The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-06-12
News Snapshots
OF the Week
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
OF COUNTY AND ITS
COMPLETE STORY

"The same influence has been
dominating Canyon county politics
for the past 10 years, and they still
in control. Then years ago Canyon
county had no bonded indebtedness
with the exception of a few bridge
bonds; today outside of the bridge
bonds, Canyon county has a bonded
Indebtedness of about $3O0,0O000, and
nothing to show for it but SOS 900
court house, and in face of this fact
county taxes have been constantly on
the increase When will this end if
no beginning is made? And where
can, there be a more appropriate be-
ginning than by cutting the salaries o.
the county officials? Possibly some
office seekers who have the above re-
cord to face and are responsible for
such hondition, would withdraw if
salaries were reduced, then others
would take their place who would use
sound economic principles in the
management of county affairs"
The foregoing paragraph is taken
from an editorial in the last issue Of
the Emmett Examiner. The publisher
of the Examiner, Mr.. Sam A. Motz, is
comparatively new man in Canyon
county and may not be familiar with
the history of the bond issues of Can
yon county. There are hundreds of
citizens and taxpayers of Canyon
county who do not know the real rea-
son for the biggest bond issue ever
authorized by this county. A brief
statement of conditions with an ex-
PLANTATION of the reasons therefor may
not prove uninteresting to Mr.. Motz
and other comparatively new men.
The Emmett Examiner has taken
great interest in the tax problems OF
this county and state and thus Tar
discussed the problem in spirit OF
fairness.
The first bond issue authorized by
Canyon county was in 1908 and was IN
the sum of $ll $4,000. The money de-
rived from the sale of bonds was used
for the construction of the Middleton
bridge. In 1905 a bond issue in the
sum of $62 600 was authorized and the
money realized built the Canyon
county court house. In 1906 bond
issue of $4,000 was authorized; and
lin 1908 another bond issue of 4OOC
was authorized. The money derived
from the sale of these bonds was used
for the purpose of building bridges or
the Boise and Payette rivers. In 1911
sixth bond issue of $47, 900 was au
thorized for the purpose of building
bridges across the Payette river. W.
: thus far have a bonded Indebtedness
, of $i84,850 of which $l22,S50 went to
; ward the construction OF needed
bridges across the two rivers OF TIL
county.
The total bonded indebtedness 0
Canyon county today is $284,8SO, I'hi
leaves 100000 as yet unaccounted TO
and this particular bond issue is tina
/ 10 which we would call the attention
S Of the Examiner and others interested
= In Iuly 1909 the Fifth Canyon Count
= bond issue was authorized. 1t was i
e the sum of 100000 and was issued t
4! take I'D the floating, or warrant indebt
= edness OF the county. This warran
i Indebtedness was a direct result OF tn
$ assassination of Ex-Governor Fran
Steunenberg and the trials which gree
: ont of that assassination. The prose
c cution of Orchard, Meyer, Haywoo
i and Pettibone cost nearly $lOO,OOO, {
y which sum Canyon county was Gale
y upon TO pay considerably over 500
! 900.
a This most extraordinary ecpens
a had to be met. The commissioner
knew that the people of Canyon eour
h ~ could not stand a tax rate tn;
/ would enable them to wipe out tn
J. warrent indebtedness by direct an
y immediate taxation. Hence the bon
II is true that Canyon county h;
NO monuments or ediices to show Il
this 100000. 1t has reputatio
lie however, for bravely meeting a cris
IF in its affairs, which is worth. a hui
bred times its cost. 1t maintained II