Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-02-14
{ For Tie QndsqaetoR Guardian,

a-at.-.s - $3.50
'uaa Fort1e Qndsqaetoa Guardian.
Mr.. EDrroR- Sir':,-- Having read a
communication in your paper of the 7th
inst, written by one '.Zebulon the. Cd"
endeavoring by false reasoning to Justify
the recent action of our Board of Direc-
tors, in leyying a tax for certain purposes,
! | feel impellcd, by a sense of justice to
the inhabitants of this district, to ask a
short space in your columns, that may
give a concise and correct exposition of
the whole matter. H ga, .re-
At an adjourned meeting Of this Dis
trict, in October last it was thought adj
visahle to appoint a Committee to draft a
plan for seating the lower part of the
School-House, and also toreport the prob
able expense the committee being APP
pointed, the meeting was adjourned TO the
succeeding week, at which time the com.
mitiee reported a plan and estimated the
cost of finishing and seating the lower
rooms, if done with pine lumber, after
the plan submitted, at S275,OO. The
district, after having accepted the report,
unanimously voted tax of $3.50, 90 for
finishing the house, and $500 to defray
the incidental expenses of the current
year. ;.
Now, what was the duty of the Direc-
tors in the premises !? was it to proceed
and complete the house themselves and
charge the estimated price, Or was it NOR
ally and legally, their bounden duty, as
guardians of the interests of the electors
of this district, to give public notice, that
on such day, and at such a place pro-
posals would be received for finishing
the School-H House in accordance with the
| plan proposed by the Committee, and ac-
cepted by the district? Most assuredly
every unbiased mind will reply that such
a course should have been adopted. But
let us hasten to the facts, which are SIM
| ply these-Mr. LITTLE, one of the direc-
tors, having on hand a quantity Of black
mofam lumber, of an inferior quality, di-
reefs that he will do the job with that
kind of material, and charge the district
the estimated price of having it finished
with the first quality of pine lumber.
But as an excuse for the conduct Of the
director in this particular, poor Zebulon
says ''no one could be found willing to
perform the labor for that price, mean
| ing the estimated COST Is the Koran of
Mahomet more false than this Could
his Satanic Majesty, in his palmiest days,
conjure up from the darkest recesses of
his own hellish thoughts falsehood more
maliciously foul than this {? erfectly
we'll known that there were tRa,.S in this
community who would have "leaped for
joy,' could they have procured the job
at the estimated pricc-and indeed, | am
authorized to say, and am prepared 10
prove, that there were those who had fig
ured closely upon the work, and were in
tending to throw in bids when the oppor-
tunity should be afforded, agreeing to do
the work with pine lumber understand
at price not exceeding $2oo-but this
title Director, forstalling such intentions,
performs the work himself with poor ma
terial, and charges for the same an ex-
travagantly high price. l concur fully
with Zebulon, that the office Of such
school director is one of no honor, but
that it is one of no prem I most respect
fully beg leave to dissent. Wei, let us
proceed, the work is now completed, the
black walnut has assumed the place of
pine, and claims to be regarded Of equal
worth and Importance hence, pay for
the same mustbc forthcoming assess
ment list is made out and posted in three
places, and on each is written nearly. the
words following, to wit 90 The following
is a correct list of the names of the cleo
tors of this District, together with the
amount of tax due from each, according
to the vote taken on the 9Th of October"
Now, some seoundrel foots up this list
and finds the amount to be some S543.
instead of 5425-the precise sum voted
by the district Beautiful agent, this,
Zebulon, attempting, by the grossest ras-
cality, and falsehood the most. foul, to
draw from his principal the sum of s,l19,
by the constant assurance that il is no
more than he contracted to give. Such
an agent richly deserves the execra.ion
and condemnation of every accountable
being. ~
Again, in eytenuation of the conduct Of
the directors, in taking upon themselves
this unheard-of responsibility. it is said
g The school house was under mort