The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-04-22
THE COST OFA
NEW COURT HOUSE.


After some discussion of the figures
which have been given by the Pioneer
Express, the Cavalier Chronicle in it's
issue of April 8th, seizes upon the exam
pie of Trail county as about the proper
thing for this county to do Trall coun-
ty has about $1,000 people as against
Pembina county with 1000.
We, ourselves agree wi. b the Chroni-
Gle, that when this county does build a
new courthouse that the probable cost
will be at least $40 900 because if we
should build for less, there would be
but little object, as anything less would
not be very much improvement over
what we have on hand. The real differ
ence in argument between Pembina and
Cavalier is that Cavalier insists that the
present buildings are valueless; that
they will tumble down of their own ac-
cord before ten years; that there are not
proper accommodations, etc. and there
fore new buildings must be erected at
once. The latter conclusions of the
Chronicle we emphatically deny, and re-
fer the dispute to anyone who has visit
ed the buildings during the last five
years. The Chronicle Also intimates
that this necessity of a new building
will cause the county board to rebuild
at Pembina just as soon as it is settled
that it will not be moved to Cavalier.
This is nonsense pure and simple. The
county board could not legally, and
would not if they could, attempt to build
without vote of the people, even if
there we're sufficient funds on hand un-
der their control with which to build,
(Which there is not) land besides, 10 get
such funds there would have to be spe-
cial election to authorize the bonding Of
of the county. Hence whether the
county seat is removed or not no court
house can be built until the people say
so. But, if the county seat is moved
then will occur an immediate necessity
for new court house. If it remains
at Pembina it can be built when the tax
payers get ready, ten, twenty, thirty, or
fifty years hence, for the old buildings
will do for that length of time in the tu-
ture, even better than they have for the
past thirty years because there is more
room and the buildings are in better
condition than they ever were.
But, before the wise man builds new
he asks two questions of himself; first,
do need to rebuild and, second, what
will be the COST These questions be-
ing answered he then counts his cash
and measures his credit. Few men
however will build new residence
when they own the old one but would
have to go in debt for new one. Un-
der such circumstances the old house
would be the most comfortable even
though it were more humble.
But, taking the cost of new court
house as accepted by the Chronicle and
the Pioneer Express as about 500, 600.
(Traill's court house cost $4,000. and
Jail cost S1O,000) we have the figures in
the table that is at the head of this
article:
The assessed valuation of the county
is less than s7,00O,00O. To raise the
above sum in one year it would take a
tax levy of about $1,000 per thousand.
That is, that every taxpayer who pays
on one thousand dollars assessment
would have to pay $500 as his share
for the new building and furniture
simply 20 save himself some miles of
travei-when he is compelled to go to
the county seat-if it happens that "a
change will save him any miles. Asa
matter Of fact there are about 1000
taxpayers who will have to pay the
cost Of removal and rebuilding. There
are about 2700 or $500 voters in the
county and of these probably all over
the 1000 pay but nominal or less than
S. taxes. This would therefore mean
that the average taxpayer pays on a
bout $4,000 assessment. Such man
would therefore have to pay approx
imately $4,000 as his share for such
removal, III ss u,
| Or to put another way, if there lis
( s22l, 10000 to be paid and 1000 men
must pay the bulk of it then each man
will have to pay about $1,000 as bis.
share. The farmer who pays on a
| SIS 600 assessment of personal and real
l[which represents about the assess
ment Of the half section farmel would
be taxed at least $50 allowing for Il
small part being paid by the lesser
taxpayers.
IL may Be that some may Say that
these figures. are too large. Well, NV
''yonr hand and head and sse how macAjj