Omaha daily bee., 1888-11-21
TIE CLIY HILL LOCaIION.

J
south side of town and signs himself
jefferson Square, has ventured to air
his views on the city hall question
through the Herald, and makes the as
sertion that the location of the city
hall on upper Farnam was brought
about by crooked work through merce-
nary means. If this man had not
sneaked behind the screen of an as
sumed name we should call him an I'M
mitigated liar.
There was nothing crooked or UNDER
handed about the selection of the cor
ner of Eighteenth and Farnam for a
city hall site. The grounds were secured
by the city in exchange for whatever
claim it may have had to the title of the
old courthouse grounds, corner of
Sixteenth and Farnam, which is
now covered by Mr.. PaXton's
magnificent block. The county,
through its attorney, General Gown,
asserted that the city had no title what
ever in the old court house. If had it
could only maintain it in a long-drawn
suit leading to the supreme court.
The county commissioners comprom-
ised with the city council by an ex-
change in which the city was given as
much ground on the corner of Eighteenth
and Farnam as it had claimed on the
the disputed court house ground.
When this compact was entered into, it
was understood by all parties that the
corner of Eighteenth and Farnam
would be reserved for a city hall build
ing. The site was regarded equally as
good as the corner two blocks below for
the use Of city officers, and
for the public it vas con-
sidered as more desirable, because a
city hall opposite the court house would
be most convenient for taxpayers, and
for all parties who are compelled to
consult both city and county records.
At the time this compact was made
between the. city and county nobody
thought Of Jefferson square for n city
hall, and nobody dared to charge crook
edness upon either the city or county
officials.
When the proposition to build the
city hall on that location was submitted
to the citizens of Omaha at the election
l hCio III ~NoNOliDOis iOoDt ~ "uo III
by a vote of over three thousand two
hundred in favor, and only one hundred
and fifty against the proposition. That
was practically q unanimous endorse
ment. Why didn't Mr.. Jefferson
Square," whoever. he may be, come to
the front then and make his charges
of fraud, collision Or crookedness2
What has happened since that time to
justify any man in making such a
charge? Since 1885, more than a million
and a half has been expended in mag
n~ifcent buildings and improvements
between Fifteenth and Eighteenth
streets on the strength Of the city-hall
location. Is it fair and reasonable
to unsettle values and damage
the men who have had the
courage and enterprise to con-
struct these costly blocks for the
, sake of satisfying the mercenaries who
want to put the city hall on wheels Tor
| speculative ends? Why should people
who have staked all they have and all
they can borrow in constructing build
Jugs that would be a credit TO any city
be compelled to enter into q
fight over the city hall location
at the ballot box. Why should the
council be encouraged in continuing
the policy OF bad faith to the people
who have fixed the location and voted
bonds for a building which should have
peer completed by this timer