The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-01-25
DOES YAKIMA COUNTY
NEED A new COURTHOUSE?
Conditions that Confront County OFF,
Gals and Dangers That Are Ever
to Be Feared.

courthouse LOT 1aklId county. he Calls
on all the citizens of the lower part of
the county to help him out in his fight
against it, and holds his own private
spectacles before their eyes to make
them see the proposition just as he
sees it. Perhaps Colonel Boardman
has the same thoughts in mind as the
farmer who fitted his cows with green
glasses and then expected them to eat
excelsior instead of nay. Certainly the
editor of the Bulletin has more to ex.
pect in the way of benefits from county
division than any other citizen of what
would be the new county, for many
years to come, at least, and his frantic
efforts to head off any movement that
hight tend to delay tine cutting off of
the lower county are naturally to be
expected.
In the last issue of the Bulletin APP
pear a number of interviews with citi-
zens of Prosser, most of which are
against a new courthouse. 1t will be
remembered that shortly before the mol
days the Herald printed the views of
large number of prominent citizens of
the lower county in regard to the divis-
ion. Since the two considerations are
apparently one in the mind of the Bull
letin's editor. it may be stated that the
interviews published by the Herald more
than offset those printed by the Bulle-
tin, and that, therefore, the latter are
not an expression of the real sentiment
of the people of that section of the
county. But, allowing that it is, the
position is not well taken. If the coun-
ty builds new courthouse at this
time. county division is just as near to
those who want it as it is if the court
house is not built. County Attorney
Krutz is authority for the statement
that if the courthouse is built, and the
county is divided before it is paid for.
the taxpayers of the new county cannot
be held liable for the payment of the
debt then remaining, while they would
receive in the time intervening between
the assumption of the debt and the for
nation of the new county all the bene-
fits that the people of this end Of the
county would receive.
Speaking of the matter editorially,
the editor of the Bulletin says, referring
to the people Of Prosser and vicinity:
"Veriant as North Yakima thinks they
are, they are still able to see through
a ladder, and Commissioner Carl A. Jen-
sen will stand by his people. This
should be sufficient to enable the coun.
ty to avoid embarrassing legal compli-
cations. There is money down here for
defense, but not another nickel for trib-
ute to the greed of the county seat"
The Herald would respectfully call at
tention of the Bulletin to the fact that
Commissioner Jensen was not elected to
represent the interests or work in the
interests of few citizens of the lower
end OF the county exclusively. The res
idents of this end Of the county, from
whence comes the bulk of the taxes and
revenues of the county, are "his people"
as much as are the residents of Pros.
ser, Sunnyside, Mabton or Kennewick;
and Mr.. Jensen would not be true to his
oath of Office if he were to consider the
wishes of few against the wishes of
very large majority of the county's tax.
payers. The Herald has too high q re-
gard for Mr.. Jensen's honor and integ.
rity to believe that ne would take such
a position as the Bulletin intimates he
has taken.
But why do we hear so much about
the needs of = new courthouse! Is it
because the average citizen and taxpay-
er Is prosperous and feels an Unsuitable
desire to spend money for something's
little of his own and 4 good deal of
some ones elsei Il 1t that the growth
of the city, with its added homes Of
beauty, new business blocks and i'm
proved streets have prompted desire
for something more modern and artis-
tic in appearance than the ancient barn
that does duty as . courthouse! Let
the answer be found in the following
statement of actual conditions and
needs--the bare facts as they may be
easily verified, stripped Of all sentiment.
They are sufficient.
Let the citizen who thinks the pres
ent courthouse Is sufficient for present
needs-that 1t will do for . while yet
go through the building from front TO
rear, and visit each Office on the way,
observing the crowded condition, the
lack Of conveniences and places for pre-
serving the priceless records, maps and
papers of the county; If the citizen be