The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05
JASPER ENJOYS
 GLORIOUS FOURTH Walkers New Courthouse
 NearS Completion IT WILL COST S2OO,OOO
County Is Without Bonded indebted ness-court House Is Being Built
 On Treasury Warrant Plan.
 Fight for County School.
By FRANK V. EVANS.

By FRANK V. EVANS.
 Jasper, July 4-(Special )-This Inde- pendence Day has been one of the hap piest to Jasper in the history of the town. Because at no former Fourth of July had Jasper attained such an important posi- ton among the live and growing cities of the state; because on no other Fourth had Jasper realized fully the possibili- ties which she possesses; because on no other Fourth had Jasper ever had so large a population of her own; because on no other Fourth had the whistles of the To- comotives of five railroads reverberated through her hills and kept time with the patriotic music that the people enjoyed on this natal day.
 Your correspondent mentioned the fact recently that Walker county's new court house, to cost when finished and fur nished, $2OO.00O, is approaching completion. This building is constructed of Georgia stone, apparently a cross between white marble and limestone. It is very attract i've in appearance; in fact, one of the largest handsomest temples of justice ill the south. It is indeed an ornament to the city of Jasper. occupying as 1t does the center square of the city. In front of it stands the beautiful Confederate mon ument erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy. A peculiar fact is that Walker county has no written title to the ground upon which this courthouse s being erected and whereon several others were built and burned before. The entire records of this county have been de- stroyed by fire more than once. How ever as the county is about s7 years old and has held uninterrupted possession of Courthouse square for that length of time, except the interruption caused by flames, 1t is hardly probable that Walkers title will ever be questioned. If it ever should be. the effort will prove of no avail.
 In view of the fact that Walker is such a rich, and now progressive and promis ing county, and that her public roads are in good condition, with modern iron bridges spanning her streams, with a splendid new and modern jail completed and in use, and with a magnificent court house nearly completed the county docs not owe one dollar of boded debt and her not owe one dollar of bonded debt and her with her $10,O00,000 assessed values. The authorities of this county have always deemed it best to build and improve under the treasury warrant system when ready cash was not available; and in that way the present courthouse Is being erected. This means money borrowed on shorter time than the bond proposition and pay ments to be made in annual installments In other words, it means that the county really intends that the present generation shall pay its debts and not leave them as a burden to their children.
 Jasper and Oakman are now the only two contestants for the location of the Walker County High school Jasper re- gently seemed little quiet on the sub ject, when Oakman arose with all her might sent committee to Montgomery. and there before the locating board pre- sented the advantages of that game little town, and made it's offer. This action awakened Jasper, and at a mass meeting of citizens held this week in this city the following resolutions were adopted:
 Resolved, by the people of Jasper, in mass meeting assembled, That the propo- sition heretofore made to furnish a suitable site, consisting of five acres of ground, and s10,oo0 for the purpose of erecting buildings for the High school of the ccun- ty, should it be located in Jasper, Is hereby reaffirmed, and we hereby pledge to such school when located our earnest and undivided support.
 Resolved, further, That Jasper, being practically in the center of the county. and of the white population thereof, and being in all respects more accessible to the entire county than Oakman, the only other point in the county now contesting for the school, we have no doubt that of the people of the county desire the school to be located In Jasper.
 Resolved, further, That if the honorable locating board is in doubt as to where said school should be located, and cares to have an expression from the people of the county on the question, we request of such board the privilege recently &C., corded the people of Cullman county, that is. the right of the people of this county to express their choice as between Jasper and Oakman, in an election to be called and held for that purpose. the expenses of the same to be defrayed by the town of Jasper.
 Resolved, further, That the chairman or this meeting Is requested to at once for ward copy of these resolutions to each of the said locating board.