The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-10-11


brandy Camp, now so universally know
as the 4" Boot Jack " four miles east 0
Ridgway. lie offered all the land (th,
county paying up the artic!e) above
named, and would give a years worl
toward the erection Of the public build
irgs.
1t is just however to state that Reu
ben Winslow Esq, agreed to promise
that in case the commissioners would
tiz upon his place at the mouth of Trout
Run, the expense Of the buildings
would be provined for, Gibson town.
ship, in Clearfeld county, was from its
isolated position in regard to lis seat of
justice very generously set off to Elk.
The township was very great in length,
extending along the valley of Benefits
Branch to the Sinncmahoning. Its
elongation in that direction did indeed
dotract from Ridgway az a geological
centre, oman cast and wost line.
Mr., Winslow, man strong in argu.
ment, with known large administrative
powers dealt heavy blows against Ridg-
way as the scat Of Justice. His fore.
sight predicted that at some future dav
another county must necessarily be
made that would take out Gibson town.
snip from Elk, and the remaining strip
OF land on the southern part of Nc
hean, and Trout Run be the most cliei.
ole place for the capital, with the com.
Portable assurance to tho Ridgway men.
that they being successful in lcgislatiog
new county into existence, they could
change the lines by taking the balance
OF Jefferson county, lying north of the
sonH line of Elk, now composing part
OF Forest. which would then make
Ridgway a more central geological DO.
sition.
This kind and wise suggestion did not
fully satisfy the Kidgway men, they
" couldn't see Ii" saw no reason wbv |
their whole programme of county line
now established by years of effort. |
hou'd be changed in order to make |
county seats for the future and the
probably took the same
view; locating the seat of Justice at
RIdgway and laid out the site for public
buildings. They also regarded it as
heir duty to secure the subscriptions
OF the erection of the public buildings.
IS also the title to the ground. As to
"em these proposals were addressed thev
ore the only competent authority to
ntorco their fulillmcnts; under this
onVlctlon of their duty they entered
lto contract with Edward Derby Esq
Or the erection of the Court House
hose plans and specifications wer, ac.
epted, as the best proposed. ,
This action on the part of the Com t
ilssloners was violently opposed by Mr.. /
'lnsIow and his son .in.law, B. Rush a
eirIken, Esq, counsellor AT law" 4
'using much discussion and warm feel K
g. The sequel proved that the Com. o
Issloners acted right. It is proper to O
entlon, without further allusion to the 7
cords, that this opposition of Mr.. J
InSlow and his conftderates to The 81
eeiy erection Of the pu6h'c 6uiHlinqs
'nld by delay give opportunity to ap. ty ty
for "new commission from the in
sglSlature and Courts by the election W.
the county commissioners at the next
!! to choosing such as would keep cy,
ythlng IN abayance "till something
ould turn up" to the advantage Of H
out Hun at the tall and first election
county officers. The commissioners co
asen were VIM. Reuben Winslow. an al
In Brooks and Chauncey Brockway; hi
frothonotary, W. j. B Andrews p
for Sheriff, Eusebias Kincaid. Tn mC me-
casting lots for the term of office sty
commIssi ners, Wm. Brockway drew wi
three years, Mr.. Brooks for two
rs and Mr. Winsiow for one year.
c office of commissioner gave Mr.. L
nsIo" an opportunity for mischief, sal "a
every delay that could be invented -.
INST the completion of the public y
Idings, by Withholding funds and
erwIse, was his resort until the G
rts had to be applied to; but in the ~
Mr. Winslow had to acknowledge 7
self beaten. His kind action and
humor under defeat was an atone. will
It for the obstinacy and pertinacious
nor he I'D on,Juo4.l ~ q ~