Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-02-24
The Court House Question.

The Court House Question.
We publish to-day another communica-
ton from an advocate Of the removal Of
the court house. This ct er does not give
the information we invited the advocates
of the measure to lay before the readers of
the TIMES, concerning the probable cost
of the change, and the extent of liability
the tax payers will incur in favoring it.
1t is undoubtedly necessary that reliable
information bearing upon that point be
given to those who must bear the burden
of such measure, before they can be ex-
pected to sign petitions to have it submit
ted to 80 uncertain an arbitration as a
popular election in Charles county. In
the absence of such information, and a
carefully digested plan of effecting the
measure, our advice to the readers of the
TINES is to sign neither OF the petitions
now in circulation If the advocates of
the measure-and it has many earnest and
some interested advocates have not suffi-
ciently thought over the practical accom-
plishment of it and the expense thereof as
to give the taxpayers accvrate and relia-
BILE information upon that point, it would
be we'll perhaps to give them two years
longer to mature their plans. We think
under all the circumstances this would be
the wiser course, and for this purpose it
would be the duty of all tax payers to
sign the petition opposing the submission
of the question.
We do not think that it can be well dis
puted that new and modern court house
at an eligible point on the railroad such
as La Plata appears to be, with thrifty and
progressive surroundings, and free from
evidences of delapidation and neglect,
such as are seen in Port Tobacco, would
be great advantage to the county, and
tend to the promotion of the moterial in
terests of every section of it. Such a
change would conduce appreciably to the
encouragement Of immigration to our
county, and the development of its natur
al resources. The appearance ofthe coun-
ty seat is said to be always a controlling
feature with agricultural settlers. We
have an example in our sister comfy of
Prince Georges Of a new and handsome
court house being erected in order to keep
pace with the times, although they had
much better temple of justice before than
we now have. And in Montgomery coun-
ty they now have in contemplation the
erection of a new court house. 1t must
be admitted, however, that both of these
counties are far more wealthy than our
own; and that the advantages of mmigra-
tien have already been to considerable
extent realized in both Of them.
We do not see any force in the sugges-
ton of our Hill Top correspondent last
week tot the effect tina, there is no assur-
ance that our railroad will be permanent
thing. Our county has already donated
very large fund to this road, and we must
make up our minds that this must be held
on to at all events. II would be singu
lar step of r.taogression to build rail-
road into so large and naturally produc-
tive a peninsular as ours and then aban
don -. We believe that it is clear to the
minds of the far thinking projectors of
this road that in quarter of century
from the present time, when, in the very
nature of things, this COUNTY viii be pop
ulated with thrifty agricultural popula-
ton, additional trains will be required to
do the work of this road. The Southern
Maryland road instead Of operating to he
prejudice of our road will be great adj
vantage to it. 1t will operate as a feeder
to it, and the profits thus resulting will of
course enure to the benefit of all portions
OF the road-that south of Brandywine as
well as above it. We think it is obvious,
too, that La Plata is decidedly the most
eligible point On the railroad, because it
is more central than any other point. /
will furnish easier access to the people
of Nanjemoy: than any other point on the
road and be only three miles further than
Port Tobacco. and it will be more conye-
nient to people of all other sections Of the
county. excep ing perhaps the Cobb Neck
section. Conceding then the advantages
that would result from the change and the
eligibility of the proposed site, still the
important facts remain to be met: What
will be the cost of the measure, and are
we able to undertake i. at PRESENT. Be-
fore the tax paoers of the county can be
reasonably asked to favor such measure
they ought to know exactly, or atleast APP
proximately, how much the annual levy
will be increased in order to meet the an
nual interest on the debt to be incurred in
the erection of the new buildings, and for
small sinking fund for its gradual ex-
tinction. They should also have assur-
ance that some responsible financial officer
will be provided by tn. law as the custo-
dian and disburser of this fund. and that
the possibility of defalcation and the mis-
appropriation of such funds will be effec-
tually provided against.
It will be in order for the advocates of
the measure to give US some information
on these points and in the meantime we
advise our readers to sign no petition up
on the question, or if they sign any prefer
the one against the measure. 1t is very
desirable that no precipitate action be ia
ken upon such an important matter, and
it would no doubt be better if the consid-
Grafton of this question be postponed for
two years longer. In that time we could
see whether the exemption of mortgages
from taxation will be dispensed with by
the Legislature, and our county revenues