The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1903-01-23
Erie Visitors.

A number of Erle's influential and
energetic citizens were in Chanute
Friday night to discuss railroads and
court houses. They met in the city
hall with a number Of Chanute bust
ness men and some very polite speech
es were made. With one or two eX-
ceptions the effort of the speaker
seemed TO be to say just what he dld
not mean so as to be polite and not
offend the other side. The meeting
was very harmonious and cordial ana
neither side succeeded in deceiving
the other 10 the least.
At present Erie enjoys the proud
distinction of being the capital of
this highly prosperous county. Inc
court house, as d matter OF fact, is the
biggest thing Erie has. She IS very
jealous of itand, like the THIEF with
stolen property IN his mana, always
imagines some one IS after III. Her
dreams are disturbed by night and
visions she sees by day of her glorious
court house sailing away to some
other location. She need not get the
iimiam over this matter, at present,
any way.
Erie should be satisfied to let county
seat matters rest as quietly as they
will. No other place is asking for IL
and she has it. Yet these visions of
future greatness of other localities
will rise up in the imagination of the
Erie citizen and, like the ominous
cyclone cloud, threaten her destruc-
tion. That a new modern court house
would be a credit and an ornament TO
this county is conceded. mat Inc
present court house was not built FOR
that purpose and is not the most I'M
posing or convenient building imagl-
nable for that purpose Is conceded.
That it is in danger OF collapse is
doubted. That the county seat Is
big thing for Erie and small thing
for Chanute in her growing prosper
ity is conceded. The move on the
part of Erie is not so much TO secure
the immediate use and DEMENT'S or a
new court house as to forever clncn
the location of the county seat, and
we don't blame the Erie boys who
have their money invested there for
wishing the county seat to remain.
1t is pure matter Of business.
We do not think there is any dis
position on the part of anybody out
side of Erie to spring county seat
fight. Erie is more centrally located
than any other town in the county
and that location undoubtedly accom-,
modates a larger portion OF the people
of the county than any other. How
ever, it is questionable whether the
farmers are ready to assume an indebt
edpess of even so or go thousand dol
lars that the lawyers may have a
more elegant building In which TO
lambast one another, when the OLD
court house seems to answer the de-
mands pretty we'll and is likely to
stand the storms and weather the
blasts of many winters yet.
We hope an equitable and fair un'
Outstanding may be reached between
the representatives OF the Two towns
and a clash be avoided. At the same
time we realize that Chanute ana
Erie are not yet quite the whole
thing in this county. and that there
are other burgs and the great farming
community that have q right to be
heard in this matter and their views
respected. The bill introduced by
Mr.. Nation gives the county commits
siopers the right to make mil levy
for four years to build court house
and to begin building at once.
1t also gives the commissioners tne
authority to appropriate $4,000 for the
purchase of court house site from
the general fund. We would like TO
hear full and free discussion OF this
matter, especially from the farmers,
and will be pleased to publish any
proper communications on the sub
ject that may be received.