Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-12
why COMMISSIONERS
ASK FOR 100000
Board Issues Statement Setting
Forth Needs for the Court
House
Make a Statement of Douglas
County Finances-Use of
the Money.

Calling the attention of the Douglas
county voters to the special election Of
Tuesday next the board of county COM
missioners has made a statement of tha
reasons why Il is asking for a SEQ. 000
court house bond issue, and the use TO be
made OF the money; gives the financial
condition of the county. and appeals to
the voters 70 authorize the bonds at this
time
This is the statement made by the
board
To the voters OF Douglas county: On
Tuesday next there will be submitted to
you at a special election a proposition to
vote 100000 bonds TO make possible the
furnishing OF the new Jail for it's intended
use The money TO be derived from the
sale OF these bonds is TO be used exclu-
sively for the purchase OF furniture. Jail
cells and supplies, gas and electric light
fixtures, approaches to the buildings and
suitable interior decorations
Three years ago 100000 bonds wera
voted TO be used exclusively for the
building OF a new court house It was
not at the time contemplated that any
funds OF this amount should be used for
furnishing the building or equipment OF
the jail as IT was expected that il would
take all OF this amount TO erect and COM
plete the structure Now this board is
10 turn over 10 the taxpayers
the finest public building between Chi
cago and San Francisco, built for less
money than the people voted for the pur-
pose. Therefore IT is not intended, nor ia
II necessary, that any OF the proceeds Of
the 100000 bond issue will be used in
the completin Of the structure itself
The first estimate given TO this board
as the probable cost OF furniture. fixtures
and Jail equipment was S265,OoO, which
was considered reasonable. and which
would be met by a S25O.OOO bond issue
and the using OF the $4,000 surplus on
hand. By close figuring. however, and
finding that $4,000 surplus will be avail
able. We find that we can keep the cost
down to 100000, thus necessitating a
bond Issue OF but 5000. 900. and make pos
sible the furnishing and equipment OF
the new building in a manner in keeping
with the size ana dignity OF the structure
We believe that a statement OF the
| Douglas county finances at this time
should be given you for your considera-
ton. The county now has SIs75.OOO
bonds outstanding. including the $1,000
| 600 court house bonds OF three years ago
| OF this amount, sl5s.OOO was retired on
| July l or this year, before the proposed
new bond issue. If voted will be avail
able for use; ana arrangements have been
1 completed for the retirement OF $4,000
more OF old bonds on July l. 1912 The
| 10000 court house bonds issued three
] years ago viii begin retiring themselves
I after seven years more through a special
/ sinking fund At the rate OF $50. 600 per
year. II is proposed that the coming
/ $780, 900 bond issue shall automatically
provide for its own retirement at TIA
rate OF 100000 a year, after ten years.
The property valuation OF Douglas county
which is behind these bond issues. ia
| S1Ss.484.27O.
With this statement OF facts ana con-
| ditions, We appeal 70 you as voters with
! the best interests OF Douglas county ar
| heart TO authorize, at the coming special
election, the issuance or 100000 addi-
! tional bonds. hat the proper furnishing
| OF the court house and equipment OF the
Jail may proceed uninterruptedly after
the completion OF the building, that We
| may utilize our new building for the safe
| ana convenient transaction OF our grow
ing official business, saving high rsntaIa
$4,000 yearly. now being paid for outside
court rooms and offices: ana for the
safe and humane care Of the prisoners
with whose keeping the county is charged
JEFF W. BEDFORD
o. ]. PICKARD,
PETER e ELSASSER
THOMAS OCONNOR,
JOHN c. LYNCH