The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-07-25
. CHAPTER OF MISTAKES.

The MINER tells US that Commits
sioner Jack, at an earlier stage of the
proceedings, estimated the cost efthe
buildings at about $50, 0 and GER
tainly not to exceed $4,000. This
was the general understanding. At
| the close of the calendar year, a bal
ance of So, OO0 was reported in the
| county treasury, and when the con-
struction of q court house and Jail
was mooted, the people supposed
there was money enough on hand to
pay the entire cost. The ground was
purchased with that understanding,
and the work of laying the founda-
ton entered upon. Now the fact is
made known that the original esti-
mate is inadequate-t that the work
will cost nearly double what it was
supposed it would, and that money
must be borrowed to complete it.
Here is where cause for blame ex-
lists. Commissioner Jack and his as
sociate commissioners, in acting for
the people, should have accurately
informed themselves of the cost
OF the undertaking. and
had the warrent Of the com
munity, expressed through the news
papers and other ways, for the out
lay. But they seemed to have acted
with reprehensible looseness. The
ground was bought, the foundation
started, and a good share af the ma
terial contracted for, before the dis
covery was made that the money
in the treasury would not hold out.
Then a loan of $4,000 was resolv.
ed upon, and sealed proposals for the
sale Of county bonds to that amount
was advertised for. Then the discov-
cry was made that this was an IN
aud illegal mode of pro-
ceedlng; that the law required that
IN election be held and authority
given at the polls before the commits
could bind the county to the
payment of the debt.-Anter Noun
tain. July 10th.
Here il a very plain statement of
very plain facts "A recital of chap
ter of mistakes which may we'll raise
doubts in the minds of the tax
payers of the county as to the compe-
Iency of abe commissioners to dis
intelligently the duties of
heir positions. If they do not prove
incompetency they show at
least "reprehensible loeseness"
directing the building of
he court house. And if they
have shown "reprehensible loose
ness' in the early stages of the con-
'truction Of the building it becomes
! pertinent inquiry whether they
will not show more "reprehensible
oossness" before it is completed.
What guarantee have the people
hat they will not be called upon to
1ote another 100000 loan before the
treat structure ~ be finished? It
Gems the commissioners started out
build q court house and Jail to
,ost $50, 900 or $75. 900 at the outside.
Had they adopted plans for building
t which would not have called for a
anger sum than that above named
lot a word of complaint would have
,een uttered at the cost. But they
ound they were mistaken, they
nade a wrong calculation. Fifty
thousand dollars have been dropped
nd still the building scarcely ap-
'ears above the ground.
Now they want to borrow 500, 900
0 20 on with the work. If the same
mistake be made in the future, if the
anne "reprehensible j0ossness" be
it is extremely doubtful
whether $10O, 900, if it be voted, will
uffice to complete the work. If not
be people will be asked to vote an
Their loan, and the same argument
hat is now made, that is, having
ommenced the building it would be
etter to finish it lin order to save
taste and expense" will be urged in
ts favor. In view of these possibll-
lies we submit if it were not better
D nip this thing in the bud right
ow. The taxpayers want a rest, a
reathing spell, an opportunity to
,ok around and see where they are
ding to land. and if they find the
oast is clear and the prospect ahead
bright they may feel in better hui
lor, if not feel better able to COM
lete this monument to folly. But
on'task them to do it now. "Finis"
hould be written after the chapter
f mistakes we have recorded above.