The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-11-04
The Court House Matter.

In the erection Of public buildings il
may be urged with some force, that the
peoples money is usually too lavishly ex.
pended for the purpose of accomplishing
the desired end. Yet as u general rule,
it will BIO found advisable and in the
interest of economy in the end that when
public or any other structure which is
to be permanent one is to be built, it
be built not only in u substantial but
ornamental manner. even il the actual
cost is trihe more than may be barely
necessary to meet The object. In relation
to public structures and the time for
erecting them, it seems to US that the
only question which first ought to be
considered is. docs tho necessity for the
same exist, and secondly, what kind of
building in respect to material, size
and convenience il is best TO erect, When
the first of these questions is settled, the
duty of the public is plainly indicated,
and to disregard the same is to do an
injustice to every one in the community.
1t seems that this ia the very position
that the people Of Addison county are
now 10, 10 respect to tho erection of q
new court house at Middlebury.
That the necessity exists is not denied
by any man who knows tho condition Of
the present building and the needs of
the county. Judge PierpOint says, in
substance, that our present building is
sadly deficient in those requisites of ven.
tilation and convenience which court
house should possess, This he stated
before the members of the House of
Representatives from this county to
whom was referred the bill which was
introduced providing for the building of
new court house, aud which is now
pending before said committee. Others
who know the condition of the present
bull ding, corroborate the judges states
ment. The bill now pending in the leg.
islature provides that new court house
be built at Middlebury, at cost not to
exceed the sum Of thirty thousand dol.
lars. That tax Of nine cents on the
dollar on the grand lists of the years
1877, rs, 10 and so respectively be
laid for the accomplishment Of this pur.
pose. This tax for year, would raise
the requisite sum, providing the grand
list remained as it now is, at the sum of
sol, 10000, This aggregate tax OF thir.
ty.six cents on the dollar will, as it has
been Iascertained, construct building So
4S, three stories high with French roof
and outside brick walls. II it is thought
best to leave of the third story and make
the sDuilding smaller, no doubt it could
be done for n sum not exceeding $685..
600, and seven cents ou dollar for four
years on the grand list Of the county
would raise a sufficient sum for the same.
Notwithstanding the small tax which
is required, there however exists, among
the present representatives, very com.
mendable feeling that thoy would like to
have their constituents express them.
selves, before they vote tax on them
for this purpose. L. would plainly be
unjust TO vote tax for this object, unless
the towns or the men best capable ofjudg.
ing in the town and who are tax payers,
should feel the necessity OF new build.
ing. And we hope the several constitu.
tencies Of our Representatives will make
it special object to discuss the matter
and convey their ideas to their respec.
tive representatives, so that at the ad.
journed meeting Of the county which
meets at Montpelier next Thursday eve.
ming we may have fair expression Of the
thought of the county on the question.