The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-03-27
ITO be Contin,sed.)
A NEW COURT HOUSE.


Time is pressing us to decision of
the question of new court house, jail
and sherif's quarters Competent build
ers have, after thorough investigation
Of the old court house, decided that
money spent in repairs would be USE
less waste; that the building would not
be worth, when done, the cost of the re-
pairs. The facts are the site is bad, the
foundations are insufficient, the con-
struction is faulty, the building is unsafe,
and the jail quarters has been condemn
ed by the State Board of Charities and
Reform as barbarously unfit for the Lur-
pose.
If Kenosha county were united with
Racine county, and the two counties
made one, as they once were, and ought
to be now, we should not have to build
new court house. The division of Ra-
cine county was fraud on the people.
With combined territory smaller than
the average Of other counties in the state,
the citizens of Kenosha and Racine
counties are compelled to support two
crops Of tax-eaters- county officers -and
are taxed to build and maintain two
court houses, two jails and sheriffs'
quarters, and two sets of county Offices
and incidental expenses of running them
And we must bear the burden of this in
creased taxation year after year as long
as time endures.
If the taxpayers were afforded the OF.
portunity, they would quickly decide to
make the two counties one, and rid
themselves of an onerous tax which now
they must pay, and their children after
them even to the ten thousandth genera
ton. To bring about the union of the
two counties would require determined
leader, thorough organization and money
Where is the leaderf Where is the rank
and fileP Who viii furnish the sinews oil
war; The prospect for the consumma-
ton of the union of the two counties
looks dark. have turned the clouds
over, and inside out, and I can find no
silver lining. The philosophers say there
is a silver lining to every dark cloud,
but this will have to be recorded as an
exception to the general rule.
And if the two counties cannot be
united, we may as well settle right down
to the business of building q new court
house. AS long as we live in Kenosha
county, let us cherish a patriotic pride
for it. We ought to build court house
that for its qualities, style and appear
ance will be creditable to the county. 1t
will be the chief county building. To
the stranger and visitor it will be an ey-
preston of our character, our thrift, our
enterprise, our ambition. Nations and
peoples are judged by their buildings.
/ would build of brick and iron and stone.
Build for the centuries. Command the
best skill of the architect, and shape the
brick and stone in fair proportions. To
our children five hundred years hence
let it speak of beauty and endurance,
and let them praise us for our work. Do
not let feeling Of jealousy toward Ke-
nosha pinch on the cost of q public build-
ing that ought to be our pride. Ifitwill
add to the prosperity of Kenosha let us
be glad. It will be Of just as much BEN
eft to US. If Kenosha were doubled in
size and in its industries and trade it
would enhance the value of every acre
of our farms.
1.-THE cost of the building be distributed
over period of three to five years, it
cannot be very burdensome. Racine
has fine, stately, substantial court
house. II is pleasure to see it. 1t is
q credit to the enterprise of the people.
1t speaks plainly of their ambition and
public spirit. And who can fail to see
that the value of property in Racine
county is enhanced to the full extent of
the cost of this fine public building? A
court house we must have. There is no
escape from the necessity. Let us build
70 that we shall feel no misgivings in
eaying our work to the criticism Of flu
,ure generations. r. r. RoHERrs