Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-12-06
For a New Court House.

Mr.. Editor I'm reference to the buildi ng
OF new Court House, there seems to be a
very great difference of opinion as to the
need of the improvement. Some persons
think the present structure is good enough
others think that the building of new
Court House is good idea and that its con-
summation would be very desirable, but
that this is no time to talk of the county
engaging in new enterprises which would
entail an increase of taxation upon a COM
munity with whom the pressure is now
| greater than the agricultural interests seem
able to sustain; but still others believe that
the improvement should be made and that
now is as good time as any to make it,
and the latter are undoubtedly inspired by
the more intelligent and progressive view
when the whole circumstances are taken
into consideration.
The great obstacle to all public improve
ment is the idea that prevails so wide and
far in every community, that any expendi-
ture of money for such purposes reflects
greater burden upon the tax payer than is
offset by any accruing advantage from the
Improvement, and if this were true it would
be an intelligent and wel-grounded objec-
ton and should have the effect to prevent
such expenditure until the necessity for the
improvement was recognized by all persons
interested. But it cannot be conceded that
such position is unquestionably correct,
for when carefully considered it may as
sumo different aspect. To those who
think that the present Court House is good
enough, l shall state, with all due respect for
their opinions, that they labor under grave
Misrepresentation of the facts. The Court
House is not good enough in any reasona-
BILE aspect of the case 1t lis not good enough
in view of the safety of the invaluable re-
cords in the office of the Clerk of the Court.
And this view of the matter is way beyond
the importance bestowed upon it by any
casual consideration of the subject for if
these records were destroyed by fire or
otherwise it would be impossible to dupli-
cate them or renew them, and their
absence would entail expensive legislation
and bad feeling enough to make many
citizen OF the county wish that he had long
since raised his voice and exerted his influ-
ence in favor of building new Court
House in place of the insecure, unwholc-
some and un slightly old structure. 1t not
good enough in point Of ventilation and
facilities and the comfort of the Court Bar,
juries and county officials who are com
PEELED to transact business within its walls;
and as all are liable to be required to per-
form these duties, it becomes in this view a
matter of personal interest to every man in
the county. The present discolored and
damp condition of the walls of the Court
room amply illustrate the unwholesome CON
dition OF the building. And the last reason
for its replacement is that its unsightly and
old fashioned appearance is an unquestion-
able drawback to the progress and welfare
of the county 1t makes an unfavorable
impression upon every stranger of any
means and taste who enters the county
seat, and its appearance viewed by passen-
gers in the passing railway trains is well
calculated to throw a damper over any en-
thusasm which might be excited in their
minds by the more prepossessing features of
the county and county seat, and cause them
to think that there can not be much enter
prise in county which, being only nine
teen miles from the Capital of the United
States, would submit to transact business in
such an old barn rather than stir them
selves to the end of raising an imposing
building that would be credit to them, and
comport favorably with their geographical
position and the times.
The average tax payer rests under an i'm
perfect impression OF the facts with regard
to the increase in his taxes, for though the
improvement would undoubtedly have to
be paid for by the people, the increase in
our tax bills would be so very small that it
would seem like nothing when viewed by
the light of the great object which it had
great that it would enhance the value of
every farm in the county out of all proper
ton with the increase in the taxes. IL must
be taken into consideration that the money
for the improvement would not be raised
by direct levy, but by bonds issued by the
county, expiring at periods appropriate to
the financial condition of the county, and
that provision Of law would be made for the
payment OF the interest, and their final re-
demption in manner to tighten the pressure
upon the tax payer in every way possible.
Finally, it is mistaken economy to set our
faces against any reasonable public improve
ment which is calculated to make more fa-
vorable impression upon persons comingIinto
cur county than they would receive in the
absence of such improvements The IN
reasonable dread which people have Of any
increase in their taxes and other expenses
is the greatest drawback to their prosperity
and thrift, personally and publicly, that can
be considered, because it makes us afraid to
advance, and the law of this life is advance
or fall back, we cannot stand still.
A TAX PAYER.