The independent., 1902-12-18
(the legal rate of INTEREST,".

starting at the town of Plattsmouth
to Fort Kearney, then to Fort Lara
mie, then to the western limits OF the
territory of Nebraska &. with a
branch road from the mouth of the
Nemaha, to unite with main track al
Fort Kearney." Further power was
granted to build branch from Ne
braska City to Fort Kearney.
Each of these corporations was em-
powered to take and transport per-
sons, and every species of merchandise
or produce, or other property, by the
force of steam or other power, and may
fix and establish rates of tolls and re-
ceive the same for the transportation
of persons or property upon said road"
Through the shadows of Al years one
can discern the dim outlines of two
great systems of Nebraska railroads,
and although the legislature has since
then at various times attempted to ex-
ercise some supervision, the power to
"fix and establish rates of tolls" still
is exercised by the, successors OF the
paper railroads of 1855.
One thing more and We shall close
this investigation. The report of the
first territorial auditor is worthy of
being reprinted: 49,.
office. of the Territorial Auditor,
Omaha City, Dec. Is, 1S55.-To the
Honorable the Legislative Assembly:
In accordance with law, | herewith re-
spectful1y transmit my annual report.
The whole amount of warrants issued
from the 1st of July, 1855, to December
10, 1855, (as shown by statement Al is
41 OFT 0n of tc
to be issued to meet appropriations
by the last legislative assembly, say
$1,000, ....
''It is impossible to make an esti-
mate of the amount of expenditures for
the coming year 1S56) that will come
very near the amount that will be act
ually appropriated, and the regular
and indispensable expenditures are
therefore only put down in that ia
BILE. '<
THE amount of taxable property
for 1855, as returned by the assessors,
(as shown by statement c. was s617.-
822. In accordance with the present
revenue laws, tax of two mills on
each dollar was levied ON the above
amount for territorial revenue, and
each judge of probate of the several
counties, duly notified of the same.
AS no one Of the county treasurers
have as yet settled their accounts, I
have no means of knowing how much
of the above tax has been collected up
to this date.
II would call your special attention
lew revenue law. The law should set
nrt full al op1xy 4csI
what property shall be liable to taxa
ton, and also what shall be exempt.
The passage of such law will render
the duties of the county assessors
plain and clecr, whilst under the pres
ent laws, their duties have been OBJ
scure, and the laws thus rendered al
most entirely imperative
"The revenue derived from the pres
ct system is entirely inadequate, and
| would recommend that the rate of
territorial tax be increased to an
amount at least double that of the last
year, to cover the debt now outstand-
ing and the expenses of the coming
year.
"All of which is respectfully sub
mitted. CHARLES B. SMITH,
"Auditor of the Territory"
STATEMENT A.
Showing the amount of warrants
issued from July /, 1855, to December
IS, 1855, and upon what account:
Legislative. expenses, pay of
pages, firemen, etc. 81 .454.70
Salaries Of auditor, treasurer
and librarian. an..... $3.50
$1,971.20
STATEMENT B.
Showing an estimate of the neces-
sary expenditures for the year COM
mencing November /, 1855, and ending
October 81, 1856:
Auditor, treasurer and liblar-
ians' salaries. 81 100. 90
Stationery, rent, fuel, etc.. 10000
Incidental expenses of the ter
rltory NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 10000
$1,aOO.OC
STATEMENT G..
showing the value of all the prop-
erty, real and personal, as assessed
in the several counties in the year
1855:
Douglas county $311, ,116
otLOe county ................. S5 7Ol