The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-09
AGAINST A COURT HOUSE.
Many OF the Most Prominent Citizens
Say May.

Yesterday the proceedings which at
tracted the most attention In the county
court was the voting down OF Judge
Grays proposition to build new court
house to take the place OF the disgrace-
ful shack that now goes by that name.
Judge Gray's plan, as presented. seemed
to be most feasible one and one which
in the judgment OF q number OF promin-
ent citizens should have met with success.
That the county Is amply able TO bear
such an expense, n divided up in pay
ments, is admitted; that the county needs
a new court house Is well known at home
and abroad. The present building Is
nothing more than a fire trap and were
1t burned down the loss OF records would
cost the citizens many thousands OF dol
lars more than a modern stone building
with ample fire proof vaults Thirty
years ago the court house in Yamhilt
county, another barn like the one In Clat-
sop county. burned and although there
were vaults in Il, yet their records were
all lost. Today litigation rs still in pro-
cess to settle title to lands. the record OF
which was consumed. Every one knows
that Al stone or brick building on modern
plans u not so liable to be consumed by
fire as an old rattrap OF barn.
But no. the county is not yet able finan-
cially to stand the expense. The follow
ing petition, signed by le influential citi-
zens and large tax payers was filed with
the court:
'aAstDria, Or, October, 1896.
To the Honorable, the County Court Of
Clatsop County. state OF Oreson.
Gentlemen: We the undersigned prop
erty owners ot C1atsop county would re-
spectfully request your honorable body
to defer levying an assessment for the
building OF q new court house until the
finances OF the county and OK Its citi-
zens are easier"
The estimates OF Judge Gray showed
that, by constructing the building In Sec
tlons, only about $4,000 In addition to the
regular assessment would have to be
raised the first year, and with the COM
p1etion OF the railroad In the near fu-
ture and the consequent Improvement In
the financial status OF all In the county.
the tax would not be O burden. But the
majority OF the county board relegated
the question to the background, where,
perhaps, as one gentleman remarked, all
other progressive .mattere might as wen
be buried.
1t is rumored in certain quarters, moro
or less we'll known and authentic. that
many OF the signers OF the protest were
not slware that they were being used as
catspaws for the gain Of others, and that
a movement IL on foot to move the court
house to Flavei Center, where a wei.
known citizen has stated that ample
grounds would be furnished and a court
house erected free OF any expense to the
county. The Same parties, It is UNDER
stood, would largely increase the value
Of holdings on the other side Of the bay
and that others might be the gamers by
acquiring title OF property now occupied
by the county buildings. These rumors
could not be run down. but whatever
may be the real plans Of the promoters
% OF the cuontys welfare, the county
should see to 1t that n her court houSe
is to be the pioneer Of = new town Il
should be one that she can De proud OF
for am fIraa To come