The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-10-29
FROM AN OLD SETTLER
Washburn, Oct. 26, 1904.

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when there was, I should think,
about 80 taxpayers present. The
time had come when Mclean coun-
ty wanted a county seat and the
questions of the hour were, "where
the county seat should be located,
and what sum should be put upon
the taxpayers to builda court house
and Jail. One of the Weller town
site men addressed the crowd. If
you look upon men in the light of
averdupoise, he was indeed a large
man, and as full of wind as an or
binary cyclone. He advocated a
$34,O0O.W court house.
And when a Washburn town
site man got up and told them that
three thousand dollars was sufi-
cient money to build a court house
that would last the county for
twenty years, this windy Weller
townsiter laughed the proposition
to soorn, and declared that our
sons and grandsons would forever
feel the disgrace we had placed
upon them.
In the end sober sense prevailed,
the county seat was located at
Washburn, and a three thousand
dollar court house was built.
The prophecy of the Washburn
townsite man has been fulfilled
twenty years have passed-and the
house is good for twenty years
more. Again after twenty years,
the question of county seat has
arisen, not exactly at Weller, but
only five miles northeast Of that
place, at the village of Underwood,
but there is a change in the amount
of money to be used in buildings.
court house and other county
buildings. The Miner puts. the
necessary cost at 5000. W-just
the small sum of lO,O00mo than
the Weller man wanted.
Now then, as after 20 years the
county seat question faces us again,
what shall we do? Twenty years
ago we built a $4,000 court house
and have it paid for in full. Shall
we pull away thirteen. miles and
build a house that will please ris-
ing generations, why not? We
have had d big crop Of wheat and
it is worth ST.. per bushel.
Times are good and we can make
a $4,000 debt just as we'll as not.
Take heed, lest when We think
We stand, ye fall
What one of us has any assur-
ance Of next years crop. Can any
man predict with any certainty
that wheat will sell again in any
year within the next twenty for 81 !
per bushel? Don't you know that
next season, perhaps you will har-
vest to 10 bushels per acre and
sell it at IS to 40 cents per bushel. !
AS [ have said the question comes
before us again, just the same old
question with the exception that We
now have more here to help shout
der the debt and trust to God for
crops. With this little difference
the change from Underwood to
Weller five miles and the little diff
ference of$1O, 600 for county build
ings. Many of our settlers have
only been here one or two years,
and during that time Mclean
county has been on her best be-
.hayior. The weather clerk has
been regular as clock work, and
the consequences have been to say
the least, most fattering, and per-
haps some few of our citizens have
money to throw at wild ducks. If
SO vote for county seat removal and
when you have done so, if success
full, the ducks will be safe for the
next 20 years. 1 am acquainted with
many Of the boys from old Iowa,
and feel deeply interested in their
welfare, and cannot help saying to
all when you have plenty save for
rainy day, or rather perhaps,
for the day when no rain comes. 1
do not think I have ever been
known as a croaker, but let me tell !
you, that the man or men who take
the crop and price of 1904 as a
will grow gray early in
life.
Now then let me say to you, that
should you at this time vote for !
county seat removal (Which you
have a perfect right to do in the ,
sense of free citizenship and no
right at all, to do, in SO far as plac-
ing burdens grevious to be borne
On the shoulders of your brother ,
citizens. We promise when the day {
comes that convinces you of the ! !
great mistake you have made, not .
70 say, told you SO. ,
There will be no need of any re- {
ninde1s to you from us. You will
IN that day set in the shade of 9