Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-03-23
Communicated
Ar Eianhanf

An Elephant.
twill he remembered by many citizens
OF Napoleon and throughout the county
that when the old Board of Commission.
ers suggested the idea of heating the Sher.
ifs residence. Jail and Court House with
steam, there were grave misgivings as tc
| to whether il would he practical, on ac-
count of the location of the grounds, to
place the furnace or heating power under
the residence. And even if it proved to be
that all thoughts of doing so should be
abandoned on account of the large differ
ence in the expense to the tax payers OF
the county, not only in the price to be
paid for the heating fixtures, but in the
enormous expense to be incurred from
year to year tor coal and engineer to run
the machinery.
The writer OF this well remembers meet
ing the board of commissioners at regu-
lar session and there entering his protest
against tine purchase, using as an argu-
ment against it that it would be much
cheaper for the county to use coal stoves
at present. That when the county was out
of debt and had grown rich, and could af-
ford to spend large amount otmoney ev-
cry year for those luxuries, it would then
be time to make the change to steam and
build an engine house OIL the southeast
corner of the lot, where it would not dis
troy the efficiency of the Sheriff's residence
as it has done, besides saving over S6, 900
which has been uselessly expended. But
they frankly said no, the steam was up
and that was an end on it. So the contract
was let to Shaw, Kendall & Co. for $5,703,
and am reliably informed that they have
used this mild winter 200 tons of soft coal
at a cost of $3.50 per ton, or 1920 worth,
besides the expense Of an engineer. And
it is considered in an ordinary cold winter
it will require at least three tons Of coal or
more to run one day. To this add the cost
of one day and one night engineer to keep
the elephant in fodder. Now to sum up
and approximate the expense. Steam will
have to be kept up continually from Oct. l
to April l, six months, $50 days, at three
tons per day, $40 tons, and between April
and Oct. cold and damp weather will re-
quire at least 60 tons more, total 800 tons "a
"a go per ton, 80, ,760, add to this the cost of
two engineers for the winter and one for
the summer, and the cost of heating the
will not fall much below 81. 900
per annum. With coal stoves 80 ton ofI
hard coal at cost of 1920 would by careful
estimate be ample for one year.
Now. fellow tax payers, the present
board of commissioners have this elephant
On hand. What is best to do with it? Go
down to the Hooking Valley and buy
tract of coal lands and construct a narrow
yague railroad to the bank, or use little
mother wit and dispose of it as soon as
possible and adopt hard coal stoves !? But
hen should our present board OF commiss-
toner's, after carefully considering the mat
ter, find that it would be a very large saw
ng to the county to make the change and
incur the additional expense, they would
ind trouble in attempting to make the
;hange at this late date, as there are only
,hImneyS in four rooms of the Court
House. Tie walls would have to be cut
md four more chi mneys added. For this
yery wise piece of architecture we are un-
ler lasting obligations to Mr.. Gibbs, of
Toledo, who has so carefully looked after
he interests ofthe tax payers our coun-
y. We had the pleasure of being shown
through the Sheriff's residence bv our
worthy Sheriff, and ifany citizen will take
he trouble to call and see how the Sheriff
nd his family are compelled to live, thew
will add their testimony that with the fur
lace in the basement it is unfit for dwell
ng. The cloud of soft coal dust which is
ontinuallv rising and penetrating every
Dom in the building and settling down
Ike black pail, covering everything it
ouches thicker than heavy frost on an
october morning, injuring and damaging
within the walls, and how Mrs
'aum, annoyed as she is with the dust
an have pleasant smile for all her friends [
more than we can solve.
And now, in conclusion, we will venture
lis prediction: That if the wealtbiest
'rmer in the county, or even that ener- :,
etic firm Of Woke Bros, should manage Q =
leir private business as has been that Of f
10 county, they would burst higher than g
ilderoys kite inside offive years, without d
ealth enough left to buy pou nd of cof- b
e. More anon. RICE LIEI