Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1910-08-05
CORNER STONE EXERCISES

the exercises at the laying of the
corner stone of the new courthouse
last evening were carried out ac-
cording to the published program
IN the presence of large number
OF citizens from different sections
OF the county. After the choir re-
niered the Star Spangled Banner,
District Attorney Taber called the
people to order and spoke briefly of
the Object Of the gathering. He
concluded by introducing Hon.
George S.Brown. Judge Brown was
greeted with round of applause as
ne stepped tprHard. He spoke as
follows:
Mr.. Chairman. friends and
fellow citizens, it is well known to
most of you, that the place on
which we stand was, a little over
two months ago, the site of Elko
COurty's first County Court House.
We have gathered here to witness
the ceremony of laying in its place,
the corner stone for new home
for our County Government,
new temple of Justice for our
people. Before that corner stone
is set, it is fitting that we should
spend little while in contempIa-
tion of events, and men and
memories connected with the
former building. By an act of the
Legislature of Nevada approved on
the fifth day of March, 1869. the
County of Elko was created. Its
territory had previously been
portion of Lander County. By the
law of its creation, a temporary
government was established for the
new County, and provision made
for the election of a district Judge
and County officers. At this special
election which was held on the
twenty first day of June, 1869, the
Hon. George d. Keeney was chosen
rs district judge for the county
which had become the Eleventh
Judicial District of the State. and
, Len Wines, J. Pierson. and J. II.
Leffingwell were selected County
| Commissioners. Among the earli-
! est acts of these commissioners
/ we're the necessary steps for the
erection of a court house and Jail.
Acting under the order of the
Board the County Surveyor drew
the plans and made out the simple
! specifications. Bids for the
material and work we're then ad-
vcrtised for and on the twenty
eighth day of August, 1869, w. p.
Monroe, who offered to erect the
building according to plans and
specifications for Sl7,744 in county
bonds, was awarded the contract.
Four months were sufficient fer
the completion Of the work, and on
January 10th, 1887, the Commits
sioners accepted the building, de-
livcred to the Contractor his bonds
and allowed him an additional pay.
ment Of $5,l9S.4S for extra work
not called for by the contract.
Thus the total original cost of the
former building. amounted to the
sum of S22, ,o42.4S.
None of those directly connected
with the first county government
or with the building of that first
Court House, are with US today.
Most of the sturdy men who laid
the foundation of this community
have removed to other fields of
labor, or sought in other places,
shelter for their declining years,
or have passed from the ken OF
mortal eye into the great beyond
It is our good fortune, however, to
have still among us, some OF the
men of 80. l.. +. Morgan, Josepf
Gardner, Thomas Hunter, william
Hunter, and w. T. Smith. all re-
spccted citizens Of our town today
we're among those who then livet
in Ellko, and whose eyes saw tho
growth of that old Court House, n