The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-11
WHY VOTE sI5O,OOOe
When the Plans for the New Court
House
ONLY CALL FOR $4,000 DOLLARS.

What is to Become OF That Extra
$4,000, Messrs- COmmfssiOnersz-
The Court House Bonds Now Likely
Ito BE Bought by the state
There are now good prospects for the
speedy erection of the proposed new
court house for which the people of
Shawnee county have voted S15O,0OO
bonds.
The county commissioners after the
election last fall and after the bonds had
been voted, said work on the court house
would be commenced at once and the
unemployed poor would be given an OPP
portunity to support themselves during
the winter, but they were unable to keep
this promise for the reason that they
could not sell the bonds.
The county authorized the insurance
of four per cent bonds to the amount of
$4,000; while the plans and specifica-
tions Of the proposed new building call
for an expenditure of not to exceed $685.
900, including the purchase of extra
ground, grading and changes not in the
adopted places
1t would be in order for the commits
sioners to explain why they advertised
the court house proposition on a cost
basis of $125,000 and then in fixing up
the legal proposition to be voted on so
arranged the ballots that bonds ito the
amount of $15O,O0O were voted.
The taxpayers of the county would
like to know what the commissioners
propose doing with the extra $4,000,
seeing that it will not be necessary in
the construction of the court house under
the adopted specifications.
During the winter when the ground
was covered with snow to the depth of
several feet in the mountains of Colora-
do, the commissioners took a trip to the
Colorado stone quarries, where they in
spected the stone which they propose
using in the construction of the new
county building. The commissioners
have not taken any definite steps towards
the construction of the new building,
for the very good reason as before men,
toned, that they have been unable to
dispose of the bonds.
In the low condition of the money
market, four per cent securities have not
been considered the best of property,
but there is now good prospect for the
sale of the bonds.
These bonds were offered to the state
school fund commissioners soon after the
election last fall. but the school fund
commissioners did not have sufficient I'M
invested funds at that time TO take them.
The county commissioners again called
on State Superintendent Gaines, chair
man of the school fund commissioners,
Tuesday morning, and gave notice that
d
bonds would be submitted this week to
the school fund commissioners.
Speaking of the desirabilitp of these
bonds, Secretary of State Osborn said: II
consider the Shawnee county court house
bonds as very desirable securities, not
only because Shawnee is awealthy coun-
ty but because the bonds are to run
thirty years and the 4 per cent rate of in
terest is all right. l believe that inside
of ten years the financial conditions in
this country will change SO that per
cent will be above the common rate of
interest"
1t is understood that the county COM
missioners will offer for sale the entire
issue of bonds voted at the fall election.
The bonds are already printed and if
they are purchased by the school fund
commissioners can be delivered at once.
In the meantime explanation of why
$4,000 more than is needed was voted
ought to be forthcoming from our
county commissioners. Come, gentle
men. speak up.