Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1881-03-19
SATURDAY, MARCH 10 1881.
THE BONDS.

AS will be seen in another column of
this issue the county commissioners
have called upon the taxpayers of the
county to say whether we shall have
bonds, with which to fund the indebted
ness, build a courthouse and Jail. and a
road to Battle River, or not. The ques-
ton hat will arise in the minds of the
taxpayers is, which will be to our In
tcrest? Is it to our interest TO vote
these bonds? We answer most en-.
phatically, yes! that it is the du an
to the interest of every individual tax
payer, and We are one Of these, ia vote
for these bonds, aud right here we pre-.
diet that they will be carried by q large
vote. We make this prediction on our
knowledge Of the intelligence Of the
voters of Custer county. They are not
men who cannot read, think and reason,
and are able TO use their " Judgment
in this case. There il not one among
them that will vote either yes or 40 be-
cause someone tells them this or that Is
right, but will Immediately ask the ques-
ton, why is it SO? AS We have made
the statement that it IS to the taxpayers
interest to vote for them we shall en-
deavor to give in this issue one reason
Of the many we have for making such a
statement: We will figure on the main
item of expense, courthouse and jill.
What i, our scrip worth to-day? The
answer comes from the Deadw God quo
tation of the price p'id for Custer coun-
ty scrip, fifty cents. Consequently moth
ing is furnished the county that Ne do
not Rave to pay for at the rate of two for
one. The commissioners are ordered 10
build a Jail, and this they will have to
do this We have interviewed
several parties who have erected iails liz
Nebraska and other states during the
last two years, and they assert that II
good Jail, one that would last as long as
iron and brick will stand, can not be
built for less than $1,000 or IS, cash.
The Jail built in Sidney not long ago
cost $1,000, but is a larger building than
would be necessary in this county. We
will put the price at $1,000 cash, which
If built and paid for under the present
order of things would cost the county
$4,000, and a Jail would be all that We
have to show for it. If we vote the
bonds and give our commissioners the
money to work with what will be the
result? The taxpayers Will pay $4,000
and not only have a Jail, but county
Offices and a court room, thus paying
$1,000 less for the whole than we would
have to pay for the Jail alone. Besides
the $1,000 saved on the first outlay we
are now paying $500 per year rent for
county Offices, and there is no doubt in
our mind but that rents will be twice
that amount before another 6 months
passes. BY building the courthouse in
connection with the Jail we thus save
$1,000 per year that will otherwise be
thrown away by being paid out for rent.
Suppose we vote no bonds, build the
Jail, and pay rent for the next ten years,
what will it cost the taxpayers? And
the answer is $14 900 for a Jail and $l0,-
600 for rent, making the enormous sum
Of $24 ZOO. What will we have to show
for this amount, q Jail worth 81 ZOO
To build this Jail alone, without bonds
will necessitate a levy of 3 per cen,
putting the assessed valuation a,
100000. The anti bond man holds
up his hands in holy horror am
exclaims, Look at the int rest on thu
$4,000! it amounts to $4,000. Suppose
it does. We have shown that by no
voting the bonds we will have to pay
$4,000, and have only a 5000 Jail t
show for it, thereby losing $1,000
81, 1000 more than the interest. On til,
other hand we will have a road which
will give at least forty families who now
have to travel 40 or 30 miles, access Il
the county seat by travelling 20, fund or
outstanding indebtedness, and have /
ME
courthouse and Jail. Is this not a gooe
and sufficient reason for voting tn,
bonds? There are many more rs gooc
or Det..or, put IL Yrs Tss4@ M, kgse.no
the time or space to say more. Oul
Buffalo Gap correspondent, rs viii b,
seen, takes a sensible view Of the bond,
for the courthouse and Jail, and fundin.
the Indebtedness, bat We think he is {
little jealous of the Battle River road
Our advice in this respect is for ".Vox'
to be liberal with them, for, as he says
Buffalo Gap needs a road, and you mus
remember the Golden Rule, do unto
others as you would be done by" if you
wish to facilitate matters.