Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1893-01-06
Brookings Register Vel. Il No. 81
The New Court House

III the county fol a week or two
past, and not only among this
jolly class of pencil pushers has
this question been agitated, but
among the majority of the citizens
OF the county as well. Although
the Record has said nothing here
tofore, that silence does not prove
that we are not in favor of the
scheme, for we are most heartily
in favor Of this, what we term,
one Of the cheapest and most eff
clent investments the Banner
County could possibly make.
We need more room for our
county records and safe place in
which to screen them from fire.
In view of this fact, the county
commissioners have been adver-
tising for bids to build an addition
to our present building, which, we
all know, is wooden from founda-
ton to weatheryane. But, should
the commissioners see fit to go
forward with the addition, a ques-
ton they will probably determine
at their next session, they will be
doing their full duty as they see
it for the best interests of the
county, now.
On the other hand, if they were
approached by representatives of
the citizens and taxpayers of the
county and asked to hold their
decision as to the addition and
look into the plan presented in the
new building scheme, we feel GER
tain they would gladly coincide
with the latter, knowing that it
would be the best, the safest and
the cheapest.
The addition will simply be a
wart on an inadequate structure.
1t will take a goodly amount of
our taxes to pay for the repairs
and all we will have for the outlay
will be an eye-sore, an incomplete
thing and larger piece of "patch
work to feed fire.
On the other hand, again, the
new building will be large enough
for all time to come; built of brick
or stone, with steel cages covered
with brick for book vaults, etc,
will prove the only safe and reli-
able method to invest in. Then.
we will have a jail of our own, and
this of itself will in time pay for
the difference in expense between
the new building and the addition.
The present building can be
sold to the city of Brookings for
school purposes or public hall and
offices. In fact, a sale of it is
guaranteed. 1t will be far easier
for us as taxpayers to build new
than to "piece on" and then have
a clap trap for fire and lose records
and important papers after all.
The present idea is to build a
structure of which the county will
not only be proud, but one that
will fully meet the requirements
of the present time. The plan is
to bond the county for $4,000 or
$4,000 instead of voting a direct
tax. The bonding plan is feasible
and best. The increase in tax
will hardly be noticeable to the
individual taxpayer. There are a
thousand and one arguments in
favor of new and adequate build
ing. Give this your serious
thought and all right minded men
will conclude that the new build
ing will be the best, the safest and
the cheapest. To 60 on with the
addition will mean heavier and
high taxes, while bonding and
building new will be but drop in
the bucket in comparison.
Some will argue that it is a
scheme on the part of the city of
Brookings to have this new build
ing erected. 1t will show the their
city off and add to their import
ance. Such thoughts are all bosh!
The citizens of Brookings do not
enter the court house once where
those outside do a dozen times, for
that matter. But, we will admit,
the citizens of Brookings are as
anxious as any of us that the
county build substantially and for
all time to come, now that we have
an opportunity given us.
Again, our board of commits