The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-07-28
COMMISSIONERS
ASK 100000
FOR A NEW COURT HOUSE FOR
THIS COUNTY.
PLANS ALREADY PREPARED
BOARD FEELS THAT PEOPLE SEE
NEED OF A NEW BUILDING.

returned home Saturday night from
their trip through the north part of
the state, which they took for the pur-
pose of looking over the court houses
of several different counties as an
aid to them in determining how much
would be necessary TO build a suitable
court house for Brookings county. AS
a result of their visit they We're Of
the unanimous opinion that 100000
would be required and they will ask
the pay of the county to author
ize the issuance of bonds for this
amount at the coming election.
The board visited Aberdeen, Sisse-
ton, Groton, Britton and O~rtonyille,
and with the exception of Aberdeen
none of the court houses would be
large enough for this county. The
Aberdeen county building cost over
$1,000 00 and the others from 100000
to $50 1000 and they have already prov
en- too small for requirements. The
board has decided, and wisely, that
it would be poor economy to construct
a building that would hardly fill the
needs of the present time and that 1T
would be necessary to add to in a very
few years.
The board feels that the taxpayers
of the county see the absolute need
Of a new county building and that
their verdict at the November cleo
ton will be a favorable one. Any cit
izen who inquiries into conditions
could hardly be against the PROPOSE
ton. At the present time there are
over two dray loads of valuable books
and records reposing in the old coal
house back of the building for want
of room, and ever there they are about
as safe as in the building. In case
of a fire record of the title to every
piece of property in the county would
be destroyed, and this would mean
endless litigation. with the court pas
sing on every title and 1t would cost
the taxpayers four times as much as
a new court house.
From O~rtonville the comm 's%sioners
went to Minneapolis, where they con
suited C. E. Bell, the architect, re-
garding the plans for the proposed
building. The board considered it
good policy to have the plans ready
and if the decision of the voters is
favorable in November the contract
can be let in early winter, and at a
figure from four to six thousand dol
lars cheaper than in the spring or
summer, as the contractor can pur-
chase his material at a considerable
reduction at that time Of year.
Mr.. Bell has prepared the plans with
the understanding that he is to receive
nothing for his services if the bonds
fail to carry.
Mr.. Bell was the architect of the
new capitol building at Pierre, and
is considered one of the best in the
Northwest. He has built a large mum.
Der of court houses and other public
buildings, which he makes a special
ty. He arrived in Brookings Tuesday
morning with the plans and in
the afternoon at the court house
he explained them to the COM
missioners and a large gathering Of
citizens. The plans are subject to
change to meet different conditions,
but as they are at present it was the
general opinion that they could hard
ly be improved upon. The building,
if the voters are favorable, will be a
beautiful and commodious one, in
keeping with the wealth and popula-
ton Of the county and will serve for
years to come. The convenience of
the interior arrangements appealed to
everyone present, and it is apparent
that Mr.. Bell has utilized every bit of
space to the best advantage.
The building as outlined will be
10Ox60 feet, two stories and a ground
floor. The plans call for the use Of
Bedford stone from the ground floor
up. The foundation will be of granite
and the ground floor Marquette Rain
drop. The classical style of architec-
tCre has been decided upon, which is
the style used in most public build
ings. 1t will be absolutely %fireproof,
with reinforced concrete floors, metal
doors, marble and metal stairways and
solid brick walls running through the
building.
The principal county Offices, auditor,
treasurer. register of deeds and clerk
of courts, will be located on the Sec
end aoor. This aoor will be reached
by a short stairway from the main
entrance, and the offices will be ar
ranged around the circular rotunda.
The t~reasurer's aud auditors office