Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-12-09

location OF the Court House and pla-'
cling it on the farm,of Mr.. Yaryan, for
Mr.. Yaryan's farm 10 not in the County
Seat nor within the corporation, but the
private property OF that Gentleman,
nltho' Tax payer would insinuate that
It is in the County Seat, and this Is the
whole DRIFT of the writer's article from
first to last.
We know Of only four men in the
county who might on the grounds of pri-
vate interest wish change in the loca-
ton, aud these are Mr.. Yaryan, Mr..
Westcott, Mr.. Chas, Thompson and
Major WIN. John. The rest ofthe coun-
ty can feel no interest in favor of the
change, but many would be opposed to
il, among whom would be all those own
ing property on Union and Main Streets
and adjoining the public square.
The object Of MIR. Yaryan in obtaining
the removal, is TO increase the value OF
bis property, by laying off lots and bring
ing the public business OF the Town to
his farm. Hence as his property is in
creased in value, by such a removal, the
property OF the present citizens around
the public square in the same ratio de-
clines in value, this Is clear. But let US
illustrate this principle little further.
Liberty is small inland Town, without
any Misunderstanding or commercial adj
vantages naturally, and were Il not for
the County Seat II would be nothing;
hence because Il is the Seat of the
county, where the courts ure held and
1. Ia, all L.. l. L,e
she Is, and the value Of Real Estate in
cro0ses or diminishes as il Is near or far
from the public square. Why is the
property Of Estep, Bragg, Conwell, Bow
ers, and others on Union Street OF more
value per foot than that of Vandergrift's
and McCoy's on tho street Immediately
North OF UnionStrcet. The first fronts
the public square, the other does not.
Some years ago when Major John and
Monroe Conwoll endcayored TO get the
Public Square oyer TO the lot of Mr..
Conwell (and handsome situation II
would have beeu) was Mr.. Yaryan In
favor Of the change then, or did be de-
nounce II us selfish and absurd. Yet II
a change has 10 be made. II should be
here, if mere beauty of location IL de-
sired.
The people Of Liberty are chiefly con-
sumers not producers, tho public Offices
are all OF tho first class and they chiefly
give tone and character TO the Town.
Remove the Offices, and the officers fol-
Z low, remove the means OF support and
the body dies. The property In that
part OF the Town must decline In value
and decay in consequence as few men
repair declining property, hence the ar
gument used by the friends OF the change
Is valuless, viz, that the old site or Pub
lie Square would pay | OF the cost Of tho
new Court House, for who would buy a
lot of ground vacated, for building pur-
poses, when they could get much better
and cheaper sites in the new Town from
Mr.. Yaryan. But says the DIR. it "has
been languishng for a quarter Of GEN.
tury, and something must be DONE" well
whose fault is it more than ''E Pluribus
Unum" and "Tax Payer" for il is gen.
orally understood that they have lived
and owned property nearly or quite that
length oftime fronting the public square;
and If tottering frames, warped boards,
and rotten shingles, are about to knell
its funeral requiems, who contributed
more than they. for it must be admitted
that great "unyormity" exists.
But is the title of the Public Square
good to the county, after its vacation
and removal to the grounds of Mr.. Var
yam! We have some doubts of the rights
of the Commissioners to sell and change
the county Seat. This should MT has
tily be done, nor without the consent Of
a majority of the citizens Of the county ,oi
some clear express enactment of the
Legislasnra. made for this special pur.
pose. public grant TOR special pur.
pose reverts to the donor when the OBJ.
ject for which the grant was made i.
abandoned. This we are informed is q
clear principle of law, and was thor
oughly discussed not long since in Ham.
ilton County, Ohio, with reference to
change Of the site for their new Cour
House. Were we Mr.. Yaryan, we
should be i'm favor of the change, but w,
can see no advantage which the county
will gain by it, for it IS not private in
terest yielding to a public good, but a
public good attempted to be made sub
serve private interest. We would nd
wise the Commissioners if they believ,
the logic Of 4 Pluribus Unum and the
Tax Payer, to accept the proposition o.
Mr.. Yaryan, and after they obtain the
grant, abandon the new site and sell il
/ hunt for another from Major John, OBJ
tain it, abandon il and cell 1t, by which
means they might be able to build thu
Court House for nothing, If speculation
is the game, for private right must yieli
to public good, then build when they
please. We hope the Commissioner
will think of our suggestion for IL Il
valuable, If raising the wind is all that il
wanted.
There are some other points | shout,
like TO notice but this article Is already
too long and for the present will close
m NJ ~