The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-03
His Inventory of Possessions
of County, Prepared for
State Board, Is a Satisfy
ing One.
WEALTH OF COUNTY
is ABOUT $SOO,0OO
Bonded Indebtedness Only
$135,OOO, which Debt Will
Be Wiped Off the Books in
Five Years.

Inventory of possessions of Wayne
county. which was prepared by Coun-
ty Auditor Demas Coe for the benefit
of the state board of accounts, shows
that it's holdings are of the value of
S675, 900. Perhaps if a careful ap-
praisement was taken by experts the
value of the possessions would more
nearly total 100000. This is due to
the fact, notwithstanding deprecia-
ton, that some of the buildings. prin-
cipally the court house. are more val
liable commercially today than when
they were built. This is because the
material of which the buildings are
constructed have advanced greatly in
cost
With property on hand of this value
the county is in exceptionally good fin
ancial condition in that its bonded in
debtedness is but $135,O00. and this
existing debt will be wiped out entire
ly by May 2. 1916. The indebted
ness, excepting current expenses
which are small, includes $4,000 out
standing on court house bonds, the
last of which will be due on Decem-
ber 1, 1913, and $4,000 of refunding
bonds, issued in 1898, the last of
which will come due on May 2, 1915
Value of Court House.
Construction of the court house was
started in 1891 and the building was
occupied in 1898. The building cost
$414,632, but it's estimated present
value, is no less than 100000. This
material increase is due to the fact
| that marble. stone, cement, steel con
struction work and other materia
used in it's construction are in as
, good condition today as when the
building was finished and could no,
be replaced for the amount paid al
that time. A we'll known Cincinnati
contractor and architect on a visit tc
, the city estimated the value of the
| building at no less than 100000 anG
said it probably could not be dupli
Gated for less than 100000
| The square on which the court
house is located is exceptionally
large and the estimated value of the
ground, $4,000, is regarded as it:
lowest possible value. The furniture
fixtures and supplies in the cour
house, together with the ground, make
this possession total to no less thar
$5SO,OOO
{ The County Infirmary.
! The county infirmary is perhaps thu
next most valuable possession. The
farm consists of 32O acres, the lant
alone being worth between $500,
and 100000, it is judged. In addition
make the institution worth in a com
mercial sense no less than $4,000
The present infrmary has been il
use since 1874, but the original cost o
the buildings and ground can not b,
found on the records of the commits
sioners' court. A part of the woman
structure and a part of the admins
tration buildings are the origina
structures, the value of the building
being placed at S2.5O0. The fixture
the women's building and the admin
istration building perhaps are wortl
$1,000
! The building for men was construc
ted in 1896 at cost of s1S,6s9 and be
ing in excellent condition is estimate,
to be of this value now. 1t probabl.
would cost more than this now to pu
up structure similar to the presen
building. The equipment in this build
ing is worth no less than $500, it i
figured.
The dining room and boiler room
was erected in 1910 at a cost of s12
800, being worth that now Tw
expense. being worth that now, it i
thought.
The County Jail.
The county Jail has deprecated i,
value more than any other building
In 1872 the structure was erected q
the cost of s29, 500, the building pos
sibly being worth $500 now. TIL
real estate owned by the county o.
Second and South A streets, on whic
the Jail is located is probably wort
$4,000, while the Jail fixtures are va
ued at $4,000. making the total valu
of the Jail $4,000.
The Jail for women. which is a
addition to the Home for Friendles
; building on South Tenth street, wa
erected in 1906 at the cost of 1857.
Regarded as the present value 9Th
county does not own the Home fo
Friendless building)
There is approximately $50, 900, 90
worth of assessable property in til
county, according TO the informatio
appended to the inventory Abou