The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-03-27
A Statement From the Co minis
sicnerS.

MAkCh lotS.
To the people of LOrain County:
The question as to the propriety Of build =
ing q new courthouse Is to be submitted to
you for decision at the annual election to be
held on the 7th day Of April next. In re-
sponse to inquiries from numerous sources,
for information in regard to the matter, We
herewith present statement of some facts
for your consideration:
As to the cost Of the proposed building,
we will say that we have taken every means
to inform ourselves that suggested itself as
practicable, and believe we can state the
outside limit of the expenditure necessary
very closely. We haye examined court
houses In Youngstown, Mansfield, GAINESVILLE
Coshocton and Newark-the original plans,
specifications and estimates of such build
ings, as well as the final cost thereof. We
have consulted builders and architects of the
highest standing in their profession, and
have ourselves made an estimate based upon
the present prices OF labor and the materials
that will enter into the construction of the
proposed building, and relying upon t he in
formation thus acquired we say that in our
opinion suitable building can be erected for
sum not exceeding SIS 900. We believe it
can he done for SIS 900 and all our plans and
estimates have been upon that basis. II the
building is authorized, we shall feel bound
| to keep within the highest figure named, and
no plan will be adopted or contract made de-
manding the expenditure Of any greater
sum.
As to the taxation necessary to meet the
proposed expenditure, we say, there is now
in the building and other funds in the treas
| ury, $4,000 in excess of present demands
that may be appropriated to the building of
q courthouse If the people direct it. This
| would leave not to exceed SS5,0OO to be
raised by taxation. The valuations on the
present duplicate aggregate the sum Of
$l7, $3.50, ,597. This is likely to be increased
the coming year, but upon that basis 1t is
safe to say, the levy of a mill would produce
the sum OF $17, 500. Two years levy would
ut that rate raise SIS, 900. But 1t will not be
necessary to Increase the levies to the extent
of one mill, for the reason that in the pres
ent levy there is included four-tenths of a
mill for building funds. This would leave
the increased levy necessary, but six-tenths
of o mill. or sixty cents upon each thousand
dollars valuation, or six cents on each one
hundred dollars. Every taxpayer can take
his last receipt and make his own computa-
tion-that Is find out how much it will cost
him.
We are fully convinced of the necessity OF
the proposed improvement, and we have
come to this conclusion, by the consideration
of the facts of the case, that are within the
reach Of every taxpayer.
The present building is too small in which
to transact the public business, Not a room
in it is large enough. The material of which
1t is composed is old and decayed. Tc
enlarge or repair it, SO as to adapt it to the
wants Of the present is impossible. Money
spent upon it with such object in view would
be simply thrown away.
/ The volumes of the records of deeds ant
proceedings of the courts, already fill thu
vanlts provided for their safe keeping. TIL,
most important fact of all, we think. is, tina
there is no safe place in which to preserv,
the records containing the evidence Of the ii
tie to all of the real property Of the county
The value Of these records to the people o.
the county, cannot be estimated, and thei
destruction would entail a loss compared
with which, the cost of a courthouse woult
sink to insignificance. That there is DANCE
in this quarter, Is evidenced by the publ,
alarm respecting it which has come to ou
. attention. At the October term, A. D. 1878
of the Court Of Common Pleas, the grant
jury Of the county, after considering tn,
matter, made the following report:
1--WE, the Grand Jury, this October term o.
, the Court of Common Pleas, in and for tn,
county of Lorain, Ohio, after having exam
ined the offices and vaults in which the rec
, ords Of deeds and proceedings of the cour
are kept find the same wholly insufficient anG
: unsafe and would recommend the County
, Commissioners to take immediate steps tC
build q courthouse in this county.
G. W. HEMENwAY, Wellington,
, A. SAGE, Huntir gton,
F. Z. GRIFFIN, Amherst,
H. BARRows, Avon,
A. BEEBE, JR., Elyria,
G. A. VAN CLEEF. Wellington,
s. G. MCMILLAN, Black River,
HENRY MERrHE, Amherst,
NJ. ]. BEAMAN, Elyria,
G. j CLARK, Pittsheld,
Ed. HANCE, Eaton,
FL. KING, Black Kiver,
c. POWERS, Russia,
. s. Moon. Avon,
GEO. WHITNEY, LaGrange."
The same opinion seems generally to pre-
vail among the property-owners Of the coun