Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, May 3, 1909, Page 1

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b VOLUME 7. NUMBER 13. FINANCIAL HISTORY OF The Pioneer Herewith Presents Con- densed Statement of Financial Trans- actions of the County, Since Its Organization, 1897. The following table shows the actual financial condition of Beltrami county, up to and including December 31, 1908, and covers each year since the county was organized, in 1897: RECAPITULATION Revenue Fund .. $131,039 90 12,262 80 28,668 89 Merchants Bank bal- ance closed by order for purchase of Real Estate near Bass 2,449 11 Otherminor accounts overdrawn .......oeeens 171 63 Total outstanding warrants if all re- ceipts were used Cash in treasurers hands held back from receipts.......... $174,592 33 7,478 25 Total outstanding warrants as shown by auditors finan- cial statement...... 182,070 58 TRUE STATEMENT OE LIABILITIES Warrants as above....$182,070 58 Accrued interest esti- mated at............. 35,000 00 Borrowed from sinking finl v csesanaesiimaeae 6,000 00 Bondsdue 1911.. 16,000 00 Bonds due 1917 70,000 00 Bonds due 1919.. 24,000 0C Total.. $333,070 58 Deduct sinking fund... 61,357 98 Total. . isissenssiinases $271,712 60 o present valuation of county. The actual net debt of Beltrami Cash on sinking fund...... $40,357 98 Loan for Sinking fund tO TeVeNUe.....vvuuin 6,000 00 Loan forsinking fund 10 AItCH e snsresmamnon 150,000 00 $61,357 98 r 3 85-100 per cent of $7,040,887 00 county, as shown by a thorough and painstaking research of the books, made by the Pioneer, is $271,712,60, or 3 and 85-100 per cent of $7,040,887, It is the intention of this article to place briefly before our readers the early financial history of the county, and make a clear and con- cise statement of the causes leading to the present condition ot the finances of this county. To accomplish this, a representa- tive of the Pioneer has gone over the records of the county from its organization in 1897 and has made a statement of the receipts and ex- penditures of moneys from the differ- ent accounts each year as shown by the records and books of the county officers. The first record of a tax collection in this county was in the year 1876. The levy was made from a total the present valuation of the county. acreage of 30,485, on a valuation of $48,330, the total tax levy being $290.00 This was when the county was attached to Becker county. In 1894, when still a dependent upon Becker county, the governor appointed F. E. Dudley, J. P. Nygaard and Gordon Allen as county commissioners, and they adminis- tered the affairs of the county and laid out the Fosston-Bemidji road, and the road from Bemidji to Black- duck. The county remained dependent upon Becker county until the year 1897, when by petition it was set off, The area of the county today, ac- cording to the records of the state T safest man is the man who S HE has a bank account. When you establish yourself with a good bank, you feel secure and your mind is at peace. Banks have been the means of making more successful men than colleges. o a snug sum in the bank is When you grow LD an insurance policy against hard times and hard work. Begin to save when you are young. OUR will help you start; SAVINGS DEPARTMENT then when you have accumu- lated $50.00 or $100.00 take a certificate of deposit drawing a little larger rate of in- terest. RELI The time-tried and most ABLE bank is the one to do your business with. In judging a bank, always rememb er that cepital and surplus give security to the depositor, by forming a fund that stands between the depositor and any pos- sible shrinkage in the securities of the bank. The Capital and Surplus of this bank form a margin of First National Bank of Bemidii money safety that assures absolute security to those who intrust their to us. AY q\é\“a@ LY BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 3, 1909. auditors office, is 4,962.29 square miles, or 2,515941.77 acres, of which 1,869,724.08 acres are land and 646,217.69 acres are water. The total acreage of the county under cultivation is 186,716, The above facts are all interest- ing,and will be ofvalue in later com- parisons and valuations of the county. It may be well to note here that in 1900 the population of the entire county, including the county of Clearwater, which was not set off un- til the fall of 1902, was 11.030. The population according to the census of 1905 was 14,312, and the popula- tion of Bemidji at that time was 3,800. A conservative estimate of the population of the county today can safely be placed at a 22,000 while that of the city of Bemidji may be placed at 5,500. It must also be taken into consid- eration that within the county limits is a large Indian reservation, which, from a taxation point, is of no bene- fit to the county whatever, the lands and property being exempt from taxes. At the time of the separation of Beltrami county from Becker county, Becker county presented Beltrami county a hill amounting to $11,987.66 being our share of the debt Becker county owed on its various funds, which was subsequently paid, and which is recorded further on this article. On May 17, 1897, the governor appointed the following persons pro- visional board of county commission- ers: S. C. Bagley, F. E. Dudley and Willis Brannon. This board held its first meeting at Bagley Dam, May 22, 1897, and appointed the following officers: M. D. Stoner, Auditor. J. P. Nygaard, Sheriff. M. Phibbs, Register of Deeds. W. F. Street, County Attorney. G. E. Carson, Treasurer. Upon the organization of the county, the treasurer of Becker county turned over the balance of cash in his hands, asshown in the receipts under the different funds given later. On June 23, 1897, the county commissioners, pursuant to chapter 272 of the general statutes, issued bonds in the sum of $12,000 to take up the indebtedness due Becker county. The surplus of the sale of the these bonds was used totake up the indebtedness in the poor fund. (See table headed “Surplus and Deficit.”) An examination of the classified payments in the different funds shows a steady and rapid increase in court expenses, contagious diseases and poor expense out of all pro- portion to the increase of the bona- fide growth of the county and is adirect result of the floating element found in the logging camps and lumber districts. Our court records show that a greater proportion comes from this element than any other class. An examination of other counties in earlier days, when this element predominated, shows an even greater indebetedness in proportion to their wealth than is found in this county and today exists to a more or less extent in Itasca, Koochiching,” Red Lake and St. Louis counties, as a perusal of their financial statements will show. COUNTY REVENUE, In the vear 1897 the total acreage assessed was 209,890 and the total valuation of real and . persopal property was $1.153,470. The tax levy for that year was $2,191.76. The expenditures for that year were as follows. Auditor’s salary. Treasurer, salary. Superintendent $1.615 70 300 00 salary.......... 9 10 County attorney, salary 1,164 10 Judge of probate, salary. 131 66 County commissioners, si ary 401 20 Total salaries Court expenses Coroner's_expen Births and death: Books, stationery and printing. Transcribing records Miscellaneous expenst Total running expense .. ...... Paid on court house and jail building Total expenditures.. From which deduct receipts. 1898 Valuation of County $1,464,672. Tax levy $7,46594. During this year the total expenditures amounted to $13,771.22 while the total receipts were $7,288.76 leaving 2 deficit of $6,482.46. This year the court ex- pense amounted to $3,979.42. 1899 During the year 1899 the cash receipts amounted to $8,942.74 while the total expenditures were $14,- 061.91, a defiecit of $5,119.74. During the year county officers re- ceived $5,045.60 and the court ex- pense amounted to $4,752.31. 1900 In 1900 the cash receipts were $8,998.68 while the total ‘disbusre- ments were $28,280.62, a deficit of $19,281.94. During the year $6,- 946.65 was paid out for salaries; Court expenses, $7,525.77; books, stationery and printing $4,863.82, election expense $1,098.91. 1901 In 1901 the total receipts were $27,030.92 and the total expendi- tures were $40,700.94 a deficit of of $13,670.02. During the year SURPLUS AND DEFICIT. ] The following table shows the surplus and deficits to be as follows, as per the books in the hands of of county officials, which includes the year 1908: 6 | portation of insane patients; $5,143.- 5 gg | ing. 18 $10,059 was paid in salaries; $10,- 222215 for court expenses, $3,714.16 for books stationery and printing; $8,456.26 for pest house and small pox cases; $1,030 for the poor farm also $250 as expence to 1egislature.| 1902 k In 1902 the total receipts were $20,261.77 while the total expendi- tures were $46,467.85 leaving a deficit of $26,206.08. During this year county officers salaries amount- ed to $10,178.66; court expenses, $17,505.54; justices court expease, $1,111.62; books stationery and printing $5,784.98; election expense £2,214.32; Pest house and quarantine expense $4,318.36. 1903 In 1903 the total acreage assessed was 528,681 acres and the value of real and personal property placed at $4,949,546. The tax levey for the year was placed at $24.750. During the year the total receipts were $29,042.41 and the total ex- penditures were $41,738-95 a deficit of $12,696.54. During the year $10,714,10 was paid in salaries; $12462.30 for district court expenses; $1,173.67 justice court expenses; $2,488.99 for examination and trans- 64 for books, stationery and grint- 1904. In 1904 the number of acres assessed in the county was 454,638 and the valuation of real and per- sonal property placed at $4,317,312. The tax levy for that year was $21,- 587.86. The total tax collection was $21,215.96 while the total ex- penditures amounted to $44,162.92 leaving a deficit of $22,946.96. During the year $11,941.98 was paid out as salaries; $12,511.02 Dis- trict Court expenses; $2,316.56 as Justice Court expenses $1,115.59 ex- amination of and conveying insane patients to state hospitai; Coroner’s Court expenses $701.90; Books stationery- and printing, $5,262.40. 1905.. For the year 1905 the total acreage assessed was $461,123 and the valuation of real and personal property placed at $4,248,472. The tax levy was placed at $21,- 242.98. The total tax receipts for the year was $30,357,96 and the disbursements wete $39,104.82; a deficit of $8,746.86. During the year the salaries amounted to $12,632.93 District Court expenses, $10,005.94 Justice Court, $2,457.49, Insane cases $1,- 262.74; Books Statiotery and Print- ing $4,390.58. 1906 In the year 1906 the total acreage COUNTY REVENUE COUNTY POOR COUNTY ROAD Deficit Surplus Deficit Surplus Dficit Surplus 1897 $8,104 85 $797 28 $348 40 1898 6,482 46| $328 36| 1,259 69 1899 5,119 74 1,304 19| 1,837 33 1900 19,281 94| 5,515 91] 1,110 80| 1901 13,670 02] 7,413 43| 431 77| 1902 26,206 08 5,736 10| 5,664 92! 1903 12,696 54 1,254 40| $6,186 67 1904 22,946 96 977 47 177 90 1905 8,746 86| 1,481 54| 2,834 61 1906 12,154 64 841 63 18,200 52 1907 25,018 81 295 09| 7,887 99| 1908 .. 19,967 63 4,031 52 733 83 $180,396 53 $24,843 03 $40,309 86 $6,364 57 Deduct Surplus.. $5,123 89| __GM— Total expenditure in ex] $19,719 14| $33,944 29 cess of receipts.......... $180,396 53 Add payments in inciden] tal fund for 1908 and prior years...........eeus $2,478 71 Applied from bonds sold| $182,875 24 e in 1900, 1901 and 1902 $20,030 52 $6,787 28| $1,677 12 Warrants redeemed....... | t $25 804 82 3,424 00 Borrowed from indebted ness fund.....coooueeennns 669 06| 175 28 Deduct bonds sold 1900] -$182,875.24| $45,835 34 $19,719 14| $33,944 29| $5,276 40 and 1903.....cc0iennnned $45,835 34 7,456 34 5,276 40| True overdraft Dec| ...} $137,039 90 $12,262 80| $28,667 89| Borrowed from sinkin fund mast be replaced| —used toredeem orders| $6,000 00 Over draft as shown in annual report. ....} $131,039 90! FORTY CENTS PER MONTH 3 BELTRAMI COUNTY © % was 485,240 and the valuation of | | real and personal property placed at | $4,255,799. The tax levy for the yeari was $21,280.47. During the year | $25,705.39 was collected while the | total expenditure was $37,860.03, a X deficit in this fund of $12,154.64. | 926.00 was paid for salaries of coun-| court expenses and $2,915.84 as| justice court expense. Legal publi- | cations and books and stationery amounted to $5,091.34. : 1907 In 1907 the total acreage assessed was 539.724 asd the valuation of $5,468,313. The total tax levy on $27,352.26. The tax collection for this year amount to $32,033.57 the total expenditures aggregate $57,- 052.38 leaving a deficit of $25, 018.81. During the year$13,550.12is paid in salaries, district court expenses are $19,203 02; justice court expenses, $2,963.43; msane cases, $2,031.45; interest on war- rants paid $5,6135.29; books station- ery and legal printing $5,230 29. 1908 Duriug the year 1908 the total acreage. of the county placed on the and the value of real and personal property placed at $6,038,754. The tax levy for the year being placed at 30,194 o1, During the year the tax collections for this fund amounted to $34,080.27 while the total expenditures were $54,047.90, a deficit of $19,967.63. The expenditures for the year Janitor and assistant Health officer . Of the total amount expended $13,- | Tak real and personal property placed at| the general fund being placed at| assessment roll was 593,670 acres | 2 388835338888 Beltrami County Court House. Commissi SherifPs fees Clerk of court CGourt reportc Court. deputis Grand jurors etit jurors a Witnesses Special atrors Board of jur Board of pris Sheriff's fees justi Justice fee Turors and Constabl, ty officers; $5,836.48 for district | Coron Post mortera Court, comm: Election exp Booke, statior i Agricultural Summer scho Miscellaneou i COUNTY POOR D. Commencing with the year 1897 and ending with the year 1908, the poor of the county was under the direct care of the county commis- sioners and this fund, from time to time was overdawn, and at the end of the year 1908, was overdrawn $12,262.80. Commencing with the year 1897 and ending with the year 1908, the poor of the county was under the di- rect care of the county commission- ers and this fund, from time to time was overdrawn, and at the end of the year 1908, was overdrawn $12,- 262.80. Commencing Jan. 1, 1909, the system of caring for the poor was changed to the township system and the current tax levy for the year 1908 will practically wipe out the indebtedness against this fund. COUNTY ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND The toad and bridge fund, which in anew county the size of Bel- trami is an important one, has been from time to time overdrawn in vari- ous amounts, and at the close of business December 31, 1908, was overdrawn f¢ the amount of $28,668.- 89. ARE YO be abrolutely satisfactory to to supply your trim in all solid bronze, cast or wrough! the least important Drawer The Leading Bemidji U GOING] T0 BUILD If so, we are in a postion to supply your hardward wants from the time the excavation is begun till the cook is properly installed, at prices all along the line that will you. We desire to call particular attention to our ability of the up-to-date designs on t steel in any of the finishes, and the beautiful part of it is that we can supply it un- form for the entire building from the Front Door Set to Pull. It will pay you to let us figure with you. J. A. Ludington Hardware Man Minnesota WINNESOTA | HISTORIGAL| SOCIETY,

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