Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-12-20
A gratifying SHOWING.

GRATIFYING SHOWING.
The annual balance sheet of the
county presented to the commission
ers last week and published in this
issue is certainly a gratifying show
ing OF the condition ofcounty finances
and speaks volumes for the careful
handling Of county business by the
board, while Clerk Kelly is deserving
OF much credit for thecarc with which
tho statement has been drawn so as
to So itemize the figures as TO render
each heading capable of clear under
standing by every taxpayer.
The showingin each department OF
county business furnishes food for
reelection and n column might easily
BE- consumed in dwelling upon fea-
lures, However, but n brief review
oi TIA" more salient points is intended
for comment here.
Upon the face Of the report the
county debt has been decreased $i2,-
Ga - during the past year, an appar-
entity wonderful reduction. But it
must be borne In mind that the re-
port il made this year ut the close Of
the time for paying taxes while last
years report, with which the COM
parison is made, closed several days
before taxes became delinquent. This
procedure was changed by the last
legislature. Heretofore it has been
the custom for the county clerk to
cover this paint in IA note and while
last year the debt appeared to be
S72, 430.72, tie clerks note showed 1t
really to be about S3s 900 and with
the latter figure n just comparison
can only be made. Therefore the
actual county debthas been decreased
during the past year $9,056.52 and
today IL but $29. 7i3.4 ~, or about six
per cent OF the assessed valuation OF
the county, which IL now nearly So,
900 200. Were the valuation Of coun
ty property, such M bridges, courI
house, jails, furniture, etc, taken in
to consideration, which IL il In al
mercantile or banking houses, Fer
gus county would today be- out o
debt, or more properly speaking, thu
value Of county property and casl
on hand would exceed the liabilities
County expenditures have been In
creased $lS,927. I6 during the pas
year and il IL interesting to inquir
where this increase has occurred. o
this amount $ll,475.j7 il in the roa'
fund. So 10S.29 In the generalfund an,
81, 125.03 in the poor fund, with Sigh
increases In the other funds.
Owing to the severe winter ant
great damage to roads and bridge
In the early spring. necessitating ex
pensive repairs and improvements
the road work has cost a great dea
OF money. but as the work has every
where been well and thoroughly don
and In each case the taxpayers have
we believe. received the worth of tn
money spent. the fact that the gros
amount has been largely in excess q
that In 1895. should cause no regret
For actual expenses OF surveyor ant
surveying the expense during the pas
year has been S454.32 less than til
preceding year.
The increase in the expenditures 1
the general fund may be easily at
counted for. The expenses Of tn
! general election held IN 1895 were nj
paid until inter the 1895 report wn
made up and these amounted to )?
: $50. -, IN item which did not appea
/ in the previous report. Then agai
the district court expenses were niue
greater during the past year, thos
for jurors and witnesses and salar,
) and mileage OF the stenographer hav
lug been $5,251. 80, as against S3,4S9.0
: the previous year, an increase Of 81,
: 76S.Sl over 1898.
These two items may be almost en-
: tircly charged 10 the murder case
| and account for S2,Sl3.7S OF the In
crease in this fund. Then besides NJ
: pears II charge of $780, for expenses q
: the health officer, directly chargeabl
l To- the smallpox scarethe pnst season
: The foregoing four items explain tn
} increase under this heading.
: The cash on hand December LIST thi
year was $l27 ,gS9 50 as against 800,
1854. 70 last year. n fact due to the dill
ferent time in relation to the pay
ing taxes ut which the report wa
made.