HOW TO FURNISH TAX SCHEDULES 

MAY 19^TH, 1881 

The enormous job of clarifying the ownership of the lands in Park County for tax lien purposes have evolved to a fine art.  Although the task is always continuing to clarify discrepancy’s it certainly was very complicated a century ago when the ownership was unknown.   This article from the May 19^th, 1881 FLUME explains. 

            “Errors in tax schedules are the subject of much annoyance, not only to private citizens, but to the officials as well, as they frequently find themselves blamed for inaccuracies for which they are not in the least responsible.  The publication of the list of unknown lands which is furnished in a corrected form for the third time, to-day, has already worked good in creating an interest in the matter among land owners and a searching inquiry as to the ownership of the tracts that are to be sold.  The county treasurer frequently receives letters of correction or inquiry, and many visit his office in person to either secure tax receipts on some of these tracts or prove the incorrectness of the list.  These errors are principally from the following causes: 

            First, incorrect description of the land by owners themselves. 

            Second, repetition in the description of the same tract, or the omission of tracts. 

            Third, lack of any description, as for instance, “160 acres of land”, not stating what parts of what section and township. The owners afterwards express surprise that their land is in the unknown list. 

            Fourth, lack of full title.  The Land Office plats show no difference between lands upon which homestead or preemption filings have been made and those for which the receiver’s receipt or U.S. patent has actually been issued. 

            All of the inaccuracies will gradually be cleared up, and in the future the county will have a large revenue from this cause.  In the meantime too much care cannot be exercised in giving in the schedules of property.  The best way is to take all descriptions from the receiver’s receipt or patent and to be sure that no omissions are allowed.  The assessor receives many schedules by mail or from others than the tax payer, and is not allowed, even if he desires, to change the description.”