Fergus County argus., 1890-03-13
COURT HOUSE.
The County Commissioners Have Decided to
Build One in Lewis stown.
Safety of County Records and Great Saving
in Rentals Induces the Board
to Act
N TmE INTEREST oF TANPAYERs.

BY concert of action, secured by the or
ganization of the Lew stown board Of trade.
the feasibility desira bility and advantages
to he gained by taxpayers 10y the erection
of ii court house in Fergus county. together
with plans and specifications for a Slo.o 900
building, were presented last Meek 10y the
committee on ways and means To the com
missioners for their inspection, and re
suited ia favorable action on their part. a.
will be seen in the proceedings published in
/ this ISSUE.
| by a provision in the state constitution
/ the commissioners are y, rmitted Ia eNpend
/ not to exceed 5000 for any one purpose.
/ With this in view the board uf trade had
| plans aud specifications drawn for theerec-
/ tion oi Il building approXimatins this sum,
and to guard against leakage had a. careful
examination made by "a committee com
| posed of competent mechanic, before sub
mitting them {" the commissioners. This
committee reported that the plans called
| for the expenditure of every cent oi the
amount allowed 10y law, yet believed il
could be built for the sum stated. Ia the
event that the accepted bid should exceed
/ Slo,ooo. "a committee was appointed to
solicit subscriptions to make up the de
iicency, resulting in the plr,lsinI by citizens
/ oi Lew istown of about II 900.
! la pr -cnting th. matter to the board Of
commissioners they were informed of the
fact that the plans aud specifications were
| paid inr 10y the citizens sI Lcwistown; that
( ia the event Of he building costing more
I than they were authorized To- appropriate
they had recourse to II 500 pledged, which
would be put ia such shape as to he sub
/ jet Ia their order. Ii Was shown that in
/ eight or ten years the rents paid by the
county would build the court house; that
ds now situated, the records are liable to
destruction by fire at any moment in
which event every property yhoider would he
put to the expense of IA second recording,
! the aggregate cost Of which would build the
court house manv times over.
The commissioners took the matter un-
der consideration. and after thoroughly
discussing the subject arrived at the con
clusion that it was to the best interests of
the county to approve the plans and take
the necessary steps to insure the erection
of the building at as early date AZ pos
sibe
The plans as approved, call for the erec
tion of a three-story brick building. Iox7o,
with stone foundation. The first lloor is
arranged for Jail cells. sheriff and deputy
-heriff's offices and jailor's room. Ceiling
| to be 10 feet The second iloor is arranged
for all county offices; sizes of rosm- to be
| in proportion to needs of each; ceiling
feet. with iire-proof vault extending from
the first iloor. cemented in the center Of
| the building, and opening into the county
clerks, trsasurers and sheriff offices. the
third floor is arranged for "A court room
3sxi3, with ceiling AZ lcet; two jury
rooms an, judges library room. with cell
ing Ia feet.
such II structure will supply the needs of
the county for yeats to come, aud whom
more room is needed additions can be made
at reasonable expense, without detract-
ing fruIa the outward appearance .f the
building.