The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-04-25
County Seat.

Does the Leader think it wise wher
it published the article headed
"Wanted-A Dutchman." We car
assure the editors of that paper, that
the article won't help the Higginsville
cause any. The Germans, or Dutch
men, Jas some editors prefer to call
them, will vote as they think it best
whether for or against the removal OF
the county seat.
We have been amused at the various
efforts made by the HigginsvIlle papers
to mould public opinion to their views
on the removal question.
The latest attraction in that line is a
huge pictorial courthouse with lofty
spires, massive tower and flying flag,
emblazoned on IN extra circulation of
these papers. 1t seems to be a copy of
a new courthouse at Jefferson City, and
without ever having signed any obi
cation, bond or promise to build such
a courthouse at HiggInsville, these
papers are circulating this picture as
though the money to build 1t had been
pledged by good and sufficient DO nd,
already collected and burning the
pockets of the treasurer.
AhC5C 0lShltCSbdAo hS AOch "SAA
on paper, but who has eve promised
the people to erect such a structure?
The editors of the higginsville papersp
If not, whoP And if those papers
really mean to tell the people that they
will build such proposed courthouse"
where is there bondP If those editors
have so much surplus cash, then one
thing we know, and that IS, hat the
newspaper business is more lucrative in
the City of Higginsville than 1t is in
Concordia. We confess that, without
doing our family great injustice, we
could not afford to furnish paint for
the cupalo of this grand building.
1t is easy enough to borrow the cut
of some other county court house, print
it in a paper and scatter it over the
county labeled 1.-The proposed court
house at Higginsville." Thinking men
want to know who stands back of the
promise, and that the promise be put
in tangible form.
Sixty thousand dollars secured by
good bond was promised months ago.
Where is that bondP Whose names
are upon ftp How much Is the prom
Use worth without a bondP How much
with it.
The people of Cole county voted
10000 to build simply a court house,
the designs of which, we believe, the
Higginsville papers are publishing, and
it has since been learned that $50 900
is insufficient to build that court house
alone. Now the gentlemen from Hig-
ginsville require that the $50 200,
they promise to pay, is to be paid on
condition that 5000 of that amount is
to be used in purchasing the ground on
which the proposed court house is to
be erected. AS they have no Jail, from
SIS, 600 TO $40, 900 more must be taken
to build a jail. About So 900 more to
provide furniture for the buildings, and
about 1000 more would be a modest
estimate for stone walls, iron fence
around the square and in ornamental
ton. To say nothing of sewerage,
drain pipes, plumbing and steam heat.
Aggregate these amounts, which must
come out of the $780, 900 promised, and
deduct them and we have lift only
$4,000, having not figured on clerks
offices.
Do the HigginsVille papers promise
to build us a court house with S25 900,
which the people of Cole county ascer-
tanned could not be built for $50 ,000P
If they do not 80 promise, WHO is to
make up the defcitP
At the utmost, the people do not
propose to depend On ''air castles in
this serious affair. They will measure
with the eye of experience these pro-
fuse promises, In view of the fact that
otherwise they may be subjected to a
previous tax to finish up the promised
buildings.
"For which of you, intending to
build a tower, stitch not down first
and connteth the cost, whether he has
to finish ftp"