The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-04-06
TIE NEW COURT HOUSE.
Communicable

communicated
Banner. Democrat AT our meet
ing on the End inst. the contract for
building the new court house was
let to the Enocks- Havis Lumber Co.. i,
of Vickaburg. Miss, for the sum of
$4,000. they to have the privilege
of.using such material in the old
court house and clerks Office as may
be-. acceptable TO the architect in
charge of the construction. The
Enochs. Havis people are among the
first in character and ability as
mechanics, and their receiving the
contract by being the lowest bid
der, is very gratifying to US, as
it guarantees skilled workmanship
and pleasant dealings. The con-
tractors are to commence work
within the next thirty days and fin.
ish by the first day of October.
The plans and specifications, as
accepted for this building, have
been discussed at length by MAORI.
ty of our citizens, but for the infor-
nation of those that have not at
tended our meetings when the mat
tiers were under consideration, will
say that the proposed building will
be little larger than the present
e-between three and four feet In
length and between two and three
feet in width-two stories, with
tower for town clock and bell; all
columns, corniees, ratings and
window lodges of iron; in fact, all
exterior work will be in iron or
brick andno wood exposures at all.
The first floor will be of marble in
hallway and waiting rooms, the
rest of the floor Tin both. stories)
will be long leaf pine, oiled and
polished. The Clerks Office, Sheriff's
office, Police Jury room and Supt.
of Education room will be on the
first foor-the Clerks and Sheriff's
offices having ire-proof vaults. The
upper story will be divided into the
court room, grand jury and petit
jury rooms, and one office.
All work will be of the most APP
proved style for buildings of this
kind, and from the concrete founda-
ton to the cone of the slate roof,
the building will bear the most rigid
criticism as piece of modern archi-
lecture.
The contract for this building was
let for cash, certain per cent to be
advanced on parts of the work as
done and the balance to be paid
when completed.
To provide for these payments
we wish to submit the question to
the people whether to pay, from our
present rate of high taxes, in four
years; or reduce taxes and pay for
it in twenty years. This can be
done in two ways: One by par
ish election, and the other by an act
of the legislature. We prefer the
former, and for the purpose, setting
a day for this question to be SUBJ
mitted to the people, we will meet
on Tuesday, the l4th of May.
We favor the plan of issuing
bonds for the amount necessary to
pay for the new building and spend
ing from our surplus now on hand |
the amount necessary to properly
furnish the building and fence the
grounds. After this is done, to re-
tain the rest as a surplus to meet
any contingency (for instance an
epidemic or high water fight) and |
then reduce our taxes to actual ex.
pense. Our present parish tax is
eight mills; by the proposed plan
we believe the rate can be reduced |
to FIVE mills-possibly four.
We earnestly hope for and solicit
the cooperation of our leading clti-
zens and business men, and will
always stand ready to give any ex.
PLANTATION or information requested.
Yours truly.
w, G.. HOPE,
Chairman Finance Committee.