Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-03
In Fact it Has Almost Doubled
During the Past Seven
Years.
GETTING RICHER ALL THE TIME
Report OF the State Auditor Develops
Some Interesting Facts and Fig
ures on Situation.

This state was never in a healthier
financial condition than at the present
time, according to the biennial report
of State Auditor Edwards. which was
filed with Gov. Cutler yesterday after
noon. During the past seven years the
assessed valuation of all property in
this state has increased from s99.343,l99
to $144, 1885, 49, an increase of Sc per cent.
The bonded Indebtedness of the state
at the close of the year just passed was
$500, 900. and the auditor reports that
sinking fund of 100000 was started
during the year for the redemption of
$3.50, 900 of the bonds which are due In
1912. The sum of $4,000 will be added
to this fund each year until the fu!@
amount of the bond issue is secured.
The last legislature appropriated for
various state uses the total sum OF Sl.-
Gil, 1860, and there has been expended
out of that the sum of 1885, 476.l2.
leaving an unexpended balance of $780,
$3.50. The expenses of the various de-
partments OF the state for the year 1905
were 1890, S69.S4 and the expenses for
1906 were s2.63l. 0S7s1. According to the
report of the state treasurer. part OF
which Is embodied In the auditors re-
port, the cash balance on hand on Nov.
80 1906. was s554 1T2.69, and there are
warrants outstanding against the state
amounting to $10,S91.40. thus reducing
the amount of cash on hand to Sb43,-
2S1.29.
ECHO OF BOUNTY FRAUDS.
A reference is made to the bounty
frauds in the state during the past two
years. The auditor states that there
are $50, 900 worth OF bounty certificates
outstanding on account of the frauds
which the state will no doubt have to
pay. The bounty fund of $4,000 appro-
priated by the last Legislature has been
overdrawn and the auditor asks that
this appropriation be increased during
the coming session of the Legislature.
Mr.. Edwards recommends that the
law requiring each county to secure
sets of weights and measures be made
mandatory instead of optional as at
present. Thus far only two counties In
the state have secured standard sets of
weights and measures. Up to date 1880
marks and $3.50 brands OF cattle and
other stock have been recorded in the
Office of the auditor, who Is ex-officio
recorder of marks and brands for the
state.
II is urged in the report that some
legislation be enacted which VIII save
to the state the large amount OF uncoi-
lectible taxes on personal property.
During the two years the state has re-
ceived the total sum of S39, 1888. 09 as IN
heritance tax.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT.
Following is q comparative statement
OF the total valuations and tax receipts
for the years 1905 and 1906:
1905. 1906.
Total valua-
ton 49,. .$1ss, sea, 7es 90 $145. 7So, ISL. 90
Gross tax -. 1.109.025.13 1,165. s46.2l
Loss In frac-
lions ...... 1SI.U 1921
Net tax
charged -. 1,10s.sS7.36 1,165. 6s6. 90
The auditor estimates that 1t will
take an appropriation of s2,4s1. 177.1S to
meet the demands of the various state
departments for the years 1907-1908.
HIS ESTIMATES.
rrhia estimate ts apportioned as fol-