Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-09-25
Judge McQuin's Letter.


to take care of himself, | thought il
was right that they should enjoy the
sport without interference from out
siders. Mr.. Brumficld having to
his own satisfaction silenced the
batteries IN his front comes To the
and OF Mr.. Frasher and pours a
broadSide into what he pleased 10
term the McGinnis administration
of the county court, whatever that
may mem, and tells us that what
the NeacS says of Mr. Frasher be.
ing member OF the county court
when the greater part of the debt
was made he knOlcS az as not COR
rect and also states that the debt
commenced in 1882. Having been
Il member of the county court from
January list 1881 to January Ist 1887
and having been elected its Presi-
dent each year and having signed
every draft that was made upon the
Sheriff, and every bond that was
issued, l think | ought to know
something OF the amount of the debt.
both hen came into office and
when my term expired. Now we
will go back TO 1880, that being the
last year of the old courts existence.
Having business in court I attended
the last term and being satisfied that
a great debt had been contracted
within few years | moved the
court that committee be appointed
to investigate and report full and
complete statement Of the financial
affairs of the county and every Dist.
thereof in all matters except those
pertaining to public schools. b. c.
Howell was appointed that commit.
tee. think Mr., Brumfield was in
the court room at the time and ex.
pressed his approval of the same.
The committee made report on
the first Monday in January 1851.
which was received, ordered to be
spread upon the record and five
hundred copies printed in pamphlet
form. A copy is now before me and
shows that on the 3Ist day OF De
cemher 1850 there was debt made
and contracted for against the sew
eral districts G: the county amount.
ing 10 $27,9oS.o4, which you will
see comes within Jess than one
hundred dollars of the amount of
bonds issued against the districts.
This deot then was made and did ex
list previous TO 1851, instead of be-
ginning in 1882, as stated BY Mr..
Hrui,a n alI -, HE ~D,,,,,-,..,: - -
the ADVANCE of the 9TH inst. How
he could have been led into such an
error III dates is passing strange.
The report also shows that there
was then due OF would be due on
the first day OF une 1851 $II, 500. II
and no provisions to meet it as the
levies of future years had been heav.
lily drawn on. In Butler il
was $40, $3.50 and as it afterward
appeared over SO 900 mose contract.
ed for in that district which would
take levy of fifty cents on each
500 year for six years to pay out
and during that time we would not
have had money enough to buy
plank for culvert. To illustrate the
situation | will give one instance: A
bridge across Toms creek had been
carried away. Nh. G. w. Fergu-
son was enquired of as 10 what he
would rebuild it for; he replied
that he would buill it for so much
cash; but not for any price and take
his pay in district orders. The court
then concluded that the only course
was to raise money on bonds to
meet what was due, put the debt off
from five to ten years and go on with
the improy emcnts that had been
commenced. The first issue of $t2..
500 was made to met the amount
and pay the first coupons which
would be due before we could real.
lze anything from the levy Of 1851.
For the same reason it became nee
essary to issue 81 $ 500 in 1882. Elk
cept 81 600 on Butler and So 900 on
Ceredo, the first issue was what is
known as Five-Tens, that is they
could he paid at any time after FIVE
year but a forced collection could
not be made until the expiration Of
ten years, if the interest was
promptly paid. They have yet two
years to ran.
The second issue is Ten Tween
lies and have yet twelve years to
run; but may be paid at any time
after 1902.
The authority upon which the
court acted is found in sections %
and 2G Of the road law. which may
be easily seen, as most Of the road
surveyors have been furnished with
a copy Of the law. But it is said the
bonds are unconstitutional. / think
that they are no more 50 than any
other kind Of debt, as the word bond
appears but once in the financial ar.
Icle OF the Constitution and then i'm
relation 20 bonds issued previous 20
us adoption. If the old court had a
right to create q debt by issuing Ger.
uhcates Of Indebtedness, the new
court surely had a right TO issue
bonds TO meet it, when it became
due. As TO who composed tie old
court when the debt was made, /
am not inquiring. Ny object IS to
show that the debt as it now stands.
with the exception Of about 1900.
was made before I came into Office
in 1881 aud for tyhieh tho ,to,., 60,