Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-03-07
Mower County Court House.

Mower County Court House.
Mr.. EDITOR:-llaving read a few arti-
Giles Of late in the Rrrord of Grand
Meadow, am little surprised at the
course that paper and its correspondent
takes. Of course it is fixed fact that
the county seat Of this county is at Aus
tin, and there it is likely to remain. And
furthermore, it is a fact that county pub
lie buildings are needed. The question
then arises what kind of a building is best
adapted to the uses Of the county? No
one can deny that building was need
cd. There had been one built for the
purpose which was entirely inadequate,
and which had became so dilapidated
that a large concoursc of people could
not assemble there in safety. and the
county would have to go to the expense
of hiring a hall if any case of importance
should come up for trial. and then it was
hard to get a hall suitable for the pur-
pose. Besides there was not room in the
old building for preserving the valuable
records of the county, and which are fast
accommodating from year to year. There
tv that is not more or less interested in
the safe keeping of the records. hence all
should willingly pay their mite toward
erecting a suitable building TO contain
them, where they would not be a prey to
vermin, leaky roofs, and in danger from
fire. Then, granting the necessity for
erecting an editice for this purpose, is it
not much better. while doing so. to build
one that will be large enough for all
practical purposes for many years to
come: This house is not for us only but
it is for the use and benefit Of future gen
rrationS. The more substantial it is built
the better it will answer the purpose for
which it is intended as Il court room and
to preserve the county records.
1t seems to me that any one who has
ever taken Il thought about ii ought to
know that the public buildings of a coun
ty or state are an index to the prosperity
and culture of its inhabitants, as much
school buildings and churches are an in
dcX to the culture and taste of the inhab
itants Of a city. People from distance
are called to our county-Scat to attend to
business connected with the county Off
ccs and otherwise. They view with adj
miration a splendid building. showing
SIZE. strength. and apacity for the pur-
poses for which it was intended. and
showing beauty and skill in its architect
ural design. \ stranger is at once inn
pressed with the fact that where such
buildings are erected, there must be a cul
tivatcd taste among the people, with
wealth and prosperity to back them, and
Il good society, with fine lands and farms
ON which to dwell. "a land flowing with
milk and honey" in which it must be
pleasant to live. And they 90 home and
sing its praises and many are attracted
hithrrward. Men Of wealth. culture and
enterprise are induced to cast their lot
among us, and our lands are improved,
better buildings erected, general improve
1nent IS the offspring, and all parties are
benefited; and those who are dissatisfied
can sell out and go to land where they
hold courts in duy-o and keep the
records in a sod shanty. am astonishcd
that man as we'll educated as Woman"
seems to be, should take such view Of
the subject. Would it be any better if
the building was in Frankfort or Grand
Meadow? Would it be any easier or
cheaper to build a good house there than
at Austin7 Would it be any easier to
reach it? cannot think so. Austin Is
quite easy of access, and as soon as the
east and west road is changed to pass
through that place, l cannot see why it
will not be as easy of access as any other
part of the county. Let us, then, all
unite together, and checrfully pay the
small pittance necessary to build good,
substantial, handsome building, that Will
be the pride, not Of Austin alone, but Of
the whole county, and not pay any atten-
ton to a few disappointed Office seekers,
and chronic grumblers, who think all the
grapes they cannot reach are at the best
but poor and sour. NOMEN.