The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-08-06


wksss, whore court houses are built, where
IN amount LEES than block Of ground l. ap.
pfopriated for this purpose.
have sincere respect FOL. Judge Boyles,
and am ready to award him,due credit for his
efficient and economical administration Of
our county affairs, but would remind him
that there is such thing ~ carrying ecoho-
my too far, and thus rendering ourselves lia-
Bile to the charge Of being niggardly. Such it
strikes me, is the "trade and dioker'' policy
agreed upon BY the Mayor and the County
Judge, and now only awaiting TIE action Of
the Council to become binding.
am aware that the present condition Of
the county treasury, in Consequence Of the
revulsion, will be urged M reason for using
the closest economy but these causes are
temporary, and should not have an undue
weight in deciding question which Affects
the interest Of not only the preesnt inhabi-
tants of Keokuk but Of the generations that
are to succeed us. could mention counties
almost on the frontier Of our State that
have recently erected court houses costing
in one instance at least That occurs to my
mind = $45, 900, which contain not third Of
our population; the buildings being beauti-
full in their finish aud ,-decos1tioas, and an
enduring monument to the enterprise, en-
larged public spirit, and to the sagacity Of
the County Judges who projected and bull.
them.
Are we able to do what have prop osed ?
Let us see.
Tho assessed value of the property Of Lee
county for the years 1857 and 1858, is 49,.
l59,467.
Of which Jackson Township pays 81.
2s0,l34.
All the balance OF Lee county pays $4,-
$40, 1898.
As the city of Keokuk comprises nearly
the whole Of Jackson township, it follows
that the city Of Keokuk pays nearly two.
thirds Of all the State and County taxes as.
sessed upon the citizens Of Lee county.
The ratio Of taxation for State, County
and School purposes, (oxclusive OF the.tax to
pay interest on the county bonds issued te
the ralroads,) is As cents on one hundred
dollars, Of which amount the city of Ksokul
pays for the years 1857 and 1858 over SIXTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS.
| Now, fellow citizens, suppose that small
portion Of this sum we're to be set aside fol-
the purpose Of erecting court house fol-
your use, and that the taxes upon all tn,
property in the county be increased for thi,
special purpose, say one mill on the dollar
which would produce some ST., 900 per an
mum, it would take but few years to &c
compllsh the object.
! We have no public square within q mil,
of the river, and a square occupied with nj
buildings except court house and Jail, 6llet
with shrubery and trees, and enclosed Will
a massive iron fence, is the very least ",
should be satisfied with.
We lave in this matter of courts AM
court houses been dealt with very illiberally
on the part Of our Fort Madison friends
Through their influence We were required to
pay the rent OF rooms for the use OF tn,
District Court, while their fine cour. hous
was erected at the expense Of the people o
the whole county, and now we are Gale,
upon to accede to terms still more onerous
The question again recurs, ought you to d
it? win you have your court house an
Jail on fine open square, or will you sticl
them on Forty Sir Feet Eight Inchesa
/ VERITAS.