Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-08-22
We were at Austin last Tuesday and

We were at Austin last Tuesday anj
discovered that almost everybody that
had brick houses were snoring them up
Since the collapse of the Basford block a
genuine panic seems to prevail. The old
cour, house and Wilkins addition to the
same, is on the point of falling, to all
appearances, and the county officers have
left it like rats from /; sinking ship.
There was also Il report that soft brick in
the inner walls of the new court house
were cracking and liable to be crushed
from their own weight and let tliat noble
looking structure tumble in before it is
completed. The air seems filled with who
knows which block will tumble and kill
II score or two next. We almost held
our hand over our head to prevent Il
brickbat striking it from some topping
Dlock.-ielsoy Independent.
The truth is bad enough, Captain. In
addition to the Basford block, there have
never been but two other brick buildings
which the people have had any fears of
falling. One of these was the old court
house. and the other, tho Richards block,
which is now being taken down by the
owners, Mcssrs. Shaw and Hall. No
other buildings are being 'shorcd up"
or taken down, and We have yet to hear
of the least feeling Of insecurity by the
occupants or owners of any other brick
building in town. The report about the
cracking of the inner walls of the new
court house, is the mcrcst bosll The in
side and outside walls OF the new county
building are heavy, strong and firm, and
we are assured by those who ought to
know that there is not crack in any one
of them. Tie persons who started this
scnscless rumor probably belong to that
class Of croakers who opposed the build
ing of the new courthouse on the ground
that the old iilarit'ated one was good
enough for Mower county. The lives of
our county officials were Of no account
TO them, and the county records, the
great value Of which cannot be estimated
in dollars and cents, needed no fire pro-
lection! We believe the time is near
when these same men will rise up and
thank the county commissioners who com.
menccd and carried to completion a
county building which for strength, safe
~, beauty and symmetry is not at present
cQualled in the state All this has been
accomplished by the very wiscst of man
agcmcnt The entire property, including
grounds, grading and furn isling of the
building, will not probably cost exceed
ing SIS, 00O, and it will be paid for, with
out burdeniny the county with bonds,
and heavy interest charge thereon for
a score or more of years. This point
should be we'll considered by every tax
payer. The curse of debt is interest. A
$4,000 house paid for is much cheaper
than $50, 900 house covered will. per
cent. bonds running only 90 years. Be
sides being cheaper, We get more than
twice as good building in the one that
is paid for. The accomplishment of all
this is due to the wisdom and foresight
of our County Commissioners who started
sinking fund for court house purposes
several years ago, and kept adding to it
year by year until nearly enough money
has been accumulated in this way to pay
for a new county building which should be
the joy and pride OF every citizen OF the
county for the next fifty years.