The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-03-07
Scott Jones Answered.

Scott Jones Answered.
EDITOR REpoRTER:-For the edifica-
tion of my friend, Scott Jones, and be-
does not answer his articles, l thought
he was entitled to recognition because
OF the time, worry and expense he has
incurred to enlighten the people in re-
gard to the expense Of building the
bridges, and the expense of county
printing. After reading your last
article in the Lariat in which you inti-
mate that in case one of our citizens
should call on the county auditor to get
the desired information he would not
receive courteous treatment, to satisfy
myself | called on the auditor and asked
him if he would give me the cost of the
county printing for the year 1906. He
assured me that he would, and in less
than fifteen minutes got the desired
information which give you later on.
Now, as to the bridge proposition,
when asked for it got it just as
promptly as | got the other, and will
say to you, Mr.. Jones, you or any other
citizen in the county can get it as
promptly as | can, SO quit your bowling
and go to the auditor and will assure
you he and his deputy, MIR. Lemley, will
give you any information you desire of
any business that comes to their office.
In regard to abstracts, SO cents per
transfer may be eXorbitant; don't
think it is. The plant cost Mr.. Varga
$4,000, but did you take into account
the amount of free information the
public gets from that Office? At least l
never knew him to charge for the time
and legal information, although he may
have a bill against me for that kind of
information, and if he has it's "wAop-
per-" However, it will take an act OF
the legislature to change the cost of
the county printing, which is fixed by
the statue, ami some think the cost
is exorbitant, but find that the rate
paid by the county is below the regular
advertising rates of the papers,. We
give here the cost of the county print
ing for the year 1906:
The Reporter received ....... 81 ,052.11
lne LaflaI. .............. So4.92
The Chronicle ............................ 575.O3
The 1,537.96
The extra cast to the journal Was, for
printing the ballots, both general cleo
tion and special ballots, bar dockets for
the district court, stationery, type
writer paper, manifolding paper, various
legal blanks, etc., for the different
county offices. The Reporters bill
included the publication of the delin-
quent tax list which fee is paid by the
delinquent tax payers and not by the
county. The bill also included station
cry, blanks and teachers institute sup
plies.
The Journal and Lariat each got one
third of the board of supervisors pro-
ceedings and the Reporter and Chron-
icie the other one-third.
We give a record of the entire cost
of the bridge expense to the county
for the year 1906 as taken from the
bridge foreman's record:
Total expense............ $40 0,379.S5
Cost of labor included in
ABOVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 3,l69.59
Total cost of material in
above $500 . ........ :. ................ 5,e75.52
Board for hands .................... 1,514.74
Old material sold and turned
in to county treasurer ... 77.S8
Cost of bridge No. % in Sec. 4, New
Buda township:
Piling ...... ............................. 1894
Pine lumber. .................. 21.10
Oak lumber. ............. 1900
Gal. iron ..........~.. .................... 2.35
Railing. 5.65
Labor of teams. .................. 11.00
Labor of men,. ............ ... 24.50
Board of men and teams. ....... $50
Board of teamsters on road. 600
Total ............ ................... $119.74
Hawkins bridge, in Morgan township,
100 feet iron span:
Iron for span........ .............. 81, ,774.15
Piling ........... ..... .................. 17.43
Pine lumber. er........................... 141.3O
Oak lumber. ...... 144.37
Gal. iron - $50
Nails - $40
Bolts rs
Paint .................... ................ 1900
Smithing ...,.--...... -. .........-...... 100
Rock ...................,....... .......... 22.50
Cement ..... 1881
Oil for paint..-.......................... 1.5O
Railing and bolts.... 7.9O
Labor OF teams. 1925
Labor OF men. men............................. 287.0O
Board of men and teams. 5000
Board of teamsters on road. S7.15i
Total ...., ............ $2,S4O11
Time and space will not permit of a
more elaborate statement. The work
and cost was approved by the board,
and we find complete record of every
bridge built and itemized cost of the
same. If Mr.. Leeper was here perhaps
could give a more elaborate statement.
] am not an expert book keeper but the
record here is plain and open for inspec-
tion to any citizen of the county.
Yours respectfully,
A. M. PRYOR.
Mrs. Perry Orfield
Lucinda Mercer was born on April 7,