Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1867-01-29
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

The length Of the Proceedings of the
Board Of SUPERVISORS deprived US of the oY-
portunity of commenting upon them in our
last issue. Several matters Of special inter.
est to the county were acted upon in a man
ner which must NEE, the appreciation Of our
citizens.
Tho organization Of the Board does not
furm the occasion Of as much interest as is
usually the case IN such Eastern States rs
have adopted the Supervisor system, although
the working efficiency Of the Board must
depend very much upon it. Mr.. Campbell,
the experienced aud discreet member from
Washington township, was elected chairman.
The few Democrats on the Board certainly
ought to have been satisfied in political
sense with the composition Of the standing
committees appointed by Mr.. Campbell, since
four of the ten committees have Democratic
chairmen.
Questions Of general interest, relating to
Bridges, Poor Farm, Soldiers Monument,
ana laXeS, were acted upon.
A large bridge fund having been raised
thanks to the overwhelming majority in
favor of it in Washington township its dis.
posal became question of great Importance
to the people Of the county. The Wapse
divides the county, and unbridged, always
presents serious obstruction to intercom.
munication. Since the food Of 1865, only
one bridge has spanned the river within the
limits Of the county. An appropriation was
last year made for bridge at Quasqueton,
but it is not yet built, although the contrac.
has been let and the work is in progress.
By the action Of the Board, the building Of
additional bridges at Lit,leton, Fairbank
and in Perry township has been secured,
thus insuring three bridges across the main
trunk Of the Wnpsie and two across its
branches. This action will bring the north
western townships practically nearer to &
market at Jesup, besides rendering the river
generally cypher in the obstruction Of
communications east and west. The small.
er appropriations we're all very necessary for
the public convenience, and will render mar.
keting possible at all seasons of the year.
Good roads and good bridges are absolutely
essential to continued prosperity, and our
road interests. cannot receive too much atten-
tion.
The Board appointed committee to as,
certain the best location for Poor Farm,
and If expedient, to purchase the Farm to
report at the June session. From the com.
position Of the committee (Msssrs. Dickey,
Kent and Brintnall) we are led to believe
that judicious selection will be made, and
that the folly of Black Hawk county in se-
lecting three town lots for "poor .Jarm,"
will not be repeated here.
No action Of the Board will be more gen.
orally commended than it appropriation Of
$500 for the Soldiers Monument. This
enterprise speaks directly to the better nature
Of every patriotic citizen, and he would be
possessed Of remarkable hardihood indeed
who should declaim against il. Republics
may be ungrateful, but Buchanan county is
not, as will be in measure demonstrated By
its support Of the movement for the erection
Of monument to our fallen heroes.
The question Of back taxes, uncollec,ed
for years previous to 1864, was considered
BY the Board, and resolution adopted re-
funding all accumulated interest except IL
per cent. on the county tax. The Board
we're not authorized to act upon other funds.
This will be q partial relief 70 all concerned
and very just relief to those who we're un.
~ittingly delinquent.
The Agricultural Society asked Of the
Board an appropriation to assist in the pur-
chase Of grounds, but in view of extensive
appropriations for other purposes, it was
deemed best to defer action until the June
session. We believe the request was regard.
ed favorably by the members ofthe Board, and
as the funds will not be required by the So.
ciety until after the June session, the action
of the Board should not be regarded as an
tagonistic.
There has seldom been more important
session Of the Board, and its legislation can.
not fail to meet the appreciation Of the peo-
pie in nearly every particular.