The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-05-23
Supplemental Report By G. D. Camp
bell.

As one member of the committee, 1 do not
feel like closing the report without some
reference to the courses which have produced
the above painful tangle. l cannot but feel
(whil. Offering no excuses for him) that the
Clerk alone Is not to blame, but tnat
all of us are somewhat involved.
Four years ago In spite OF the protests OF
most of the taxpayers. and the better class OF
our citizens. the brewers, distillers and whole
sale LIQUOR dealers Of the State poured their
cash and liquor into our town. and found
enuogh allies. aided by the apathy OF
many of our citizens, to elect coun-
Gil willing to vote saloons back upon the city
again. In men willing to become their tools
We did not expect to find arst-class business
men, nor men punctilious In matters of honor !;
and we were not disappointed,
On the third of July 1893. our engine house
burned down. or was burned down, there Is q
difference of opinion as to which, and q
scheme was planted before US for voting
bonds for $4,000 City Building and engine
house The citizens woke up and sat down
ON this.
In view Of the fact that there were nearly
SiOuO paid in extras, architect fees and supern-
tendence on q IS, 600 house. you can readily
see that q 500 900 contract would would have
been fat picking Upon the failure OF this
$50 900 scheme came a grand desire, by par
ties not famous for improving their own
property, for improving the town
Streets were neglected until the peo-
pie grumbled and that was taken for an ex-
cuse to force Improvements" ON them. Good
| gravel was hauled OF OF good streets, thai
| only needed curbing and guttering and lit
| tie repairs. and crushed stOLe At 500 a yarc
(uearly double its WORTH was forced upon thu
people.
The Council that voted 1t, the engineer:
who estimated IL, and most Of all. the people
who stood by it (of whom 1 am one) are all u
| blame. Our taxes scared, and our town go
/ wider and wider open. The workmen on th'
streets were paid of In a saloon; 3 superin
| tendent was appointed to watch the stree
work who was running a gambling room.
councilman who voted the Improvements upor
| US worked on the streets for the contractor.
l to whom he had helped let the contracts
Wine rooms hitherto UNKNOWN gambling
rooms and houses of ill-repute multiplied
The city has practically been run by i've
wet" councilmen, the minority members
mayor and other officers, being almost ig
| nored by them.
The Board of Revision. whose place Il
was TO keep track Of the Clerks books sne
| the city's affairs seems TO have taken II fol
| granted that he was running things all right
| and let it go at that,
| As testified 10 before this committee by one
OF the Council, ''us wet members Of ths
Council generally met At the Clerks ofics
before the meetings of the Council to tall
matters over and had something to drink whils
there and often went back and: had some.
| thing after meetings" And while the Clerh
Is charged with buying whisky and paying
l for It with city orders. feel that others wers
/ In the transaction.
| Such have been the surroundings and cir
cumstances under which the clerk seems to
h rave been drifting. q. ID. CAMPBELL,