Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1921-04-07
COUNTY COURT
PROCEEDINGS

Chairman David Hodges presiding and
43 magistrates present.
The reports of Chairman Hodges
and the Revenue Commissioners, show
ing the financial condition OF. the coun-
~, were read and adopted.
Resolutions on the death of the late
5 Esq. 7. w. Rigsby of the 18th dis
trict, prepared by Esq. L C. Smith,
were adopted.
There was but little business trans
acted by the court, however, much
time was consumed in discussing var
lous matters. There was an unusually
large crowd present, having been at
tracted by interest taken in good
roads building. BY some means the
impression had become spread over
the county that the highway commits
sioners were being paid straight sal
airy of So per day and expenses, but
when an investigation was made it
was found that this was not the case
and that the members of the Commits
sion are only paid what the court sees
mt to pay them. Previously, the court
had allowed the Commissioners the
above amount but this is not fixed
price. After more or less discussion
the court left the matter of fixing the
salaries of Commissioners open until
July term when the court will deter
mine the amount of salary to be paid
the Commissioners for past services
B. j. Conditt, chairman of the high
way commissioners, read the report
of work done and the amount of ex-
penditures, which was adopted. The
report showed that to date something
like $4,000 of the 100000 has been
expended for surveying, machinery,
and construction work, and that at the
present time road construction is be-
ing done in five section of the county.
The report also showed that the sur
vey of the state highway from the
Wilson County line to the Putnam
County line had been completed, and
that the Commission had been assured
by the State Highway Commission
that construction work on this road
would begin in July.
A resolution was adopted by the
court increasing the interest rate of
the $4,000 State Highway Bonds
from five per cent to six per cent, The
finance committee in charge of the
sale of the bonds reported that there
was no market for five per cent bonds
at par, and in order to dispose of the
bonds the rate would necessarily have
to be increased.
There was also a resolution adopted
permitting the Commissioners to use
amount from the road funds in making
settlements for rights of way and pur-
chasing rock quarries, etc.
DIR. Eldridge, in charge of the ira
choma hospital at Carthage, made
report of the work being done, and
the amount of $500 was appropriated
to continue the hospital for three
months. The remainder of the ex-
pense of the hospital is paid by the
state and federal governments. Much
praise for the work of this hospital
was heard and it was clearly brought
eout that the institution is proving to
be a great blessing to the people of
Smith County Numerous patients
who were practically blind can now
see and make their own way after
being treated at the hospital, and
while it is a trachoma hospital, pa
tients who are suffering from other
troubles with their eyes and are not
able to pay their way to Nashville or
elsewhere, are treated free of charge
by Dr. Eldridge This in itself has
proved to be a great blessing to num-
bers and numbers of poor people III
the county.
Dr. T. W. Fields read an extensive
report of rural sanitation work in
Smith County in which he showed that
typhoid fever in several sections of
the county had been wiped out and
that the county had been greatly inn
proved along the lines of health. The
report asked for an appropriation of
$3.50 to assist the state in keeping this
work going, but the proposition was
declined by the court and the work
viii cease about May first.
Baxter West of the End district, w.
T. Allen of the 10Th district, John Cap
leanor of the 18th district and Luther
Fitzpatrick of the Sth district, were
elected members of the board of equal
ization, with J. M. Cox, secretary. The
salary of the members was fixed at
$3.50 per day.
The following were elected notaries
public: T. A. Frye of 10Th district;
ID. d Martin of 18th district; f. G.
Smith of the 18th district, E. T. Hearn
of the 5th district, A. A. Grisham of
the 18th district, G. w. Goad of the
9th district, G. E. Yancey of the 21st
district and ], G. Neal of the 18th dis
trict.
w. r. Douglass was elected consta-
bic for the 18th district.
The farm of w. S. Agee was detach-
ed from the 18th district and attached
to the 18th district
The farm of H W. Hackett was de-
tache6 from the 5th district and at
tached to the 9th district
George Woodland was released from
serving as officer of the present term
of court on account of sickness in his
family, and Judge J. M. Gardenhire
was asked to select the court officer
$50 was appropriated to pay for re-
pairing the floor of Round Lick creek
bridge.
The board of equalization was in
structed to notify all property owners
of any increases that may be made in
their assessments this year.
Leslie West was appropriated S12