West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-01-26
FROM JAMES D. BENSON.
PORTLAND. w. Va Jan

PORTLAND w. VA. Jan, %,
Editor Argus:
| am not subscriber to your
paper, although l would like TO be;
but | cannot see much chance for
poor men to spend money Dow-a-
days, as it keeps US busy to get
money enough to support our fam
lies and pay our taxes. 1t would
be gratifying TO me TO know If We
are always to be wronged out Of our
money. It appears TO me that JUS
tee could be reached II prov erly
ooked alter. l will give the tex
payers OF this district an idea oil the
mauer IN which our money is used.
la the fret place | wish IL under
stood that | DO not write this for the
psrpose OF makihg any personal
h'ugs, bu, for the purpose OF show
ing the tax PAYERS few facts which
will reveal TO them some of the ways
IN which their money is used facts
which we are able to show by the
proof OF a great mum Der of our most
respectable citizens.
o. tue 10Th OF December. 1877 our
Board oil Education proposed TO give
the contract, for the erection OF
school building ia Portland, TO tie
lowest responsible bidder.
The 10Th OF Decsm der came and
what was done2 Inc Board met.
opened the Dlds, aud posi- oued the
selling OF ne contract until the
18th day oil January, 1878 TOE 18th
lay of January came, snd what WA
doue2 Two members oil ,he Board
met, opened The bds, aud postponed
ne sale until January the l9un l8.
rs. The 10Th day OF January came,
aud what was done2 The Board
anne to n conclusion TINS time, and
awarded the building OF the nous
o DAVID A Freelaud ~ $3.50. Nov
what wish to brlug before The
minds of the tax payers Is tins:
Inere were other bids under that.
My ewn bld was $2,099. / asked
the Board the privilege OF asking
question, which Was very courteous
grated, ard asked, what is
wrong witu my bondH They rrtns.d
to answer the question. also asked,
do you think ! cannot give good
oond2 Answered Oy saying Lneie
could be no objections to the bond
Now tax payers, you see there 81,
some $2ol % hooI money ! hat your
children are wroug5d out ell
can substanuate ali tins by
many wisuesses. Why do they not
give }hsir reasons for tins acton
Do they funk | would not bnid
good bouse2 | can but refer them to
many OF the om citizens OF p es,oh
county who have known me for the
last thirty-hve years. Did they
mink was not capable OF dong IA
Job OF ths kind? Have any o you
ever hnown me to put up any bulld
ings IN TINS county, and II 50 did you
ever know me 10 do bad job2
Mr.. Freeland is nice mar, as
everybody who is acquainted with
nlm Will admit; but l know, and -
do many others, that am Just az re.
sponsible workman on building as
Mr.. Freeland.
Now taxpayers, had the Board
the right to give the building of the
house to higher bidder, when they
say that my bond was good? Ii so,
what was the use of sale? Is this
the way our little children are to be
wronged Of money which should
serve to further their education? II
my bond WAS good, what would it
have been whether | had built a
good house or net? When the house
would have been completed they
would have been under no obli-
cations to have taken 1t off nv hands
IT IT would not, a been good job.
Mr. Editor. please fnd room IN
your columns for tins. so the lax
payers get their eyes open, go to
work and See that they get their
own, for il this kind oil business IL
carried on for lew years we will
soon lose all hold or hopel
l should like 10 have Another dues-
ton answered Is there any Jaw
authorizing the Board of Education
to use the schooI building fund Tor
the purpose of building town halls?
If so | should like 10 know II, Tor It
IS the intention OF the Bard this
distrct TO use the upper story Of the
proposed building Tor all pubic pur
poses. Are you gong to stand this
tax payers?
Most respectlnlIv vonra