The Forrest City times., 1898-10-28
Judge John S. r. Cowan.


years will retire from off ce and be
succeeded by Judge Geo. p. Taylor,
who war elected ut the late Sep
TENDER election to that position.
Judge Cowan has made noble
record-one of which any man
might well feel proud-and in re
firing from the position, he carries
wuh him the respect and high
esteem Of his constituents.
The Times will not attempt a
review of his administration, nor
enumerate all of his wise, cour-
ageous and thoroughly business
like official acts. They largely
predominant. In fact he has made
fewer mistakes than most men do
in their daily vocations, and we
are sure that largo majority OF
his constituents will agree with us
in tho statement that his admins
tration has been of an extraordi-
nariIy Impartial and progressive
character, distinguished by its evil
dent sincerely and the utmost in
tegrily.
We believe that he has ever
been governed by tho purest and
most unselfish Of motives IN his
official acts, and always did tina,
which he conscientiously believed
to be right and for the best inter
ests of the whole people, regard
less of his personal or political in.
Iterests.
The Times IS not a man or a
hero worshiper, nor yesa fulsomc
fiatterer, yet none admire more
than we true nobility Of character,
simple honesty, and unpretendlng
courage, and we are always glad
10 have an occasion, and it is our
duty, TO refer to the commendable
deeds of public men.
!. Judge Cowan has made the
/ best County snd Probate Judge
this county has had within our
knowledge. He has under most
nnfuvorable circumstances, kept
down expenses and carefully
guarded the interests of the county,
and at the same time provided
every necessity.
/ In the matter of roads and
'.bridges We quote from Judge
ICowan's recent message to the
;Quorum court. He states the case
correctly and clearly, and deserves
great credit for the admirable
manner in which hel has managed
this branch ofthe county's business:
"In the last several years the
bridges of the county have been
increased more than 100 per cent.
or double, while our revenue has
not correspondence increased. In
fact, until the past year the rev.
enue shows decrease. Therefore
with the limited revenues at our
command. which is inadequate, it
has been impossible to comply with
many demands for bridge work
and at the same time to have due
regard for the financial.ability of
the county. To have let out con-
tracts for the demands for bridge
work would only have resulted in
dooding the county with scrip and
would have caused further dopres-
lion OF our already deprecated
county warrants, and which, / be-
'leve you will agree, would neither
De q safe nor q sound financial
policy, and would entail additional
burdens on the taxpayers. When
The road tax amendment TO our
constitution, recently voted upon,
Becomes operative, then the county
can get full dollars worth OF
work tor a dollar in county war;
rants, because then bridges can be
let and built on strict cash basis,
which Will result in q saving of
many thousands of dollars to the
lax payers Of the county.
"At three places where long and
expensive bridges were demanded,
.hree small and comparatively in
expensive'boats were placed. The
bridges would have cost not less
than $500. The boats $3.50. In
he main the bridges have been
kept in a safe condition"
Judge Cowan has, during his ad
ministratioP, refunded the out
standing 6 per cent bonds with 5
per cent bonds, saving the county
IN interes, e6ffIfY ard ;,