The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-02-08
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
A Reply To Taxpayer"

A Reply TO Taxpayer"
Editor NelC North Vest
SIR: Allow me through your columns TO
reply to the communication Of "Tax Payer
which appeared In your last issue.
All public enterprises and Improvements
meet with opposition, and 1t was not to be
expected that the building Of a new court
house for this county would be an exception.
That there are many bona fde residents Of
this county, having an intelligent and un.
Iprejudiced understanding Of the matter, who
are opposed TO the erection Of o new court
house for this county, cannot admit nor
believe. There may be few like "Tsx-
Payer" living In the extreme parts Of the
county, who oppose IL; but II is possible .
correct explanation OF their opposition wouhl
show II TO be based upon prejudice.
In the discussion Of this subject, the first
question that presents itself is: does Deer
Lodge county need new court housep /
unhesitatingly answer, yes, and refer you to
the old court house for all the evidence and
argument required to support the position.
more commodious, convenient and safer
building is an imperative necessity-the
building Of which, under any circumstances,
cannot much longer be delayed. Without
single exception the Offices In the old build
ing are too small for present use, and the
arrangement Of the entire interior 10 missr-
ably inconvenient. Records Of the county
are rapidly accumulating, additional room
for which will have TO be provided without
delay. The district court room Is too small
and otherwise unsuitable, and the county
commissioners have 10 room In which 10
hold their meetings.
"Tax-Payer says, d" being 4 tax-pay
am decidedly opposed to the project" From
this It can be inferred that his opposition is
based only upon the fact of his being tax.
payer. He sees the necessity OF . better
building, but because be would probably
have 20 pay few dollars Of Its cost, he OPP
poses II. He says, "we had better be salts
fed with our old court house, which has
answered all our purposes for fifteen years,
for year or two longer" Fifteen years
ago IL was not dreamed we would have two
railroads running through the county. Your
correspondent truly observes, times have
changed materially" The log cabins of
fifteen years ago have been replaced with
,cozy cottages aud beautiful residences.
Where fifteen years ago the lands were not
considered worth locating, towns have
sprung up, showing all the evidences Of per-
nansncy aud prosperity. The population Of
our county Is rapidly increasing. On all
sides, from one end of the county to the
other, are evidences OF growth and pros
perity. We have outgrown our old court
house; IL 10 neither grand ornament to
Deer Lodge City," nor credit TO d" the ban
ner county of Montana" And why should
we await q year or two longerp" What
possible besetit or advantage can be gained
thereby? He says, "To. day finds us thirty
Thousand dollars 10 debt, and still there are
few dristocrats who want 70 override the
county with seventy i've or one hundred
thousand dollars more" Aristocrstsl Where
are they? Who are tbeyp Aristocratsl
10 NV oht ia Jul Souuhls
Your correspondent was evidently trying to
get In little hunor In bis otherwise sober
communication. He admits at would be .
grand ornament for Deer Lodge City, and
would make times lively while the building
was In operation" quite agree with him,
but am At q loss TO discover In this any
reason why IL should not be built. The
insinuation. that Deer Lodge City alone
favors this, proposition, 10 unfair, and reveals
the prejudice Of the writer. 10 the board Of
missioners the different sections Of the
county are evenly represented, and, under
stand, they are unanimous In the opinion
that better building Is an absolute neces.
sity. "Tax. Payer" opposes this project be-
cause 1t will add to the Indebtedness Of the
county. The old court house, built fifteen
or twenty years ago, will cost from one TO
two thousand dollars . year for repairs. |
The old roof, which Is now iesky and badly
will soon have TO be replaced.
The floors are worn out, The lower joists are
decsyed, and IL 10 probable, II the old hull
was closely examined II would prove unsafe
fer occupancy. The accumulation o, records
has long slass exhausted the capacity Of the
vsaits. Nee ones will have 10 be provided,
snA, ss IL 10 impossible 10 crowd the Offices
Into smaller spaces, they will have to be
buiit outside. The entire building will re-
quire painting every two or three years, but
paint will not preserve IL forever: the old
weather boards, having lasted afteen or
twenty yesrs, will soon have TO be replaced,
In case of fire the old "tipder-box' would be
consumed before The records could BE- saved.
do not believe there 10 merchant In this
county who would risk his goods In the old
house. A few. evenings since met . gentle
man who occupies an Office In the building.
lie seemed TO be In hurry. accosted him
thus: "Heilo ! what's your burrys" "oh,"
he said, III am going TO The court house to
get my overcast" "Why," said 1, .isnt
IL safe there ?" .Dont know" he returned.
'the old barn 10 lisbi. 10 burn up sny night
The building OF . new court house will |
add 70 our Indebtedness for the present. but |
he y Lopelessly blind who csnDo. see that y
viii aiunsisly prove matter 81 economy
forthe seuply. PHoehEss.