Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-10-20
COURT HOUSE.
A Plain. Business Proposition.

n TIdlll, SIiObOoitlOus
Ithaca has All at once concluded that
Il new court house is a necessity. Why
this sudden impulse on the part OF Its
citizens can only be guessed, but the real
fact would seem TO be that they think 1t
wise TO build Holr TO prevent a change Ill
the seat of government Certainly not
because the county is III need OF new
court house, since the fact is that the
present building fairly meets the wants
OF our people. That new court house
IN time Will be needed is not TO be
doubted but that IL must be built now
Is but creature Of the imagination.
To test the sincerity of our neighbOrs
delegation of Alma citizens appeared
before the board Of supervisors last Fri
day 10y appointment and submitted Il
proposition IN substance, Offering suit
able site in this village and 100000
i'll cash TO construct a court house, pro-
Vided the county seat was removed to
this place. The proposition was made
in full faith and Is an open and standing
offer to the people of this county for ac-
Coptance. AS a counter proposition from
Ithaca II is understood they desire the
board of supervisors to bond the county
for $4,000 90 o construct new court
house and thereby use the credit OF the
county to help il hold the seat of govern
ment. 1t remains TO be seen what the
people, In the light Of events, think OF
such bruzen and presumptious move
ment. Ithaca has but one argument III
her favor. Ii is located IN the geo.
graphical center of the county, but
when one considers her inadequate rail
road facilities, her double headed tele-
graphic service, poor hotel accommoda-
. a
total inability TO furnish drainage or
sewerage, 1t would seem as well TO con-
struct a court house on any other four
corners in the county There can be no
successful contradiction of the fact, that
when all advantages offered by Alma
are considered, that ali the people of the
county would bo much better served
by the removal of the seat of govern
ment TO Alma
We challenge contradiction of the FOL-
lowing facts
J. That more people would be ac-
c0mmodated III reaching the county seat
al Alma than elsewhere IN the county.
2 That we have perfect drainage
and an uneXcelied sewerage system.
3. Abundant tire protection and a
supply of mineral water from artesian
wells
T. Unexcelled Geographic and tele-
phone service.
D. Unequaled educational facilities
g. UneQualed hotel accommodations.
Z. a pure and healthful atmosphere
caused by perfect drainage and sewer
age
S. Alma is destined to be the com
mercial center OF the county en- account
OF its sugar factory.
3 That the west half of tho county
Will soon be more easily reached by rail
road from the south than Ithaca.
TO- That the center of population is
now several miles north OF Ithaca.
Alma is i'm no haste 20 urge the matter,
but the spirit OF lthaca's movement
must be shown in It's true hght-let
no one be deceived. They desire that
an over-taXed people should be further
burdened by an interest bearing bonded |
Indebtedness, and for the selfish purpose
of receiving for 1t court house mot
needed IN the fear that the people for
their own convenience and benefit may |
see fit TO accept the magnanimous offer |
Of "a sister community.
The RECORD desires 10 expose this !
sclfishness, this unfairness and greed |
1t demands that the people be Informed |
OF Juls DIdHeu piece Oh attempted tAtrdNd- |
gance ana haste and time given the peO-
PIE in the light of sober consideration |
to act intelligently aud wise.
1t seems iucreditable that the board |
Of supervisors can bee hoodwinked ard |
log-rolled to accept this short sighted,
cross-eycd movement on the part of !
Ithaca without time for reflection and |
consideration. Let Ithaca construct |
court house at her own expense If she |
wants it for such selfish purposes. There !
has been and is no demand from the |
people for it.