, 1875-06-13

The controversy between the City an
County Governments as to the choice O
architects for the new City aud Count
buildings still progresses The Commo,
Council have chosen EoAS and Tu1E7; tn
County Board have chosen BcnLHo, EoAy
and KARLs. The county insists on havius
three architects, and the Council on harins
two. No compromise seems possible. It is
to be regretted that the controversy does no,
turn upon the question of the ability of thl
architects The Council does not thinl
that the compensation il large enough
to be divided among three; ane
the county insists that at least three
natlonalities shall ba represented in the
architecture. Tu1Ey's plan foz the entire
building is, We suppose, the most generally
liked that is, it is approved as compared
with all others. But, then, EaAN has plan,
and SO has each Of all the other architects,
and the appointees have to decide on the
plan Of the future building. Altogether the
business is in an unworthy and unsavory
legion OF e1pectaat contractors and others,
urging their special farorite.
In the meantime the season is passing
AWAY. Materials, labor, nnd money are a1l
cheaper at this time than they have been for
years. The foundations for the building
might Ill be laid this year, and with great
economy Of expenditure.
The city has no availnb1e funds; the ooun-
ty has authority to borrow. County bonds
can now be sold at q premium. In view of
the financia1 condition Of the city, it would
be good stroke Of policy to build the entire
building in the nano Of the county, and haro
the city nominally rent such portions as it
may mead OF the new building. Substan-
italy the constituency Of the City Govern
nent is the same as that Of the county. In
he matter Of taxation to pay the county
sebts, the city is the county in the proper
ion of seven to one.
But in the way of this proposition is the
act that the City Government would be ex-
:luded from the manipulations of the business.
The expenditure of several millions OF dol
ars IS not an everyday event Il that |
mount of money is to be expended without
ny control BY the Aldermen, Of what profit
J it to be an Alderman? Hence, there are
no distinct political organizations, called
overnnents, claiming an interest in regu-
ting the expenditure Of this money, each
aying its own dependents and followers to
= quartered on the public.
The building ought to be begun The city
not authorized to borrow, and it has no
oney. It has, however, property for which
has no use, from which it draws no reve-
le, and which is withheld from ta1atioa-
ae best thing the city can do is to sell of
its unpro0active real estate. Let it consult
til the Illinois Central and other railroads as
the sale of part Of the lake front Il the
ilroads will now pay the $500, 900 for quit
i'm deed from the city, and agree that tho
operty shall be taxable, then let the city re-
snish its exhausted Treasury. Let it sell ,
the rest Of the real estate for which
has no use let it get out of the market IS
(aily borrower, and go on with the Court :.
'usc this year to the extent Of laying the foun-
lions Of the building. Next year, relieved of :
apornry em5arrassments, small tar can
levied for the further prosecution Of the :
rk, and thus gradually put up and finish =
8 building, which ought not to be erected
rapidly. It will be O better and a
onger edifce if five Jears be occupied in
lding it than # it is put up in half that
"a. Let the city do something towards I
lverting the real estate into money and :
, taxable property.