The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-02-19
THE COURT HOUSE QUESTION


one reason. we have never considered l
a very serious question. We at hrs
thought it a joke; and when We wer'
told that the makers Of the Mt. Pleasan
proposition were in serious earnestness
we thought 1t the most i'll advised prop
osition that ever eminated from credi
table source. We have never believed
for one moment, that the intelligent
good people of Maury county would bt
80 blind to their own best interest, or e
prejudiced to the interest of the-I
friends and neighbors and kith and kin
In Columbia, as to seriously consider
the proposition of moving the county
seat from the center IF the county to it's
remote western boundary. The Herald
has an abiding. strong and inherent
faith in the fairness, justice and common
sense of the common people. And as
we could never see any common fair
ness or common justice or common
sense in the Mt. Pleasant proposition,
we have never, in the least degree, or
for one moment, feared tho final result.
Mr.. Jno. M Davis, corporation magis-
trate for Spring Hill, has communica
tion in this issue, which fairly and intel
ligently presents the question. He
enumerates the county bridges in the
county; and a glance at these bridges
will show that the old court-gullty as
it was to the charge of extravaganza
was at least impartial for tho biid, es
are scattered here and there and every
where. And we think it pertinent to
the question right now to remind the
people that Columbia and the Ninth
district paid nearly one third the cost of
each and every one of those bridges.
And for the large number Of small
bridges, and tor every foot log placed
across a wet weather branch, at the
county's expense, this district pays
about one-third the cost. The Jail, |
built at cost of about 200 NEARLY |
twice the amount it should have cost !
cost the taxpayers Of this district about /
$1,000; and yet Columbia has it's own
jail, and uses the county Jail as little as
any Of the larger districts, and less than
the Mt Pleasant district.
Not only does Columbia contribute
several times more than any other dis
trict to the county tax fund, but the
business men of Columbia contribute
more largely than any other class of
citizens to every public or quasi public
enterprise in Maury county. If a
church burns in the county, nine
times in ten the membership will appeal
to their Columbia friends to help them
rebuild it. And they never appeal
in vain. II Il school building burns,
and the district school fund is not
Sufficient to rebuild it, Columbia 10 a
looked to for help, and Columbia t
always helps. And yet to hear our o
Mt. Pleasant contemporary talk you u
would think the country districts did I
every thing for Columbia and Columbia y
nothing for them. n
If all the tax money collected in the 9th r
district could be used exclusively in and b
for the benefit Of the ninth district the ,
district could build for the county n
$500, 900 court house and save money by "
the transaction. a
But that is not the way to view b
the question. The bridge was not "
built at Willamsport, for the benefit
Of the people of Williamsport, but for
the convenience of the travelling public. II
A road is not built by the county to or IN
through certain neighborhood for the ~
exclusive use or benefit of that commu
nifty, but for the general public good. q
The new court house will not be built in II
Columbia for the sake of Columbia, but a
or the convenience of the people of the W
county. A church building is erected I'd
20 suit the convenience OF its memb err O.
hip. A school building is established p
neal the center OF the dis
riot. A county site is located neal the al
senter Of the county. And all these are "
lone according to that sound, demo. W
,ratlc doctrine, "for the greatest good to
HE greatest number" To sacrifice
his general public good for thu parsi- :.
nonious consideration of small tax ~
evy, is proposition so absurdly prepos -
;erous that we have never thought the "
people would ever give it serious en-. ~
There would be just about as much Is
eason and common sense in the people :. ~
u the northern, eastern, southern and y
central parts Of Maurv establish 1e
ng their barns two or three miles from ..
heir residences, as there would be in -
building their court house in the en- "
RENE western division of the county. 4
They are letting bribers escape IN st.