The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-07-15
THE COZ Rr HOUSE.
Communication from. the Com
missi0neas.

To the Citizens and Tda PAYERS Of
Portage County:
The undersigned beg leave to ask
your confederation of some matters in
connection with the cafe keeping of
the Public Records; also to additional
room for the transaction of the neces-
sary public business of your county.
Your present Court House has been
built over fifty years. 1t was we'll
built, substantial building, and has an
swered the needs of the public for the
many years up to the present. But the
q ,cumulation of Records, Bool and
Papers, which must necessarily be pre-
served, have 40 filled up the various
Officer, that the present unoccupied
space Is entirely Inadequate for the
transaction of business. Especially is
it necessary that larger Treasurer's
office and Grand Jury room be pro-
vided, where Tax payers and those
obliged to serve on Juries may be more
comfortable while having to attend on
these duties. A larger Treasurer's Of
flee so that more than one can receive
taxes at the same time aud not neces-
state those from distant parts of the
county to remain here all day and
longer to have an Opportu.
nifty to pay taxes. But that which is
of still greater importance to every
property owner is q fire-proof building
where your Records of Deeds. Mort
cages, Leases, &C., where Court Rec
ords, Judgments, DEGREES and Parti-
tions, where Wills, Records and Set.
tlement of Estates may be safe from
destruction by fire. The destruction
of these Records, which are the evil
dences of title to every foot of property
in the county, would be serious. Your
present building is not fire proof. But
little apprehension is felt from outside
danger, but the interior being in part
wood, there is danger from internal
fire.
The present structure is we'll built
and we believe the Court Room is
thought to be of sufficient size and
very well adapted for the needs of the
county. 1t is our opinion, therefore,
that it is best to let the present struc-,
ture remain, (making some changes in
the offices ON the first floor), and to
build, either an addition at the south
end, or q separate building fronting on
north and south street-making the
same entirely fire proof and of suffi-
cient size to have the most important
Records stored therein. The statutes
only authorize IN expenditure not ex-
ceeding Ten thousand dollars, without
. vote of the people for this purpose.
We feel satisfled that this amount is
Insufficient to construct the necessary
fire proof building herein suggested.
A levy of II mills ON every dollar of
taxable property as appears upon the
present tax duplicate, will raise about
$24 600 in round numbers, aud we are
of opinion that about this sum will be
necessary. This will amount to every
tax payer who has 81. 900 of property
valuation on duplicate, to the sum f
$l.5O only. We feel sure you will not,
when you fully understand the needs
herein presented, feel this additional
tax to be a great burden. With the
view, therefore, of asking an express
sion of the voters at the coming Octo-
Der election, we urgently invite your
thoughtful consideration of this mat
ter, and when you are at the county
seat take time to inspect the present
building and be prepared for yourself
and help your ighbors to give an in
telligent expression as to what seems
to be a public necessity.
Respectfully submitted,
tffif3 PC. NICHOLS, IL
WsElt - EDGAR WHlTTLSEY,
A. B. MERRILL,
Commissioners.