Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1868-09-23
COMMUNICATED

inGs seems to have been forgotten by the
people Of Juniata, if we are to judge from
the columns of our county papers, where
the subject for some time past has been
entirely ignored
The first important thing for the tax
payers to know, is, whether we are to have
new public buildings? To this inquiry
the answer is that there will be no new
public buildings iu this county, unless
majNity Of the voters should be in favor
of removal to PerryssilIe. IF Mifiiiu-
town should receive a majority of the
votes, then We will have no new buildings.
The irs, Section Of the Act of Assembly
prvhrs "that the qualified voters of Ju-
nuta county, on the 18th day of October,
1858 vote for or against the remoUat OF
tn. c4,n.y seat from Mifilintown 10 Per-
rysvile," and further provides how the
tckes shall be printed and voted aud re-
turn tade OF the election.
SErIoN 8 Provides IF the majority
of ths votes polled shall Re against re-
nova, then it shall not be lawful for the
Commissioners named in this Act to 10
cate the county buildings at Perrysville.
but he county seat of Juniata county to
be and remain at Mifllntown, where it
nov is, but in case a majority Of the votes
poned shall be be for removal, then the
county seat of Juniata shall be located at
Perrysville"
SECTION 4 Provides in case of removal
for the selection of five Commissioners to
select the site for the court house and Jail,
aud 10 have deeds OF conveyance, free Of
expense, to the county for the same.
SECTION Provides tha. as soon as the
deed for the grounds are placed in the
hands of the Commissioners, and after the
expiration Of five years from the passage
by two successive grand juries, they shall
proceed, without unnecessary delay, to
erect all the required county buildings on
the site selected the Court House to be
built of brick, with the necessary fire.
proof rooms for the safe keeping Of the
records, aud large enough 10 accommodate
the growing wants of the county.
We have quoted the above Section in
full, in order that the people can see that
new buildings are to be erected only IN
case Of removal. In case the pc >p'e arc
against removal, then the buildings re.
maiu just as they are, for the Commission
ers are not authorized by law to enlarge,
improve or alter the old buildings, aud un
less authorized by law the Commissioners
have no more right to enlarge or improve
the county buildings than any other citi-
zen, aud were they to do SO without
authority of law they would be trespasser,
and could be made pay damages even for
Improvements.
SECTION s Provides "that the County
Commissioners be restrained and prohib
tied from enlarging and improving the
buildings at Miffiintown, unless a MAORI.
ty Of the votes shall be against removal. y
Taxpayers will observe that this Section
does not give the Commissioners power t,
enlarge or improve. 1t tprevents anything
being done before the election, but does
not say that the Commissioners shall en-
large aud improve after the election. \
careful examination of the Act will con.
vince everybody that it means nc,c Jnai
iags for Parys0iUe-old buildings 70,
Mitfiin
As this Act of Assembly does not
authorize new buildings to be erected al
Mifiln in case majority are against re.
moval, it may be asked thea how can they
get new buildings at Miffiin? We say
never, unless two grand jurie5 in success
ion recommend it, and the Court of Quar-.
ter Sessions approve it. Such is the law
and can be found in Purdon's Digest, page
173. 1t Was passed 18th April, 1884
and apples to every county in the State
As the grand juries come from all part.
Of the county, represent all the interest.
Of the county, and the sentiments of the
people. it is not at all probable that two
grand ;ure: in succession would recon-
mend such measure for tho next twenty.
FIVE years to come.
If then we intend to vote to erect new
buildings at Perrysville, it is prudent to
count the cost before we begin. The Act
Of Assembly says the Court House mus,
be built of brick, with fre-proof vaults,