The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-29
A NEW COURT
HOUSE NEEDED
The Way Provided for Its Immediate
Construction.
THE DELINQUENT TAX LIST
win Furnish the Cash for Handsome
Building Adequate 10 the Ne
Ccssities
lie DELINQUENT TAX LIST

Clatsup county needs nov court
house ClntSop county can have new
courthouse without lts costing the tax
payers one dollar ~ extra money
The old shack standing al the corner
Of Commercial and sth streets, known
as the county courthouse, Is an eye
sore TO every citizen Of Astoria, and
brings the blush Of shame 10 the cheek
Of every resident IN the county having
business with the various departments.
An old house TO begin with, lily adapt
ed to the requirements Of the public
business. Il has long since been entirely
too small FOR the accommodation OF
the various officers and has been more
like barn than a courthouse The
court room Is small, poorly ventilated,
badly lighted. and only an excuse for
rooms are worse the county assessor
ls Gagged up In a dry goods box the
county Judge has only single room
for ONCE and courtroom combined. and
the sheriff IL crowded into two small
compartments about the size OF a
stateroom on river steamer. The
recorder IL sadly In need OF adequate
and well lighted Rnterooms for the ac-
commodRtion Of the public. as well as
his own clerks The county clerks Of
nee. one Of the most important TO the
public, is small and lily adapted to it,
purposes. There IL not sufficient vault
room In which 90 keep from danger
important county records nor is there
sufficient room In which 20 walt upon
the public. The clerks are huddled to-
gothcr In a small space behind the
counter In the one general room. and
are constantly interrupted In their work
by the incoming and outgoing OF the
public They should have separate
room where they could not be annoyed.
The whole building is q disgrace to the
community.
The question II what can be- done 10
remedy such a state Of Affairs which all
recognize as great detriment TO the
city and the county Upon the eve OF
Clatsop's phenomenal development now
about 10 be realized. this question be-
comes one of double Importance, In in
vestigating the matter yesterday an
Astorian representative interviewed the
Hon. c. W Fulton upon the subject
NV,. Nn h., h.a 80 Lee.
in favor OF the project OF a new court
house. and believed that he saw way
In which IL could be secured:
This county should have a new court
house, The present one Is not only
wholly inadequate. but is n disgrace to
the community We cannot AFFORD.
however. at this time 10 levy an addi-
tional tax for this purpose. | propose
that we insist upon the immediate col
lection OF the delinquent taxes due the
and devote the receipts there
from to the construction OF a court
house. In round numbers there are
$40, OO0 In delinquent taxes due the COun-
ty, Some Of this amount Is represent
ed by real estate bid In by the county
but worth far more than the tax. I
would suggest that the former owners
be given n few weeks within which to
repurohase the property, by paying the
taxes. interest and costs. II they fail
10 take advantage OF the offer, then
sell the property for the best obtainable
prices, and give warranty deeds so that
there will be no difficulty in securing
purchasers, | believe that fully $4,000
can be realized from the delinquent tax
getic0lly pushed, The truth is. the
public has little idea of the number
and character OF the delinquent tax
debtors. In many cases doubt not.
the owners themselves are unaware of
the existence Of unpaid taxes against
their property. Until the present coun-
ty clerk made a list of the delinquents,
II was practically impossible for the
average citizen to get any information
on the subject.
II believe that the fact of this fund
being devoted to the proposed improve
ment would cause most delinauents to
come forward and promptly pay up, l
am glad that the Astorian Is taking
hold Of this matter, and hope to see
every newspaper and citizen of the
county get into line and aid In making
It a success. BY all means, let us have
a new courthouse and let us build 1t
with the proceeds of the delinquent tax
list"