Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1910-08-02
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
THE new COURTHOUSE

Today marks an important event
in the history of Elko county. Its
increase in wealth and population
has been so rapid in the last few
years that new courthouse for
the preservation of its records, the
housing of its officers and the
transaction of it's business became
an absolute necessity. In addition
to the need of new courthouse,
was the need of new Jail for the
care of the GRIMM al element, both
male and female, and the humane
treatment of the insane, while
temporarily confined, awaiting
examination and commitment to
The Nevada State Hospital for
Mental Diseases at Reno, Nevada.
There was such general demand
for new courthouse and Jail that
the question of voting 100000
bonds for building and equipping
new courthouse and Jail was sub
mitted to the people at the general
election held in November. 1908,
and carried by a vote of 900 for to
AGO against.
In due course of time, the bonds
were advertised for sale and were
purchased by the Henderson Bank
ing Company of Elko at a premium
of $4,000 and the accrued interest
up to the time of the delivery of
the bonds, amounting to $3.50.
This was considered by everybody
as splendid evidence of the faith
of capital in the future prosperity
of Elko county.
The next step in the erection of
the new buildings was the selection
! of plans. The county commission
ers visited several jails and court
houses in California and finally
employed w. H. Weeks, an
architect of San Francisco, to draw
plans for both buildings, subject to
their approval. After some delay
the plans of the new buildings
were adopted and bids were
advertised for. On November /,
1909, the bids were opened and
Sellman Bros, Reno contractors,
were the lowest bidders. On
December 7, 1909, the county COM
missioners entered into a contract
with Sellman Bros, the successful
bidders, to build the courthouse
and Jail for $79, 449 90. The cells
for the Jail was awarded to the
Finch Metal Company of San
Francisco for $40, 1890.
The long spell of cold weather,
beginning in November, 1909, and
extending to late in the spring of
1910, delayed the beginning of
work on the new buildings. With
the advent of warm weather, the
work began and has continued with
but slight interruption up to this
time. AT this writing, the concrete
work is nearly all completed and
the brick work of the courthouse is
we'll under way. The new Jail is
nearly completed and almost ready
for the installation Of the cells.
The old courthouse which stood
on part of the site of the new
courthouse has been torn down and
the offices and records m owed to a
large room over the Hesson e.
Company's store, where the bust
ness of the county is now trans
acted. The old Jail is still stand
ing on the west end of the court
house site and will be torn down as
soon as the new Jail is ready to re-
ceive the prisoners.
At o'clock this afternoon the
corner stone will be laid by the
Grand Lodge of Masons of the
State of Nevada, Hon. j. c.
Doughty, Grand Master, assisted
by other Grand Officers, officiat-
ing.
When the building is completed
and equipped, Elko county will
have one of the best and most con-
| Yeniont cn1rthnnsns in tho Stntn &C