The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-10-12
WHY IT IS NEEDED
Some Pertinent Reasons Why the
Court House Proposition Should
be Voted For.

Interest in the special election tc
vote on the question of issuing bonds in
the sum Of $4,000 for the purpose OF
building new court house is increasing,
and with is the growing sentiment
that Decatur county cannot afford tC
let the opportunity go by to secure a
new public building.
We want to urge on every voter in
the county the next time they come tu
Leon to make a personal inspection OF
the present court house. Any of the
county officers will be glad to take the
time to show you through the building
and vaults, and you will be surprised
when you see the real condition OF
things. There is not vault in the
court house which is not filled to the
ceiling with valuable papers and records
and many of them have been carried
up to a little temporary store room in
the gallery of the court room where
they are stored entirely at the mercy of
fire. In all the Offices there are books
and papers which should be kept safely
In fire proof vault which are stored
away under the counters aud in case of
fire they would be destroyed.
Take for instance the county auditors
Office. Decatur county has something
over one hundred thousand dollars OF
the states permanent school fund
money loaned out to people residing in
this county, taking mortgage on real
estate as security. These notes and
mortSa:s IS mist b, kept in the an lto.'s
office, and the state holds Decatur
county responsible for the am,unt of
money they represent. Suppose the
Ch Il. "a
these notes and mortgages burned up.
What would be the result 1t would be
utterly impossible for the county To get
new notes or collect the old ones, for
they could not tell who owed the money,
The state would insist on the county
making good the loss, and it would be
necessary to levy tax costing more
than new court house to pay off the
debt. Can the people of this county
afford to take such risks? The same is
true in all the other Offices. There are
records involving the titles to all the
land in this county, which in case thew
were destroyed would cause the owner
endless litigation and expense. The
records OF this county were destroyed by
fire years ago, and every land owner
knows the trouble they have been put to
when they wanted to sell their land or
secure a loan. For many years it was
almost impossible to get loan company
to do any business in this county, be-
cause OF the fact that titles could not
be perfected, and while some of them
will loan money now, others refuse to
do any business in this county. MIR. NJ.
A. Gammill recently wrote to the loan
department. OF the Northwe stern
Mutual Life Insurance Company, which
advertlses TO place > per cent farm
loans, and tried to get some of the
money for this county, but the follow
ing letter explains Itself.
Des Mones, Iowa, Oct 4, 1905.
Nj. a. Ganmill.
Leon, Iowa.
Dear Sir In reply to yours cf the 3D.
inst, This company is making loans at. )
per cent net with privileges or options
to pay on first interest date after one
year. regret, however, to inform you
that we do not consider applications
from Decatur county. Counsel notified
us several years ago that owing to the
destroying of the records of that coun-
ty by fire that the company would not
consider applications for loans in that
vicinity. l.. H. BUSH,
Special Loan Agent
Then again, Decatur county has never
paid tax to build a court house, The
present structure was built with some
swamp land funds and the contributions
OF citizens OF Leon and vicinity. There
has never been court house tax levied
Ii the proposition carries the increase
in any mans taxes will be so small that
it will not be noticed.
The county is now paying rent for
Offices for the county attorney, county
superintendent, as we'll as for the grand
jury and trial iuries, there being no
rooms in the court house that can be
used by them and this rental amounts
to quite large sum each year. Why
not save this money?
We have heard it urged that there is
considerable expense in holding spec
ial election. That is true, but it is
good argument why the proposition
should carry this year. If it is again
defeated the question will simply have
to be submitted again and again until it
finally carries, and the expense of each
subsequent election must be PAID. The
progressive element of the county are
strongly in favor of a new court house,
and will never be satisfied until it is
secured. Do your share to stop the
expense OF the court house elections by
Young tor tne proposition TINS year'and
have the matter settled.
The proposition specifically says that
the amount to be expended shall not
exceed $4,000, and the board would
have no authority to let the contract
for more than this sum. The law settles
that matter, and the members of the
board are men who will obey the law.
Ii the bonds are voted there will be no
har 4
and premium, as auditor Scott has
already received inquiries from a mum
ber of firms who are ready to buy the
bonds.
Let's make a showing that Decatur
county is one of tht@best counties in the
state, and as such She should have
modern court house.
License tc Wed.
Henry Woods, Woodland .. ....... q