Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-09-21

No. IT.-What VIII it Cost :

Having shown, in a previous number, as
think, that the present location OF the County
Seat is the most convenient TO large majority
of the citizens of the county, in the way Of trav-
el aud business. come next to the item Of ex-
pense, and proceed TO answer the interesting
question, What csg It cost tie people Of Iora
County to purchase land aud erect such build
ings ought TO be erected in case Of change
of location But before making the figures, let
see what kind or buildings We want And
in this correction. I appfehend no one would be
satisfied with anything inferior to these now in
use, comprising court house, Jail and fire.
proof building for county officers and the safe
deposit Of records. Nothing else viii answer
the purpose and doubtless many Improvements
might De suggested as necessary, but which add
largely to the estimated exper-a For instance,
the Jail accommodations are rather limited, and
few thousand dollars expended properly would
vastly enhance the comfort of the nnfortunates
therein confined; the court room might require
some new Improvements in ventilation, and in
the capacity and style Of seats the county Off
ces would require such tire-proof vaults as they
have In other counties for preserving the books
Of the Register of Deeds and of the Treasurer
and Clerks while other Improvements would
naturally suggest themselves as in harmony with
the wealth and high standing OF old Iowa If
we have new buildings, let Us have good ones
buildings which We should not be ashamed Of,
and which would not bring disgrace upon tile
Oldest county 10 Tie state, sud make US laugh
ing stock for the travelling public-aud let them
be substantial, Of solid masonry, capable of
- Fc.,., 4 Il.
ments, which a breeze or a flame cannot wipe
out ia short night. Let US build for poster
ity rs well as ourselves and let the venerable
pile speak 10 generations vet unborn Of the no.
Bile county and the noble people who sacrificed
50 muc' Of toll and money in rearing this re-
vered monument OF their ludicous hberality
and prophetic wisdom. Then rs they sit in the
shadows which are thrown from its gIlded PIN
nacles at The close Of the weary day. shall the
virtues Of their sainted ancestors the citizens
of Iowa county = the men of IS swell up in
their hearts and impel them to an earnest emu
lation OF their great and worthy deeds
1t being settled, then, that it Is policy to erect
none but good buildings tie question follows
How much viii it take to build them Dane
county has built small court house, not larger
than tie one at Mineral Point, but somewhat SUI
perior in workmanship, at an expense of some
thirty thousand dollars, and, il addition, uses
another building for Offices. Other counties
have buildings costing from twenty to thirty
thousand dollars = and it Is safe to saw that no
building equal in accommodation and durability
to the present can be erected for less than S26-
600. The present county buildings have cost
the county not less than $4,000 OF this sum
the citizens Of Mineral Point subscribed and
paid, in addition to their share Of the tax, e., :
500 III cash. The county has paid for improve
ment. within the last five years, some So, 500
and the citizens Of Mineral Point have purchased
and put up a bell, costing 52OO. Now, these
/ are facts complied from the records of tie
county. No CO npetent architect would under
take to erect such buildings as Iowa county
needs IN a location for less than TWENTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS. Anything less than that
sum would only expose the county to disgrace
Il IS quite too g mmon practice fer public bod
les to commence building upon low estimates
which are almost invariably doubled or thrcbled
before the completion Of tile work This prac.
tice is for the benefit of Contractors, who always
find fat piekings at the public crib. And the
people will find instead of public buildings being
erected on an unreliable subscription OF g 600
they will have bill Of twice $1,000 to foot, Will
county orders at fifty cents on the dollar 1hi.
Is the invariable experience Of all counties thai
undertake that kind Of job.
But it IS too late to discuss this part of tht
subject this week, and l leave for another nun.
Der the answer to the question = WHO WILL
ROOT THE Ri