davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04
Report Of County Jdge r. Z. Lfghtfoof RELAXING -
to the Public improvements of f11cCracken County.

sioners, r. j. Barber and J. III. Bur
nett. respectively. And when it will
be recalled as to the deficit of sixty
thousand, when the sinking fund
had nothing in il. and now TO know
that the same fund has $135,000,
more than enough required by law,
it must be with a pardonable pride,
that such is seen 10 be true.
Payment of Debts.
As before remarked none of the
bonded Indebtedness had ever been
paid, yet during the time when every
fund was curtaiied and economy was
being rigidly practiced. the sum of
fifty thousand dollars (S5O.000) was
paid upon the bonded Indebtedness.
Believing that a lower rate of in
terest upon one series of railroad
bonds could be secured than the pre-
vailing rate Of FIVE per cent upon
100000 OF a given issue, you will
recall negotiation entered into with
bondholders in New York City by
you looking to a refunding of these
bonds at four per cent a per cent?
Magistrate r. ]. Barber, who was
then commissioner. after n great
utdl Ol ulm liulAe nAN ohhNNNa ~ -
funding that series of bonds and OF
the amount referred to at four ner
cent. for 80 years. This transaction
alone enabled the county to both
make and save a sum OF $40. 900, re-
flecting great credit upon your COM
missioner. because of the apparent
impossibility of securing the money.
or rather. purchases Of the bonds
during the hard times of 1908.
There will be due and owing by
the county in the year 1913 the sum
OF S15O.OO0 bonded Indebtedness.
As has been stated before, all the
interest. amounting to over $200.-
600. has been paid upon the full
amount OF FIVE hundred thousand
collars (s5OO.OOO) OF Indebtedness.
Now. to meet this Indebtedness of
one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars we have $4,000 in the sink
ing fund. only fifteen thousand
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04

they could be placed. Perhaps, no
greater source for just complaint or
criticism existed than was found by
reason of the crude condition and
arrangement OF shelves in both OF
these vaults. These records were
worth more than several million dol
to some security and preservation.
The accompanying cuts of the two
vaults since improved, will give
some Idea as to what has been done
by you. The total cost of the re-
arrangement and installation of the
metallic shelves and cases amounted
to $3.165.35.
Both of the offices OF the court
house were equipped with service
able furniture, papered and painted
so as TO afford some comfort for the
occupants and the public in the
transaction OF public business. Both
ofthe clerks offices were furnished
with modern machines with which
records We're copied, so that the old
system of long-hand could be dis
pensed with and the improved type
writed substituted.
rooms were remodeled, papered and
painted as well as being properly
carpeted and otherwise improved
The changes made in each instance
are pleasingly noticeable, when the
haIf-plastered and smoke begrimec
walls and bare floors of few years
ago are remembered.
All of these improvements were
made at a cost OF s2.G50.
In. this connection. an improve
ment of great value was made by
your remodeling of the basement Sc
as to have toilet and store room, a
cost of $1.7SO.
The Heating and Lighting Plant.
The county has probably had more
trouble and annoyance on account o
unsuitable means of heating the cOur
house and jail (and probably the cir
cult judges have lost more religion
.on account of same). than from am
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04

than that which was shown by the
building known as the aims house,
on the Mayfield road. building
with some ten or twelve rooms, lily
heated and lighted, where an aver
age of 30 to 40 unfortunte IN
mates were huddled together. IL
could truthfully have been remarked
that IL was building where sun
shine and the rain could pour
through the same aperture of the
roof. No greater disgrace nor self
rebuke could have been than this
building with rotten roof, unchinked
floors and upholstered walls that
stood as an Indictment OF indecency
and unkindness to the poor, against
McCracken county. Nor was TINS all.
Not one mile Of gravel road had ever
been built by the county; not steel
bridge had been built for % years.
There was not a bridge, not a cul-
vert that was built, unless 1t was q
wooden one. In fact, you found
yourselves burdened with indebted
ness of over a half-million dollars,
long-neglected public buildings, no
home for the poor, dirt roads that
washed away with the coming OF
each year, wooden bridges with an
average life of six years. and never
an attempt having been made at
substantial improvement, either as
to buildings, bridges or roads. Sure
ly. it was not a condition of affairs
for pleasing contemplation, and, ]
dare say, was one as you have tound
out, not easily remedied or changed.
At that time the tax rate, ,includ-
ing that for state purposes, was
Si.42 npon every one hundred dol
lars worth of property of the coun-
ty, as well as the poll tax OF Sl.oo
also imposed. The amount of money
collected for county purposes at such
time was 100000. The total valu-
alton OF property, including fran
chise and all railroad tax, amounted
to twelve million dollars. 1t Will
thus be seen that levy of one cent
would bring about twelve hundred
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04

other cause as to affairs connected
with the entire building. The old
method OF stoves proved to be a
great failure and when your admin
istration began the furnace in the
basement had been abandoned as a
useless and extravagant piece OF fur
niture. wholly unfit for use in even
the mldest OF winters. In order TO
secure heat a contract had been en-
tered into by the county with the
City Steam Heating company where
by the county was required to pay
the enormous sum OF $500 per year
In order that the court house and
jail could be heated. While this
amount was a reasonable charge by
the company. because OF the fact
that Il had no other patrons In that
vicinity, yet Il was n large sum Of
money, and evidently II so appeared
10 the fiscal court At that time the
county was paying also an average
Of $3.50 annually for electric Night
rvice for the court house and jail
So lt will be seen that the expendi-
ture each year for heat and light was
practically $1,000.
The question Of the county owning
rs own heat and light plant was
agitated by the fiscal court IN 1906.
and In 1907. after a careful imvesuga
ton OF the matter, plans and speciii-
cations were submitted for our plant
and i'm the fall Of that year the build
ing was erected and modern machin-
cry installed, whereby the county be
came the owner Of is own heat and
light plant. The machinery. building
and all OF the necessary appur-
tenances cost the county $4,000 60.
Since that time Il has been continu-
ously operated with splendid success
furnishing heat and light for the
court house and jail at an average
expense of not exceeding $500 per
year. The entire court and jail were
wired al an expense Of S2i2,20, so
that the county now furnishes. and
has a capacity of over one hundred
and eighty 1G-candle power lights
The average cost per Hight. 1G-candle
power is less than eight cents per
month. Here Is a saving to the eOun-
ty, after making due allowances for
depreciation OF value in machinery
OF over $G75 per year. The service
rendered under the supervision of
Jailer j. w. Eaker has been without
fault, and much praise Is due him
| for the manner In which the plant Is
operated. The arrangement made by
the county with the jailer Is 20 the
effect That the county furnishes the
fuel necessary for conducting the
plant and pays one-hah OF the water
rent at the Jail. In consideration of
which the iatler agrees 70 run the
plant free Of cost TO the county With
out doubt this Is an institution and
achievement of the fiscal court for
which they have cause to be justly
proud.
In order that the heating appara-
tus could be successfully operated 1t
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04

sion, ailment. place of birth and date
OF departure.
Our Roads.
Probably there Is not, nor has
there ever been. in Kentucky. any
question quite so important or yexa-
tious as the construction and main
tenance or the public highways, un-
der the control of fiscal courts An
observation which. | make no doubt.
is applicable to not only this. but to
every county In the state. Extend
ing back TO the time when the state.
by legislation. practically farmed out,
or, more accurately stated. gave away
the right and privilege OF using the
lpublic highway, and the further right
OF imposing toll upon the citizen who
might wish TO avail himself Of the
use of the same and running through
the varying systems created, by law,
until affected by the single or dual
system now permitted by our laws. no
country Is without It's scars OF strife
resulting from enforcement OF road
/ Legislation. From almost any stand
point, or any viewpoint, whether from
a conservative OF rigid application OF
The spirit or letter OF the law, dis
lsatisfaction and discomfort are the In
levitable results. Certainty Il Is true
that no pleasing recollection can exist
as TO the old tOli-gate domination OF
4 a few years aGo. with It's mob and
lrlot breeding tendencies, when a few
men could and did own the roads
with but slight Improvement being
made in order that title could be had
/ To the same. Il wOuii seem incon-
lceiyable that there could have ever
been enacted into law. or adopted as
IA policy pertaining to public high
iWays. m" anomalous spectacle aud
relationship Of landlord and tenant
being created and existing by law re-
Hating 10 the tcll-Eate company aud.
the citizen Yet. In a nguratlve. II
not a literal sense. this was the ease.
With but slight consideration, the
highway could be secured for a num-
ber OF years. with the right OF con-
troll being vested In other than that
OF the county governing authorities.
! Nothing could have been more re-
'pugnaht 10 the spirit and policy OF
our r.gh's OF citizenship and OF local
control over public property than
lsuch legislation. and II was little won
der that here and there the people.
with rebellious spirit. rosorted 20 vio-
lence. IN their opposition. II Is true
that this system set appears as law
upon our statute books and that ln
some localities toll Is stlll charged to
the citizen who travels upon the pub
He Highways of some counties. Bat.
happily. thc repurnancc with which
u Us being regarded and the growing
disfayor. that more progressive
fpirit has created. are bringing the
people 90 the proper conception OF
thoir rights 10 the effect that the peo-
pie ought 20. and hy rights do. own
their own roads and bridges. and that
they have the exclusive control of the
same. 10 would seem equally as
strange. but % b. true. that counties
are given the same right 20 construct
and maintain roads. with the right OF
charging toll Just as private corpora
tions o. company Of individuals
,coud or can do This has proven a.
Objectionable 10 the people az tho
vested rights o. similar character
given 10 ,he toll-gato companies. No
argument d. necessary IN order that
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04
COUNTY oFFICERs.

fHEsENT COUNTY OFFICERs.
R. 4. Lightfoot, county judge.
AIben Baii<ley, county attorney.
Eli Boone. county clerk. 80.
Joe Miller, circuit clerk.
John Ogilvie, sheriff.
}. G. Utterback. treasurer.
James Eaker, jaiier.
Frank Eaker, jailer.
Dr. l.. Il. Young, county physician
Everett Wren, surveyor.
John Thompson, road supervisor
w. A. Thompson, sanitarium
keeper.
Jack w. Nelson, probation officer
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04

entirety Il was designed. aa Il I'm
fact ~. as a modern hospital, with an
possible conVenlenees for tho taking
carr Of ne unfortunate II was built
at a cost of x9h. .0Od. 80 far as con
Germs the building. The site cost
; goo II ii located four miles from
Paducah. and Is easily reached by
gravel road.
There are four separate wards
two for white males and females and
two for the colorcd males and fe-
make. Each ward Is provided with
a wide concrete porCh running the
entire length of each building. All
the wards are provided with bath
rooms. etc, the water being furnish
ed from the county water works, 10
Gated upon the premises, as we'll AZ
one OF the most modern and APP
proved sewerage systems. with which
every building Is connected. Each
building l. constructed as nearly fire.
proof as Il Is possible to do so. all
Of them being OF brick. and with
slate for roofing In the event OF
, FIRE. however, each OF the buildings
is provided with ERE hose connecting
| directly with the water tank, which
is 80 feet in height with capacity
OF 5000 gallons OF water always on
hand The water was secured az Q
1 depth OF IFS feet and Is pronounced
20 De the best and hearhlest water
I'm McCracken county
| The location IL ideal. Situated
upon a large hill, tho buildings Will
1.-The surrounding ~ acres. form Z
lpleasng picture. The grounds vii
lpermit OF easy Improvement aud dec
loratlon and ought. IN a few years. 1,
be the most beautiful spot IN IN,
county. over 20 shade trees hay'
been set out along the sides of IN,
driveways and upon the large lawn
ard within few years viii hay'
attained good growth
A. this time there are 81 patlontl
az the Institution The superinierd
cEt AR. W. A Thompson Is know
as a kind-hearted man and accord
the Inmates humane treatment. ant
has conducted the Institution In
highly cred.tabie manner. No com
plaint from a reliable or esponslhl'
source has ever been made as 10 th'
management Of the sanitarium. TIT
Inmates are given wholesome Zoo,
and good cloth'pg. and are VISITED
each day b. tne county physician Dr
l.. + Young
The cost Of maintenance IS born
entirely by the county and will aver
lage about $4,000. including the pa
, Of the superintendent and all othe
expenses.
The County Cemetery.
Located about une-quarter Of
b mile from the sanitarium and in thi
: rear or u. Is 90 he found the count
, cemetery. This was bought after thl
: location OF the sau'tar.um. and viii
! the work that has been done upoi
: the same cost the sum Of 500. Tn
- lentire site consists OF "a little mon
I than four acres the same being Tab
] Ion into lots and each lot being pro
lvidod with stone markers and nun
bcred for purposes OF Identification
e IL viii be understood that every iu
e mate. upon being taken into the I'm
I stltution. Is registered and al th'
b necessary details OF description re
! corded In the super'nteudont's Once
p where any Information desired can b.
I had as 10 the history Of any patient
/ such as the race. age, date OF admis
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04

dollars for county purposes. The
average valuation upon farm lands
as shown by the books of the as
SCISSOR during that period averaged
$11.4O upon improved land of the
county, the people of the county pay
ing about two-ninths of taxes while
the remainder was paid by the city.
Since that time there has been an
advance in valuation, so far as con-
Germs farm land, OF 100000, as
shown by the hooks of the as
SCISSOR, while the valuation in the
city have increased two million and
six hundred thousand dollars.
/ refer to these matters of taxation
in order to show that then, as now,
the county outside of the ely paid re-
latively a small portion of the taxes
generally. II must be equally as
patent that while the county outside
of the city pays small portion OF
the taxes in comparison to the city,
yet it gets more than two-ninths OF
the benefits. While of course, the
roads and bridges are a benefit to
the city, yet the immediate benefit
and the constant use of the public
highways and bridges more directly
is furnished to the county. ! can
say, however, that notwithstanding
what may appear to be the apparent
inequality of burdens of taxation
the citizens of Paducah have given
a most cordial and patriotic support
Of the administration as well as the
substantial tax payers of the coun-
ty, who have always appreciated the
taxpaying element Of the city.
Naturally, there has been an in
crease of values, so that the assessed
valuation of all property now
amounts to fourteen million one
hundred and twenty-three thousand
dollars.
Retrenchment.
Recognizing the necessity of en-
forced and substantial economy, the
first effort upon the part of the tis-
cal court to overcome the difficulties
spoken of resulted in minimizing the
tax rate as to the various funds and
departments as much as possible. in
order that the sinking fund could be
benefited thereby. During the first
year, nothing was done in the way
of road work except TO repair the
dirt roads and bridges, less than ten
thousand dollars being expended in
the year 1903 for road purposes.
The county levy was reduced and
every effort made looking toward
economy in order that the sinking
fund could be restored to its legal
status. This was done at the end of
two years. without any department
seriously suffering. and done, too
without any raise either as to valu-
alton of porperty or of the tax rate.
When once restored. the sinking
fund has been vigilantly, taken care
OF by you and manifestly. handled
with great ability by your commis-
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04
CouNTY oFFICERs.ELECT.

COUNTY OFFICERS-ELEC
Alben Barkley, county judge
Saunders Clay, county attorney.
Gus G. singleton, county clerk.
Joe Miller, circuit clerk.
George Houser. sheriff.
Henry Houser, jailer.
Frank Eaker, coroner.
Everett Wren, surveyor.
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04

MEMBERS OF FISCAL COURT
George Broadfoot, First district
J. J. Bleich, Second district.
G. w. Emery, Third district.
John Burnett, Fourth district.
Saunders Brooks, Fifth district
w. A. Dunnaway, Sixth district.
Il. +. Gholson, seventh district.
G. I. Knott, Eighth district.
The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-04


In this book / present the reader
with picture OF the Old aims house
upon the Mayfield road. and OF the
new one near Lone Oak, built In
1907
The old building and site was sold
in 1907 for the sum OF So GOO. Us
inadeQuacy, lack OF conveniences and
necessary equipment, | imagine
were too conspicuous 10 require OF
permit OF discuss ion or argument
and. as a result. the fiscal court took
the progressive step toward the es
tabiishment OF an institution. tho
superior OF which is not found I'm
Kentucky.
Indeed lt is one OF the sad com.
mentar.es upon our public instltu-
tions OF the country thar the unfOrtn.
nate and poor are so much neglected
i would seem 10 be the policy OF q
certain species OF government. that
our last thoughts Is Of the destitute
and needy. Every community, II Il
true. has It's much-droaded poor
house 4" As a rule II Is approached
with as much hesltancy and repul-'
sion as Is the pest house. As often Is
Il found TO be Place OF horror rath-
er than one OF harbor. A regretable
conception OF the needs Of a home
for the poor is too often found and
evidenced by the unsighty and filthy
buildings located I'm some obscure
section OF a county. where human
beings pass away the remaining
years of their lives with but little
II any. Of the comforts Of life. and
removed far from the sunshine of
the world.
Why are not the destitute and un-
fortunate Of the world. who become
wards Of the law, entitled TO its kind
ness rather than It's coldness: 10 rs
smiles rather than It's sneers: TO its
cares rather than Il curses. and Ia
the best rather than the bad? Help
less, aged and inf1rm. crippled and
ldeformed and. above all. clothed only
with the cloak OF poverty, what
more eloquent appeal can be made
for the benevolence Of the law than
this vast army OF wrechedness will
ever present. daily throughout the
world? II Is not only the province,
but u Is the duty. and Il Is the un-
questioned and everlasting element
of the law OF God and man. that the
poor are worthy of and should have
that treatment which emanates from
the highest type of humanity OF the
world.
/ take n. that with such as the
view OF the fiscal court, ocr new
sanitarlum was constructed, In iti
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-06

While II lis true that the House voted
down the amendment when Il came
up as House matter. 81 ID equally true
that the Senate ratified the amend
ment and sent II to the House for
approval or rejection. The House did
not take UP the amendment subse-
quent to the Senate's action. and when
the General Assembly adjourned this
Senate business was still pending.
Had the House taken UP the mat
ter after the Senate ratified the
amendment and then reiterated It's
vote against the amendment. the
question might then be considered
as settled by the 1910 Legislature
Even this. however. would not prevent
the next General Assembly from rati-
flying. II Is a well established fact
Thomas Jefferson and others having
40 held, that even though one house
has voted against 4 Legislative propo-
sition when 1t IL taken up ~ that
houses business, II must again pass
on the same proposition II the other
branch OF the assembly votes to the
contrary This 10 the status of the
income tax amendment in Virginia"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-06

United States with that IN Europea
countries for 3 whole century.
curve for the United states sWAp&
across all Of the other curvse sxcspt
that for@RussiA- Another ch&rt ~
special local interest prsssated gr9Rhee
cAl1y the growth Of the banking bnn4s
ness Of Richmond Tor tho lAat -
years. giving the increase In the tof4X
resources. the individual depoetts. M1J4
the deposits from the banks II 0tA4y
cities. All Of these curves sAowUd -
effects Of financial depression II 49,
1907. 800
Other charts showed death ra1se s.
certain diseases for different mOn1ne ~
the pears or different periods d Lis ~
different occupations. or dl6srsns To
calities. One chart compArin9 IN
country with the city showed thAt 1M&
death rate In the city was hi9Aef h4&
that IN the country for dinehs13
msaslees, etc. There was One dseeno4
from which there wore more deaths tM
the country than in the city. ss
Another SERIES Of charts dwod4 N1tM
the question OF divorce and showed hQyk
rapidly the granting Of divorces y IT,
crsasinE In soma sections Of thu cnn11A
try IL Increasing in comparison wttM
others. ssls
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-06
GIVES LECTURE
ON MATHEMATICS
Interesting Discourse by Prof.
Gaines at Richmond College
on Graphical Methods. .

The nrst Of the series Of ave Faculty
Lectures for the session was given ~
Richmond college last night by Pro-
lessor e. Gaines on Graphical Meth
DDS ~
In the Introductory part Of the lee
ture attention was called to the tact
that while geometry in the hands OF the
OF perfection more than two thousand
years ago. II was centuries after this
before the analytical side Of mAthemA-
ties made more than : beginning. This
10 due partly to the fact that geometry
ID the more obvious OF the two and
partly because In the days Of the
Greeks the world possessed only the
most awkward and unwieldly aystems
OF notation. II has happened several
times that q mathematician In trying
to solve = specific problem. has bAen led
to the discovery OF = new branch Of
mathematics. An an illustration Of
this the lecturer cited q case OF two
gamblers appealing to Pascal 70 know
how In an interrupted game OF cards
the stakes should be dtyads<. Inveatf-
eating this question Pascal laid the
foundations for the theofy q probAbiii-
ties
fiatt 3 similar hfxtury 1hGf6 wx5 3
problem which for more thAn thirteen
centuries mathemAticians ha6 triad TO
solve, until in 1897 II was Attacked ~
the great French philosopher aEd math-
emattciAn. Dc CArtes. The metn0d
which DO devised for solving this prob
lem y. n fact EAat y nov knswn -