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COUNTY FINANCES.
Handled in an Interesting and
Instructive Style
BY JUDGE MEYERHARDT.
He Compares County Expen
ditures, Going Back for
Ten Years.
Tho subject of taxation is one that
cornea home, directly and forcibly, to
every individual, no matter what may be
his station. The payment of taxes
seems, at best, to be a thankless duty.
Hence it is that the authority which
levies tt>e taxes, whetner national, state,
couti'y or municipal, is always subject to
criticism, sometimes just, but friquently
uujust. Especially is this the case when
taxes are high.
I am led to this train of thought by a
some what geaeral, though vague, criti
cism on tlriac ion of the board of com
missioners of roads and r. venue of Ftoyd
county. It has been asserted with more
or less frequency that the present board
is extravagant; that the taxes for the
l ist four or five years have been unneces
sarily high; and that much more money
has been spent by the present board in
the last five years than by the “old
board” in the five years preceding.
B ifore going further, let me say that I
make no attack on the “old” board.
That board was composed of men noted
for their honesty, economy, ability and
high regard for the public welfare. The
names of W. F. Ayer, W. G. Gammon,
W. P. Whitmore, R. J. M. Perkins, W.
H. Grace, J. A. Glover, W. C. Bryan, F.
M. Freeman and C. P. Morton will always
be honoied by the people ot Floyd county.
I can pay them no higher compliment
than that of comparing the record of
the present board with that of the “old”
board.
With this view I have carefully exam
ined the county records for the past ten
years—beginning with the year 1884 and
ending with the present year. These ten
years I divide into two periods of five
years each —the first period covering (in
part) ihe administration of the old
Board; the second period covering the
administration (to data) of the present
board. While not relevant to the sub
ject of this article, it may not be unin
teresting to give the amount of the taxa
ble property of Floyd county during
these ten years. Here are the figures:
’-84.... $ 6,733,-Of
1885 8,318,813
1886 5,519,6 58
1887 7,188,958
1888 7,394,950
1889... 7,916,702
1890 8 275 000
1891 8,583,634
1892 9,047,389
1893 ••• 8,328,495
Now I desire to show what was spent
for county purposes during the first pe
riod, that is from 1884 to 1888. The
amounts are as follows:
In 1884 $ 42,991 67
tn 1885 40,250 31
in 1886 74,323 87
In 18s7 44,756 37
In 1888 47 623 47
Total in 5 years 3249,948 69
In the amount spent in the year 1886,
are included the $35,000 of bonds, issued
to build new bridges after the great fl >od
of that year. Adding $5,000 to this
amount to cover other extraordinary ex
penses for the same year, and deducting
this amount, $40,000, from the total of
$249,948.60, will leave $209,948.69 spent
by the old board during the five years
referred to for ordinary coun‘y expenses.
Now we come to the expen< itures of
tho present board during the las. five
years. They are as follows:
Baby’s Bad Blisters
OMy son, aged three, bad break
ing out on scalp. The places
were large as dollar, flesh raw
and covered with blisters. Tried
remedies without results, erup
tions spreading, new places
breaking out. C oncluded to try
< i TicunA Remedies, change in
twenty-four hours, continued treatment, and
in two weeks a perfect uiire.
C. A. ARMSTRONG, Swift Island, N. C.
Baby One Solid Sore
Raby broke out with Eczema
; when two months old. Head,
| anus, feet and hands one solid
f* ** r 7 / sore. She had no rest night or
. I day. After one week’s trial of
Cuticura Remedies the sores
were healed, but 1 continued to
tiro the Cuticura Resolvent for a little
while, and my baby is now as sound as a dollar.
Allis. BETTIE BIRKNER, Lockhart,Texas.
Baby All Over Sortos
( Baby had Eczema very bad when
JA two weeks old- Covered with
V sores all over his bead, face and
back. We used the Cuticlra
4* F* Remedies exactly according to
2/ directions, and two sets entirely
cured him, although we continued
it for some time afterward.
MJts. MARY DISCHINGER, Baltimore, Md.
Baby Literally Afire
Our little baby, 24 yearaold, was
taken with Eczema, body solid red
Jw I from solo to crown, literally aliro,
41 - screaming and clawing all tho
time. Then was added abscesses
and Hupjiiiration. Tried M. H.’s,
and medicines without any relief.
Read about Cvtktiia Rkmki.ifh, concluded
to try them. Our little one is now entirely
cured, and is stout and hearty.
C. 11. WOOD, White Cloud, Mo.
CUTICURfi WORKS WONDERS
And its cures are the most rc-
( , inar!;al)lc performed by any blood
I and skin remedy of modern times.
vs Ji •*( r.irentM, remember Ihac corej
made in infi ncy arc? speedy, pcr-
X*.*—and economical.
Bold throughout flm world. Pi lee, Cutu »’TIA,
K)< , Cuticuha Hoap. 25e.; <’uti< rr.A !:• <>l-
VENT. I*l. I’OTTEH |)R|’G ASD CIIESI. <O/11.,
Hole Proprietors, Boston.
<rf , ‘ How to < 'tire l-'l.ln llheawH,” free.
DF D/’C BMn aretH- Jpj. ullb -I an Ibe Hil < I
DMD il 0 by < "ileum fro ip. \t solutely pmo.
A
lfr«. Z>. Zbwnsend
Rising Sun, Delaware.
Good Family Medicines
Hood's Sarsaparilla and Hood’s
Pills.
“I regard Hood’s Sarsaparilla and Hood’s
Pills, tho very best family medicines, and wo
are never without them. I have always been
A Delicate Woman
and began tailing Hood's Sarsaparilla three
years ago for that tired feeling. It built me up
bo quickly nnd so well that I feel like a different
woman and have always had great faith in it. I
give it to my children whenever there seems any
trouble with their blood, and it does them good.
My little boy likes it so well ho cries for it I
cannot And words to tell how highly I prize it
We use Hood’s Pills In the family and they
Act Like a Charm
I take pleasure in recommending these medi
cines to all my friends, for I believe If people
Hood’s x Cures
would only keep Hood a Sarsaparilla and Hood’s
Pills at hand as we do, much sickness and suf
fering would be prevented.” Mils. L. Towns
end, Rising Sun, Delaware.
Hood’S Pills act easily, yet promptly and
efficiently, on the liver and bowels. 25c.
In 1889 8 30,5“3 51
In 1890 46,075 10
In 1891 77,84 02
In 1892 55,641 43
In 1893 44,t90 59
Total in 5 yeais $263,374 6>
To this am -nut should be added the
deficit of $27,000, for 1893-4, and about
SIO,OOO received from railroad taxes,
which swells the total amount to about
$300,000. Deduct from this total amount
$70,000 paid f ir new courthouse ground’,
building, etc., which is an extraordinary
expense, just like the $40,000 for bridges
in 1886, and that leaves the sum of $230,-
000 spent by the present b aid during
the last five years for ordinary county
purposes.
It will thus be seen that in five yeais
the old board spent for ordinary county
purposes about $2lO 000; the present
b >ard for the same purposes in the same
time $230,000, a difference of $20,000 in
favor of the old board.
But it must bo remembered that the
legitimate expenses of the county have
vastly increased during recent years. To
illustrate, I will give the amounts spent
in two fu —th- jury and the jail funds
—from 1884 to 1889, and then from 1889
to 1893:
Jail and Jury Fnnd.
In 1884 8 6 0 0 33
2n ’BBS 9,376 86
In 1886 10,050 73
In 1887 4,112 08
In 1888 3,8’5 37
Total .. $33,415 37
Jail and Jury Fund.
In 1889 $ 7 916 50
In 1890 9 7< 0 CO
In 1891 14,674 67
In 1892 8,337 17
In 1893 8,446 74
Total §19,074 98
So it will ba observed that in these two
funds there were expended in the last
five years $15,629.61 more than in the five
years preceding. These e..pensesare not
incurred by the commissioners, nor can
they control them. They are part of the
couit expenses of the county for which
the commissioners cannot in any way be
held responsible. Deduct this increase
from the $20,000 in favor of tho old
board, and it leaves only a little more
than $4,000 to pay the other increased ex
penditures. When it is rememb red that
Other court expenses have grea'ly in
creased, and continue to it.crease; that
the number of paupers to be taken care
of is larger today thin ever before; that
the population of the ceunty has ste<diiy
increased; that the number of convicts
employed in tho chaingang is considera
blyjlarger than in former years, when
all these facts are taken into considera
tion, I think it will be admitted, even by
the most prejudiced mind, that the pres
ent board has administered the county
finances wisely and well; that all neces
sary ec inomy has been exercised ; that
there lias been no waste or extravagance
in any department; and that every mem
ber of the board lias discharged the du
ties of his office with an earnest regard
for the public welfare.
Speaking cf court expenditures, there
have been five murder trials within the
last four years that have cost the county
between $12,000 and $15,000 In
saying this I do not mean to
reflect in any way upon our efli
cient judges and other court officials.
The fault has not been theirs. The s ’mo
complaint is heard all over tho
state. Court expenses are increasing
everywhere. Some remedy will have to
be devised in our system of pieiding and
methods of procedure to relieve the peo
ple from tho terrible burdens of taxation.
This article would not be comploti
without referring to the chaiugang and
its work. Tho subject of road* is on<
that is exciting universal attention, anr
I think Floyd c ninty may well fool proud
of her recoid on this line.
THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE, THUKSda y. NOVEMBER 28.
UNDER THE HAMMER.
58513,4’7’000
In New Dry Goods at Half Price.
Charles W. James, 37 Whitehall Street, Atlanta, failed in business. He had been in
business but six months. Everything new, everything bright, and everything seasona<
ble, and the stock fell to us under the hammer. We gave but little for it and now
TJESIKS MOST STUPENDOUS BAnCAUXTS
In line, fresh go dever given the people in this portion of Georgia are in store for onr
customer.} in Rome at
Our old Stand —25 Broad Street,
A portion of the goods are now in our store and as rapidly as room can be provided
other shipments of them will be made to us. Failing to obtain any article on first visit
remember that a call the following day may secure it.
We are in portion to sell goods lower than ever before in our business life, and if you
do not supply your wants at a tremendous savin* to you during the next few weeks, it
s mply will be y«»ur own fault.
Wash Fabrics.
2,000 yards dress prints 3|c
10 cases best standard Prints, 5c
8 bales extra heavy Improved
Drilling, : : •; 6|c
8,000 yards fine Ginghams, la-
t st style, worth 12£ to 15c,
our price only, : : B|c
5,000 Yards Gingham, 5c
20 piec-s Dimity and checked
Nainsook, James’ price, 35
to 50c, onr price : : 25c
Cotton Flannel as low -s ; 5c
Shirting Cheviois, worth 12|c,
anywnere, our price only 8c
Dress Goods.
5,000 yards Diagonals. Illumi
nated Serges,
Cashmeres etc , worth from
30c to 50c. You can take
your ch"ice at : : IGJc
Novelty Dress Patterns in
Wo'-lens, Silks and Satins,
latest weaves. James’ pri
ces $8 to sl4, our prices ju»t Half
CLOTHING, HATS AND SHOES.
We have on hand a special stock of Medium and Fine Clothing. Besides our regular
lines direct from the manufacturers, a recent great auction sale at Cincinnati gave us
some rich plums for those who wear coats, pants and vests. It was a panic sale at panic
prices. The goods are here. Do not miss the chance if you need clothing. (2d floor.)
We buy our Hats from the hat makers No middle man grabbing for middle profits. We buy our goods
DOWN and we sell them DOWN and we want to sell you your hats.—On second floor.
We are at home on the Shoe subject. We buy and sell more shoes than any merchant in this portion of Georgia.
We do it by the force of the selling price. Woman’s good heavy wear shoes 75c. Ladies’ good Glove Grain Button
SI.OO. Ladies’ Dongola Button $1.25. Fine Kid Button $1.50. Men’s Balmoral Shoes worth $l5O, SI.OO. Men’s
Fine Buff $1.25. Good Brogans SI.OO. Our dirt-excluding tap sole Blucher is the best shoe on earth for $1.50. It is
simply unmatchable, After buying it once you would have it again even if it cost you a five dollar bill.
Come to see us for fine shoes, and come to our place for anything in any of our other lines if you have a mind
and that mind teaches you to save money. We will sell you what you want if you will give us a chance.
Some lines of the James stock will be sold 20 per cent under cost, and many lines of our stock will be sold at
prices losing us money. We are going to make short work of reducing the stock. Come and get samples—all you
want —try the town over. We are not afraid of any test. Moreover, should you buy anything from us which for any
cause you would like to return, we would gladly take it back if uninjured. Bargains and satisfaction in the same
bundle always.
BASS BROTHERS & COMPANY.
The chaingang was organized in the
fall of 1881, with Capt. W. C. Moore as
superintendent. There li is been ex
pended to run the chaingang during the
twelve years of its existence, the sum of
$116,000. During the first seven years
after its organization, twenty miles of
road were graded and macadamized.
During this time, however, tn addition
to woiking the roads, the chaingang was
largely employed in other work, especially
after the flood of 1886, when they built
abutments to bridges, etc., so that prob
ably only one half their time was occupied
<m the county’s roads. Duiing the past
five years, the chaingang has graded and
macadamized fifty miles of road—a
splendid showing, indeed. In addition,
hey have spent considerable time in
working on other roads. Capt. Moore
has proven himself a most able and effi
cient officer. In former years, there was
a county surveyor. There has been no
inch official for several years, and all
such work is performed by Capt. Moore,
The average number of convicts cm
ployed during the first six years, was 35
Wool Flannels.
Red and White. Blue and Gray,
Plain and twilled. Embroid
ered and decorat'd. Flan
nels of every sort and kind,
and if you want any Flan
nel buy it of us at prices cut
in : : : Two
Hosiery.
3 cases fast black hose, ladies
and misses, worth 15e, one
pair or forty each a : Dime
50 dozen 40-gauge hose, Herms
dorf dye, worth 40c, at 25c
Men's Socks, black and bal
briggan, and colors, fine and
medium at prices that knock
out the : Bottom
Shirts.
200 dozen unlaundried, rein
forced back and front, patent
faemgs, and gussets, heavy
muslin, a good one and well
worth 60e, and sold at that
by Mr. James. As long as
this 200 dozen lasts, you can
buy one or more, for each 40c
Heavy Domet Shirts : 35c
The average number during the last six
years, 45.
What has been the cost to the county of
seventy miles of graded and macadamized
roads? As ah oady stated, $116,000 have
thus far been expended for chaingang
purposes. According to this, each mile
would have cost the county $1,657. But
when the large amount of other work
done by the chaingang is considered, and
the proper deductions made, it will bo
found that It costs Floyd county about
$1,200 per mile to grade and macadamize
her roads. That is Capt. Moore’s esti
mate, and I think it will be found correct.
A ricent dispatch fr m Birmingham
states that there are in Jefferson county
150 miles of graded and macadamized
roads, and that their cost was something
over SSOO 000, or more than $3 300 per
mile, nearly throe times the amount that
Floyd county pays. In the light of this
statement, it must be admitted that our
chaingang hat done splendid work, mid
that. Floyd is the banner county on the
subject of good roads economically ob
taint’d. Max Mkvkbuakdt.
Knit Overshirts, worth in any
market, sl.oo. Cheap at sl.
To close : : : 50c
All sorts of colored Overshirts,
Work Shirts and Dress Wear
Quality right, and prices away
Under
Handkerchiefs.
For ladies and gentlemen, a tre
mendous stock, plain and
fancy:
James’ price 10 cents, our
price : : : 5c
James price 15 cents, our
price : : : 10c
James’ price 25 cents, our
price : : 15c
James’ price, 40 cents, our
price : : : 25c
James’ price 50 cents, our
price : * ; : 35c
Blankets and Quilts-
200 Gray Oxford bed blankets,
worth $1.50 a pair. Some
merchants get more than
1.50. As long as our stock
lasts we wi I sell them at : 75c
Blankets worth $2 50 : 1.50
Blankets worth $4 : : 3.00
Heavy bed comforts : 75c
Fine Quilts, tapestry patterns 1.25
IN ITS OWN ROOM
City Court Was Held Yesterday—The Day's
Doings.
City court was held yesterday in the
room down stairs, all the new furniture
having been put in place the day before.
The room presents a neat and pretty ap
pearance, and the court officials all wore
their brightest countenances.
The case of Al Burney was concluded
in his favor, the jury giving him $171.65.
, lie was represented by Col W. K Mc-
Henry.
The case of James Douglas A Co., vs.
the Postal Telegraph company, resulted
in favor of the plaintiff. The suit was
on a horse hired a representative of the
■ company, it being claimed that rough
• usage killed it.
The jury gave a verdict for the fu'l
i amount, $135, with interest. Beece &
Denny for plaintiffs, Fouche A Fouche
I for the defense.
The Superior Court Koon*.
! Mr. S Iser with a force of I finds is now
har 1 at work placing the furnituto in the
Towels-
500 Huck Towel®, good quality
40 inches long, and 20 inches
wide, each : : : 7c
Fine Lin n Towels, worth 40
and 50 cents at : : [Me
Cloaks.
Cheap Cloaks and Fine Cloaks, at
half prices.
James’ price, $6, our price 3. 00
James’ price SB, our price 4.00
James’ price $lO, our price 5.00
James’ price 15 dollars, our
price, : : 7.50
James’ price 18 dollars, our
price ! ! • J 9.00
James’ price twenty-five dol-
lars, our price ; ; 12.50
James’ price thirty dollars,
. our price . . f 15.00
If y<>u expect to buy a Ciyak, see
our stock, we have too many, and
they must be sold. So with Lace
Curtains. We carry the largest
stock of Jeans, Cassimeres, Tickings,
Corsets, etc., in this city. Come te
see us for anything wanted in our
lines.
superior court room. The handsomest
piece in place is the jury box. It is all
elegant.
No other sarsaparilla has equaled Hood's tn
the relief it gives in severest cases of dyspepsia,
sick headache, biliousness, etc.
Martin L. Paulson, an expert counter
feiter, and H. T. Hesse, a postoffioe rob
ber, escaped from jail at Denver, Col.,
Tuesday night.
■ ♦ ♦ ——
A man may occasionally talk through
his ha’, but he can’t see through a wo
man's —particularly at the theatre.
These figures represent the number »'
bottles of Dr. King’s New Discovery for
Consumption, Coughs and Colds, which
were sold in the United St it -s from March,
’92. Two Million, two hundred and twen
ty-eight thousand six hundred and seventy
two bottle sold in one year, and each and
every bottle was sold on a positive guaran
tee that money would be n funded if satis
factory results did not follow its use. The
secret of its success is plain. It. never dis
appoints and can always bo depended on as
tlu' very best remedy for coughs, colds,
etc. Pricesoc and St per bottle. At D.W.
Curry’s drug store.
5