Assessor's Report for Crittenden County in March 1911

 

March 1911 - What the Assessor's Book Shows About Crittenden

Thanks to the old assessor's reports, we have historical information from Dogs to Diamonds that were in Crittenden County. 

 

One would expect the books to show the largest increase in dogs, that is, if one may believe all the evidence that his ears hear, and his eyes behold. But the increase is only 208, and there are there are now but 1278 dogs in the county. Since the tax is moderate, and the signs of increase many, we may expect the books to show it next year.

 

We have 4863 sheep, an increase of 45 over last year. These are valued at $2.50 per head. But for the work of some of the dogs listed, or not listed, the number of sheep would have been swelled to 4943, as their were damage claims filed for exactly 80 sheep killed and crippled during the year. It is not surprising to see that the sheep killed, were in every case, the best of the flock, and that the average claim per head was $5.00. The Crittenden county dog certainly knows a good sheep when he see it.

 

It is not so easy to account for the loss of 5665 acres of land, and 26 town lots. It may be that the surveyors have abandoned the old time way of calculating and measure from hilltop to hilltop. Certain it is, the assessors books show that we now have that number less of acres and town lots than we had one year ago. The total acreage is now 213,989, but the average value has increased 30 cents and it is now valued at $7.90 per acre.

 

There are 34,456 acres of woodland and the woodland taken in connection with the land in cultivation shows that there are 126,243 acres, more than half the land in the county, cleared, but idle and unproductive. Some can find encouragement to the fact that the 34,456 acres of woodland is an increase of 2876 over the year before. It is doubtful if a clearer example of re-forestization exists any where.

 

We raised 38,826 bushels of wheat on 2871 acres of land, and the year before raised 13,507 bushels on 967 acres; an average yield of each year of 14 bushels per acre.

 

From the hand bills posted at cross roads and other public places, one would believe the county to be the veritable home of thoroughbred stallions, yet there are only three, with a value of but $500.00.

 

There are only two diamonds in the county, as against eight the year before, but the size and quality has vastly improved. The eight were worth $955. while the two still in the county, are worth nearly as much, to be exact, $740.

 

In jewelry there are manifest signs of economy. Last year there was $1,110. worth of jewelry, while now there is only $140. worth, and we know the man that owns it all. In gold, silver and plated ware, economy and retrenchment too is shown. Last year there was $190 worth of such ware, while now the stock is reduced to $105.

 

It is good to note an increase of 300 in children of school age over last year and the number now stands at 3,769. As compared to ten years ago, we now have 360 fewer children.

 

The adult males in the county number 3,083 a slight increase over last year, but a decrease in the last ten years of 140. Children may come but they certainly go from us as soon as the age of discretion permits.

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This very impressive and detailed report of the county was taken by Robert Thomas who was the County Assessor in the year 1911.