The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-12-30

the Quesfion-Why Fl. c. Schmidt,
OF Kanaka Bay, Favors the Use Of
Brick-Capt. Royce Would Use
Concrete.
Interest in the court house Ques-
ton is not confined to residents Of
this county or to the lords Of crea-
ton" who have arrogated to them
selves the exclusive privilege Of de-
termining such matters by ballot.
The editor is in receipt of a letter on
the subject from Mrs. L. E. Cox, who
sold her picturesque property at
Cascade lake, Orcas island, last year
to Moran Bros. Mrs. Cox is now
living at Allston, Mass, near Boston.
She says:
81 have thought several times of giving
you my opinion on the court house ques-
ton. When lived there in the county
was always ashamed of the old court
house. Thefirst time went to Friday
| Harbor could not find it and was SO
surprised when saw it. / am in fave r
of building nice one, either of brick or
stone, but do not think it best to have it
too fancy, as it would not be in keeping
with the rest of the buildings at the coun-
ty seat. like to see things compare we'll
with their surroundings. If lived there
1 would be in favor of building that
| would cost when completed 5000 and
would be willing to pay my share for
such one. intend to return to the
county as soon as can find something to
do to earn a living or piece of land where
can have hut to live in and some fruit
to eat and feel like enjoying myself.
get the IsLANDER-would be crazy if I
didn't get it every week.
Another former resident of the
county, for number of years a
county official, evinces a strong in
terest in the project in personal
letter to the editor from which we
take the liberty to make a few ex-
tracts. He says,
Having read carefully all that has been
published pertaining to new court house
and believing that the question has now
taken u business like form and one that
will amount to something substantial I
can heartily approve of it. The suggest
ions brought forward by Ben. Harrison,
of Orcas island. are very good-to have
some idea of plans and cost so people vot-
ing can do so knowing what they are
about. The expressions so far advanced
in your paper are for a building to cost
from $4,000 to $4,000, showing the vote
of 1902 to have indicated that $4,000
structure would not have been satisfac-
tory to the people. I feel sure that have
an interest in San Juan county's welfare
and nothing would please me more were
circumstances such that might now be
one of its citizens and take part in this
project Being conversant with the site
proposed and the lay of the ground I
thought you might be willing should
throw out SOME ideas.
I'm the Coast magazine for December
is picture of the Columbia county court
house and it strikes me that it empodies
some features that would fit the location
at Friday Harbor. The design is good
one. The front shown could face toward
they slope toward the compact side Of the
town so that by a little excavation base
ment of at least ten feet in the clear could
be made, which would afford ample room
for Jail, sherif's office, heating appara-
tus and storage of fuel. On the side tow
ard the school house the main floor would
not need to be over five or six feet above
ment there would be ample space for
the offices of the auditor, treasurer, COM
missioners, assessor and school superin-
tendent, while on the second floor there
would be room for the prosecuting attor-
ney and clerk as well as for the court
room. judges room and jury room. TIL
seems to me that such structure ought
to be erected for $40, 600, including vaults.
with the inducements offered by citizens =
H. G. Schmidt, the Unknown far
mer of Kanaka bay, is DESTROYS Of
seeing a roomy and substantial build
ing erected. He favors the use Of
brick instead of stone as the chief
material of construction, on the
y. II
ground Of cost. He says that the
cost Of square yard Of brick wall is
very much less than the cost OF al