The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-02-18

for 5000 an inch for the perpetual right
when they had the water, $1,000 for 40
acres for o inches of water. 1t was equal
ly good tor the seller and buyer. They
are improvements that are continually
paying us back. We had better work out
some thought along this line. We can
better afford to spend 800 900 for the
many than any sum for new court house.
l think our good supervisors must have
been in some way hypnotized to give their
consent TO submit the matter of voting
$40, 900 for new court house. would
much prefer 10 appropriate four times
this amount on some line of general i'm.
provement for the benefit of the farmers
in our county that would eventually reach
us ALL Many industrious farmers in our
county and mechanics as well will never
in their natural life need or have any use
for court house. say, If we must sub
NIT to such an expenditure, do not do 1t
until you have a careful estimate OF its
cost, as it is liable to cost double by the
general method. 1t would be good com.
mencement. If we were obliged to build
new one we could build as good court
house as we will need in the ne xt 30 years,
modern and convenient but plain and sub.
s,antlal, still suitable and good enough for
all, for $25, 900, by good matured plans.
Some people of this age. yes, many, are
too extravagant surely if they are spend.
ing some one else's money. For instance:
The state capitol building at Albany, N.
Y, was commenced over 81 years ago and
was TO be of moderate cost. 1t has now
cost over 100000, 900 am told, and it is
not yet finished. The Detroit post Office
was years in building. Its site cost
$500, 900 and the building $1,100, 900. to.
tai 81 500 900. The Lansing post Office
was built in two years and cost including
the grounds $685. The Bay City post
office was built in three and half years
and cost including the grounds 1926 900.
Saginaw city hall cost $l83, 1856 furnished
complete. Please look up the figures of
the Wayne county buildings now being
built. The trouble is the men that work
themselves into the positions of guiding
this class of work are very often the right
men TO keep out of it. Careful, conserva.
tive, economical men have too much work
of their own and it is left for men that
overreach, for others to loot the bill.
My theory is this: Legslate more for
the masses. When we are TO have a pub
lie building, spend the money so that 1t
will go around to reach the masses. How
IuuCu UtItcT III WOulu Ue WITCH We DhVc III
to divide it up so that the
could be served, to spend 800. 900
IN four or five places than all in one.
say it is right to pass il around and gross
ly wrong to spend the public money with
out reaching the masses. Expenditures
for instance of the state capital at Albany.
1t could have bee built good enough and
built one hundred public buildings about
the state of New York believe it would
be the most foolish thing this county ever
did to vote $40, 600 for a new court house.
While l think our attorneys in this
county are much better than the average,
and our court one of the most economical
10 the state, with all kindness to both, we
ian well defer any such expenditure or
burden on the people for their pleasure,
for the present. am aware that the cap
talists and bankers, as well as the attOrn-
svs, will work early and late for the new
court house. These people need no APP
preparation. They will thrive anyway.
Respectfully, ID. M. EsTEY.