The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-06-11
BOND ELECTION IN KING GEORGE
Mr.. Beckwith Writes of New Court
house Proposition and Discusses
Other Subjects.

King George Co., Va, June 8, 10.
Knowing The Free Lance columns
are omen TO the free discussion of any
subject affecting the public welfare,
and as the courthouse question, like
Banquo's ghost, will not down III King
George county, the writer believes
dispassionate and conservative. discus
sion of this question would not be out
Of place.
June 10th is the day the court has
designated for the people of King
George county to vote TO bond or not
to bond the county for the sum of $lO,-
600 to build a new courthouse. The
amount asked for to build a suitable
public building in King George county
Is conclusive evidence that the board OF
supervisors are not posted in the cree
ton Of public buildings. The amount
asked for would not more than build
the foundations, vaults and necessary
furnishings. There is not a citizen of
King George any more in favor OF i'm
proYements, either public or private,
than the writer. Conditions must al
ways be taken in consideration. The
writer would vote against the bonding
of our county for the small sum asked
for, if there were no other conditions
to be considered.
Evidently some architect not fully
informed has shown the gentlemen
composing the triumverate, who
hold the financial destinies of King
George county in the hollow of their
hands, a picture of building, alleging
it could be built for $1,000.
The writer has had some experience,
and has been conversant with details in
the building of several court-houses.
The sum asked for is entirely made
quate to build such a structure as we
should have when we build any. $2O,-
600 to $30,O00 is about the minimum
amount required in the Northwest, and
this is in country where material is at
hand: while here all material must be
transported from abroad by water or
rail and carted overland to King George
C. H.
Now, if the board of supervisors can
build courthouse for $4,000, it will
be a small, cheap affair; or if these
gentlemen contemplate pulling the
wool over the eyes of the taxpayers by
getting $40, 900 and sink this amount,
and then the taxpayers must either
vote $40, 900 to $4,000 more, or lose
the amount already voted. In either
case these gentlemen would not be hon.
est with the people, or would be gross
ly ignorant of the many complications
attending the erection of a public
building and the amount of money re-
quired.
There are so many needed improve
ments in our county that the court
house is a subsidiary question. The
present courthouse, by Judicious ex-
penditure of 81, 900 or $1,000, will put
in good condition commensurate with
the amount of business transacted.
The people of King George county
are law-abiding people, and require
no elaborate building for court pur-
poses.
The tenacity Of the supervisors in
bringing this question before the peo-
pie shows conclusively they intend to
try TO force the people into carrying
the bond issue.
If these gentlemen desire TO erect
monument TO their posterity as TO their
sagacity and business acumen, let them
provide wholesome water at the court
house 10 replace the present well,
which contains death-dealing germs,
and provide a suitable farm where the
poor1 people Of our county could be
cared for and made self-sustaining; put
the highways In our county in condi-
ton to insure safety TO the taxpayers
and citizens, who are obliged To travel
over them; TO bridge several streams
which are menace 10 the lives of our
citizens.
When these things are done then
new courthouse might be considered.
We might discuss this question still
further, but do not wish to take too
much space in your valuable paper. and
believing on June 16 the people will
settle this bond question so that IL will
not need any further discussion.
Very sincerely.
G. Beckwith.