Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-08-21
TALK OF A new COURT HOUSE,
All the Lawyers and Some Merchants
Favor It. Plans Accented.

)
burn. an architect and clever gen.
tleman, came near occupying
most Of the time of the commits
} sloners in the elucidatlon of some
plans and specifications which he
had drawn for a court house, also,
, incidentally of course, in making
an effort to secure the accep.
tatlon of same at the small figure
of $2,25O, which may represent a
whole month of his valuable time.
The Commissioners, good, clever.
honest gentlemen that they are,
mon who can tell at glance, the
exact proportion and best methods
for the erection of a mule-pen or a
cow-stall, without much delay
consulting judges, solisitors and
others, who have travelled from
temple to temple for many years
and would most likely have some
opinions that would be worth
while, accepted the plans for a
new court house with scarcely
more consideration, and that too
without dollar in the county
treasury wherewith to pay for
them, to say nothing Of a court
house. -
In fact Rowan is getting into a
desperate situation financially.
$12. 900, or more, we are told, will
have to be borrowed to clear up
the Jail account. We are also
informe d that not one cent, beyond
the interest, has ever been paid
on the Yadkin railway bonds, and
even the sinking fund, which the
law requires shall be raised for
the payment of these township
bonds upon maturity has been
used by the county for an en-
tirely differant purpoae-T The
$25, 900 in\ bonds, recently issued
to pay off Nfonting indebtedness,
may soon look like small figures
If the people longer remain in
different to the county's fnan-
cial welfare.
The agitation for new court
house seems to have originated
through the uncleanly condition
IN which the present building is
kept, particularly the court room.
The desire for cleanliness is \
worthy one, but we fear if the
present building is not, or cannot
be kept clean, that a new one
would be like throwing pearls be-
fore swine. Another reason given
is that the present building is
situated too near the street and
the noises made by passing wagons
and other things disturbs the
court and retards it's progress,
There is good reason in this, but
it is not without remedy, par
TALLY at least. Efforts have be-
fore now been made to induce the
commissioners to assist in the lay
ing of asphalt or other substance
ion the adjoining streets that
would do much toward destroying
: the noises complained of. An
other reason set forth for new
structure is that it would look
better, help the appearance of
, the town, etc. There is no doubt
7 about this. This argument is all
right for the sentimentalists, some
: of whom might put it into prac.
, tice around their own premises,
, but how many prudent, conserva'
tive men have we who will give
the second, third Or fourth mort.
gage to improve his dwelling
merely for the sake of looks?
At a recent meeting of the bal
association IA of It's members vot.
ed an endorsement of the idea
, and at meeting of the Merchants
Association, Thursday hight, with
only a few members present, g
resolution, livery likely a ringing
, resolution,) was passed recon.
J mending that the county commits.
sioners erect a new court house
tha. would cost not less than $75..
O00 But of course there vas nc
offer to furnish the money. What
!. ever extra may be necessary tc
,, raise this amount, as lar as they
4 are concerned will be cheerfully
paid by adding it to the cost o1
the goods you may buy of them
Somewhat of a Rockefeller trick
D eh?
r To recapitulate, those said to
be Ill favor of the project, We
, have.
a County Commissioners (five)
8 Lawyers, (fourteen). ......, Il
Merchants, lprobablY ffteenl q