Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-03-04
THE GRAND RIVER TIMES
GRAND HAVEN. MICHIGAN,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH A, 1857.
COUNTY AFFAIRS.

hISno VI Oe'""o Nounol WIN W S"iN" ~" ="
decide, by their suffrage, whether Eastman
vile shah be the future seat of Justice for
said county or no. va 80
AS the decision of this important question
once given by its citizens is not easily revok-
ed, several weighty considerations claim at
tention previous to the. deposit of the vote
that is to settle, perhaps, for all time, the
question that has been agitated for several
years past, by the Board of Supervisors and
Others, in relation to the selection Of some
point as permanent location for county
buildings suited to the wants and demands
of our rapidly increasing population. 4
The first consideration, in Importance, we
deem to be this: What point Of location will
best suit the convenience of citizens, not only
at the present time, but for years to come,
and subserve the best interests of the county
in all their varied relations? In the decision
of this momentuous question, individual in
terest, particularly when it conflicts with the
general good, should by no means enter into
the account. Selfshness should be laid
aside, and pecuniary interest forbidden any
part or lot in the matter. All acknowledge
that some more convenient, safe and suitable
buildings for county offices, courtroom, &c.,
are highly necessary; yea, more, almost I'M
peratively demanded for the better security of
books, papers and records, as we'll as the
greater convenience of transacting the rapid
ly accumulating public business of the county.
A glance of the eye of the most casual OBJ
server will satisfy the beholder, at once, that
our citizens need to take some advance steps
in the matter of county buildings. Look,
for instance, at our court-room-but a third
class school-room, of dimensions scarcely suf-
ficient to accommodate two score Abeceda-
rians, and as little fitted for the convenient
adjustment of the civil and criminal business
of the county courts and an effective display
of legal tact and oratory, as an oyster saloon
for camp meeting; and so great is this in
convenience felt by those more particularly
concerned, that, we are informed, his Honor
Judge MARTIN, mas, on more than one occasion,
limited strongly AT the censurable imbecility
of our citizens in not taking at least the init
atory steps toward providing more suitable
place for the accommodation of our county
courts; and more imperatively is such a
change demanded now that the population
of our county entities us to quarterly instead
of semi-annual sessions of the Circuit Court
Again look at our County JAIL What OBJ
stacle do its bars and bolts present to the
shrewd and cunning felon? No more than is
afforded by the tall picket erected by some
misery, Grabbed country gentleman to veto
the entrance of some Chairman of ways and
means, attended by his committee of half
fedged school boys, when the sight of some
luscious pear or peach sorely tempts palates
already watering with pleasing anticipations
of rich repast. A criminal there confined, /
to whom liberty is dcarer than life, would by
no means hesitate to use easy and yet effec-
tual means to obtain it.
The only reasons we can assign for its form
ing of late the protracted residence of crimi-
mails, awaiting trial for deeds of murder, lar
ceny, DC, are first, the good living furnished
them by tho acting Sheriff, who has catered
there for the past two years; and secondly,
the confidence in eminent counsel to effect
their release. .,t. o
Then glance at the building furnished by
the county for the several county officers
as suitable, in all respects, perhaps, as any
that can be obtained, yet exposed in very
great degree by position and the combustiblc
nature of the material used in its construc-
ton, to any confagration that might origi-
aate at either point of the compass from its
ocality, and loss severe to the county might
be the result. Now these hasty glances at
he true state of affairs show conclusively,
md with no need of further demonstration,
what the real interests of our county, consid-,
,red in connection with its rapidly increasing
wealth and importance, demand at the hands,
If its citizens. vi .agrT
And now we revert to the substance of the
question before propounded: Where docs the
rreater interest and the greater rood demand