the balances agains
~, them designated as "uncollected. Tn
,s accounts for 1894 have been ordere
closed in like manner The uncOllec
,e ed property taxes" for 1898 and 1S9
,e so far as they may be considered a
mr. asset of the county, are Of the san
Nv character as the delinquent taxes f'
n former years, except that they hav
he by act Of The General Assembly, bee
10 extended as a lien until 1899. The'
nh taxes made an aggregate on January
ms 1896, of s62 ,261.94, divided into coun'
and poor, S41, ,1554O; road, $14,5667'
,n+ negro school, S1,92645; dog, s4,6132
nc The condition of the accounts OF u
m collectors for 1895 and 1896 is show
I'M by statements annexed. 1t is nece
ba sary to explain that the taxes ind
no Gated in these statements as "exti
az guished," and for which credit h
s97 been allowed, were levied on poll a
ere sessments. The balances due are u
at derstood to be subject to deduction on
in for errors in assessments of real esta
It has not been the practice to ma
4, formal allowances to collectors OF
will linquent taxes for errors. This com
in troller and treasurer have been a