Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1923-03-08
COURT HOUSE NEWS

Ithe1r regular quarterly three days
session, beginning Monday of this
week. A summary of their trans
actions follows:
The money levied and collected
as December taxes, as apportioned
| by the auditor to the several funds,
and the balances remaining in the
several funds, was appropriated for
the uses for which it was levied.
The county auditor was instruct
led to return to the trustees of the
following townships, February set
tlement, money levied as the two
mill road levy: York, to be used on
the roads where the trustees may
deem advisable; Center and Deer
| field townships, to be used on the
principal roads of the township.
The bid of w. j. Singree for op-
Grating Roxbury ferry, was with
drawn on request of Mr. Singree.
May 26 was fixed as day for view
of the Blackburn road in Manches-
ter township.
The clerk was ordered to adver-
| tise by poster the sale of the super
structure of the Dewitt bridge in
Morgan township, bids to be receiv-
led April 2, 1923.
The county surveyor was in
structed to make estimate for the
completion of Passom Hollow road,
on the sections that already have
not been sold, and the clerk was
ordered to advertise for sale the
balance of the road not already
sold, according to the plans and
specifications on file in county sur
veyor's office. Bids to be received
up to and including April 2, at !
Ip. m.
| The county surveyor was in
structed to investigate the damaged
guard rail on the west end of the M.
& M. bridge, and if found the duty
of county, to repair same.
| The auditor was instructed to
turn the February installment of
the 2-mill road levy to the trustees
of Union township, to be used on
the principal roads of the township.
| The bids received for operating
the Roxbury ferry. were rejected.
w. M. Fulmer was employed to op-
crate the Roxbury ferry until fur
ther notice, at the price of 1925 per
day, he to furnish the ferry equip
ment, and work to begin on March
IL, 1923.
| Contract with w. H. Singree as
ferryman at Hooksburg, is APPROX
ed.
! Under section No. 9921-4 $500
was appropriated to apply on salary
of county agricultural agent, for
the year 1923.
| The county auditor and Commits
sioner Barkhurst were instructed to
go over the specified estimates on
children's home, as made by archi-
tect Paul r. Murray, and see what
items could be stricken out, SO i'm
proyements can proceed within the
limits of money on hands.
| The county auditor submitted his
! findings as to the valuation of real
estate in Morgan county, as fol-
lows: II find that the real estate in
Morgan county, as a whole, is on
the tax duplicate for it's true value
in money. / also find that in every
taxing district many inequalities ex-
ist and should as soon as possible
be adjusted. l further find that the
building valuation in practically
every township district is on the tax
duplicate for much less than their
actual value, however it may be pos
sible that the building valuation
was given consideration in fixing
farm values. In consideration of
the above I would advise an ap-
praisement of the real estate in
Morgan county, not for the purpose
of increasing the present duplicate,
but simply as a means for adjusting
| the numerous inequalities and the
building valuations" Action on
| the above was postponed until af-
ter the subject has been given con-
! !sideration and passed on by the
present legislature.
COMMON PLEAS COURT
Rosanna D. Tracy has filed suit
against E. w. Pitts. The action is
over oil property situated in Malta
township. The petition states the
defendant by virtue of assignments
from former holders, became the
owner of a certain lease for oil and
gas. The plaintiff AYERS that said
| lease has expired by virtue of the
terms thereof and that the same is
of no further force and effect be-
tween plaintiff and defendant. The
defendant has placed upon the land
fixtures, ETC., for operating the
same for oil and gas purposes, and
defendant claims right to continue
the possession thereof, and the
right to continue operations there
on for oil and gas, Notwithstanding
that all the right, title and interest
Iof defendant has ceased to exist,
and the possession of defendant and
his claim aforesaid to operate
same for oil and gas purposes con-
|stitute cloud upon plaintiffs title
thereto. Plaintiff prays that her
title be quieted and that said instru
ment of lease be decreed null and
void, and that defendant be re-
quired to vacate said premises and
remove all machinery, fixtures and
equipment therefrom, and that all
wells be plugged according to the
requirements of the laws of Ohio,
and that plaintiff have such other
relief as she may be entitled to by
reason of the premises.
PROBATE COURT
Tuesday, Chas. Kennison of York
was declared insane, and was taken
to the Athens state hospital We'd
nesday by Sheriff Newton.
The will of Mrs. Clara Sands has
been admitted to probate.
In the settlement of the estate of
Mary E. Smith, inheritance tax of
$26557 found due.
The estate of Clifford Harshe
has been fully settled and H: H.
Choguill, administrator, discharg-
ed.
The estate of Mary McKibben has
been settled, and the administrator,
Jesse M. McKibben, discharged.