The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-01-13
ROBERT MORAN
PAYORS PLAN
APPROVES OF PRESENT CUURr
HOUSE PROPOSITION

Thinks Commissioners Should Ae-
cept Plan and Contract for Erec~
ton OF the Building, with Fire.
proof Interfor.-Defends Seattle,s
indebtedness for Public Utllities.
ITHE ISLANDER is glad to have an
~ opportunity to publish second
letter from Robert Moran, Of
Seattle, on the court house question,
giving his views on the definite propo-.
sition now before the county commits
sioners. Mr.. Moran is one of the fore,
most business men of the state and his
large interests in this county Justly
entitle him to hearing on the question
now uppermost in the minds of the peo.
pie and lend weight to his views, in
which most of the taxpayers of the
county will doubtless cordially concur.
In his first letter on the question,
published Nov Is, Mr.. Moran said:
There is no question in my mind but
what San Juan county should have
safe and suitable place to keep its
records and hold court and that the
PRESENT BUILDING is DISGRACE. "
He favored the construction of fire
proof building and expressed the
opinion that a structure of sufficient
size to meet all requirements of this
county for twenty years could be
erected for SO, 900. Without having
changed his opinion he expresses his
cordial approval of the proposition Of
Architect White, upon which the
commissioners are now desirous of as
certaining the views of the taxpay-
ers. Following is his letter:
Seattle, Wash, Jan. 10, 1906
EDITOR SAN JUAN ISLANDER,
Dear Sir:-I note by your last issue that
plans for an absolutely fire-proCf court
house, which presume are satisfactory
as to size and general architectural condi-
tions, have been submitted to the county
commissioners by Mr.. w. p. White and
that he guarantees that the court house
can be coustl ucted complete and fire-proof
at a cost not exceeding $l3,0OO.0O. This is
slightly higher than anticipated in my
letter to you las. fall, though l believe it
is reasonable cost, and at the same time
believe it is sufficient sum of money
to be expended by San Juan County atthe
present time and that it should furnish q
most suitable building for the purpose;
and as I understand the situation, the
county commissioners have full author
ity under the law to contract for build
ing not exceeding in cost the above sum.
If this is so, ! would be in favor Of the
building being constructed. There can be
no question but what the county requires
a suitable, substantially built court house
and it should be constructed, though in
my judgment, not one dollar more than
is necessary to accomplish .the purpose
should be expended.
The theory that debt is good thing for
an individual, municipality, county,
state or national government is q farce.
Debt is not good for anyone or anything
except perhapstn give people gray heads.
Conditions arise with such governments
and often with individuals whereby
purpose can be accomplished, the benefits
Of which are greater thau the disadvanta-
pes which attend debt and mortgages.
For instance, the city Of Seattle has quite
large bonded indebtedness, though as
an Offset to that indebtedness it has The
money obtained thereby. invested IN what
il probably the finest gravity wafer sup
ply that 10 owned by any. city in the
world. It also has large sum Of money
invested in comprehensive, broad gauge
and absolutely necessary sewerage syl-
tenn. II also owns and operates In con-
necfion with its water system, water
power electrical generating system which
lights its own streets and gives i surplus
elactrioity to sell to- its citizens. u also
has . large sum Of money invested II an
adequate fire protective system and owns
much valuable property. the benefits ct
All Of which much more than oyerbAlance
the disadvantages. Of being burdened with
the debt. In truth il may be said that
seattle has no debt, for its income and the
advantages accruing by reason ofits being
the owner Of the shove public utilitaes
more than compensates for the Interest
charge. The above well illustrates condi-
tions unsjer which other forms q govern