The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-07-12
Edif 0ri0I Comment.
MONDAYS Election.

Next Monday the special election will
be held in Van Buren, county, to vote on
the proposition to bond the county for
$4,000 to complete the proposed new
court house and Jail. Every voter who
favors the proposition should place a
cross in the square before the word
"Yes" on the ballot.
The question is not one of politics, of
locality, or of prejudice, but plain
business proposition, and as such should
be settled in busness-like manner.
The election as to the county seat To-
cation was decided in Paw Paws favor.
The township of Paw Paw has donated
in cash $4,000, which will practically
pay for the new court house.
The board of supervisors has decided
that the old site of the county buildings
should not be used for new buildings
land one of the reasons for the decision
is that the county can continue to use
the old buildings while the new are be-
ing built and has bought a new and
finely located site and let the contract
for erecting a new and modern court
house thereon, and the work is now be
ginning. The old site and buildings are
vet the property of Van Buren, county,
subject to the disposal of the board
of supervisors when the county offices
shall be moved into the new buildings a
year hence.
The 1000 which the people are now
asked to vote is for the erection of a
new Jail "a contract for which has been
let conditioned on the bonds being voted
and for furnishing the new buildings
and paying the balance of the cost of the
new site, if any, after the old buildings
are disposed of.
Van Buren, county needs a new court
house, but infinitely more necessary is a
new Jail The old one is unsanitary and
not safe place for the confinement of
criminals. 1t has been condemned in
unmeasured terms by the state board Of
corrections and charities. 1t is dis
grace to the wealth and intelligence of
Van Buren, county, and will be doubly
so if allowed to stand under the shadow
of the new and imposing $4,000 court
house. Such condition would stamp
the stain of penuriousnesso on the county.
On the other hand, Paw Paw township,
after having provided site and most of
the county's buildings during all the
history of the county, has now come
forward with a donation of $4,000 in
cash, without conditions, except that it
be used in the erection of a court house
in Paw Paw. That was fair. That was
more than fair, more than could in equity
have been asked of any town in which
the county seat should be located. If
this one township freely contributes SjO,-
600, isn't it fair and just that the ad-
ditional $4,000 needed, be paid by the
! entire Is townships of the county?
As a business proposition, isn't it a
good thing for the county to get $4,000
worth of needed property at a cost of
only $4,000?
The new court house permanently To-
Gates the county seat in Paw Paw. Don't
the people want a creditable jail beside
the magnificent court house Paw Paw
is building for them?
We believe they do.
Every voter who feels that justice
would be done by voting the bonds next
Monday, should spend the little time
necessary to go to the polls and cast his
ballot with cross before the word"Yes."
There is no organized opposition to
the bonds in the county, but of course
there are now, as always, some people
who are opposed-it almost seems to be
a principle of some men to be opposed to
anything that costs a dollar-and those
opposed will be sure to vote.
Lovers of justice, those who feel
pride in our county having buildings in
keeping with the Importance and wealth
of Van Buren, county, should vote for
the bonds, even at the expense of little
personal effort and the suffering of a
little inconvenience in going to the polls