The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-10-17
CORNER Stone LAID At
THE NEW COURT HOUSE
Continued from Page Two

loss to property-hOlders when the land
records had been destroyed by fire. 1t
was therefore necessary that something
be done for the protection and Dreserva-
ton of the land records of this county
not only because those now in existence
could not be properly care for, but be-
cause there is no longer space in the
vault for new ones. have dwelt upon
the records in the custody of the Clerk
of this Court because under the statute
the duty is imposed upon the Judges of
seeing that they are properly kept, but
any intelligent persons who will investi-
gate the subject will find that the other
officers IN the court house do not have
Facilities for their work, or sufficient
protection for the records and papers
In their care. The election supervisors.
school commissioners and all county
officers should have Office buildings, not
only for the convenience of the public
hut to save the payment of rent and
for the protection of the books, papers,
etc, under their control. If the registra-
ton books are not cared for, as they
should be, it is not only possible that
they be tempered with but that they
might be destroyed, which would cause
great confusion and deprive many en-
titled to vote of their right to do 50, at
leasJuntil new registration could be
held. Fortunately there had been no
contested election in late years in this
county, bat if there had been, there
was no safe place provided for the pro-
lection of the ballots and ballot boxes.
The records Of the School Commissioners
and the school books in their care
should likewise be better protected
than they can be under existing condi-
lions. | might speak of the County Sur
veyor's record and others but when the
attention of the intelligent public is di-
rected to such conditions as actually
exist, there ought not to be in their
judgment any question about the
necessity for new building.
do not believe IN unnecessary or ex-
travagant expenditures of the public
money, but in addition to the reasons
have given to show the necessity for a
new building, those of you who have
attended the sessions of the court must
know that there are not sufficient ac-
commodations at present for the Court,
the members of the bar or those of the
public required to attend If the Judges
find it necessary to consult over some
QuCSllOil bClOIt IltClIl llltlC - IlO place.
for them to retire; if the members of
bar desire to talk with their clients or
witnesses they are likewise without pro-
per facilities, and when ladies' are sum
moned as witnesses, or are parties to
suits although they may have small
children with them, they are compelled
either to sit in the court room, which is
often crowded, or delay the court until
l, !
not affect the comfort and convenience of
such persons alone, but they necessari-
ly cause more or less delay which adds
to the expenses of litigants and the
county.
Then no one can deny that the pres
ent cOur, house is not only discredit to
this progressive, growing county, but
is calculated to injure it. Strangers
visiting it would not be favorably i'm
pressed with this county, if they judged
its prosperity by that building, although
| regard its future as bright as that of
any county in the State, brighter than
that of any not in close proximity to
the city of Baltimore or some large city
or town. The assessable basis for
county taxes is about two and half
times as large now as it was in 1873,
when the first levy was made, being
now over $4,000, 600, while it was then
about SO, 900, 900. When the county was
formed there We're 1902 votes cast on
the question whether there should be a
new county, which presumably brought
out large vote, while now you have
over 1000 registered voters. Much of
your land has greatly increased in value
and / have great faith in the future de-
velopment of your mineral interests.
But your progress has not been con-
fined to these material things and as
affecting the welfare of your people,
they are by no means all. | can notice
a marked improvement in the educa-
tional facilities of your county. When
you separated from Allegany county
your county was sparcely settled, and
be ng remote from educational centers
the young men and women had but few
advantages for the development Of thei.
minds. Bat now school houses are
within easy reach Of the most of them.
and any Obseryant person can see that
many are taking advantage of their
opportunities. People with such en-
vlronments as many of your citizens
have been surrounded by are noted for
their good, hard common sense and cor
rect ideas of honesty and fair dealings,
and the people of Garrett have added to
that number. but with the many adj
vantages your boys and girls now have,
you should and doubtless will, make
more rapid advance in these respects.
Often nave | noticed the Just verdicts
of your juries and the intelligent eX-
plantations Of witnesses in your court.
The development of your county has
likewise given greater opportunities to
each of your citizens ''to worship God
in such manner as he thinks most ac-
ceptible to Him., to use the language
of our declaration of rights. Churches
are more numerous, and religious servi-
ces more frequent than they were in
former days, and while it is unfor-
tunately true that with the growth and
development of country, new tempta-
tons will beset US and some Goddess.
lawless persons will come from other
places, no one in Garrett county can
have as an excuse for not engaging in
the public worship of his God the
absence of houses dedicated to His SER
vice. or of Cody men engaged in His
work. The people of county like this
ought to have religion which is purer
and less defiled than those who are
brought in contact with so many temp
tations to be found in cities and large
towns Evil and termination NAV folloU