Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-14
POLITICAL.
why COMMISSIONERS
ASK FOR $500, 900
POLITICAL.
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 the
reasons why Il is asking for 100000
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 TO authorize the bonds at this
time
This 10 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 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 81 100000 bonds we're
voted to be used exclusively for the
building of a new court house. 1t 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 II was expected that 1t would
take all of this amount to erect and com
plete the structure Now this board Is
prepared to turn over to the taxpayers
the finest public building between Chi
csgo and San Francisco, built for less
money than the people voted for the pur-
pose. Therefore it is not intended, nor is
1t 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 10 this board
az the probable cost OF furniture, fixtures
and jail equipment was t2e5, 900, which
was considered reasonable, and which
would be met by q $4,000 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 necessitattn3 A
bond issue OF but 100000, and make pos
sible the furnishing and equipment of
the new building IN a manner I'm kaeuins
with the size and dignity of the structure.
We believe that a statement OF the
Douglas county finances at this tims
should be given you for your considera-
ton The county now has SI,s76,o0O
bonds outstanding. including the 81, oOO.-
600 court house bonds or three years ago
OF this amount, sl5s,000 was retired on
July ! OF this year, before the proposed
new bond issue, IL voted will be avail
able for use; and arrangements have been
completed Tor the retirement OF AIbO OOO
more Of old bonds on July l. 1912 The
tl,0oo,OOo court house bonds issued three
years ago will begin retiring themselves
after seven years more through a special
sinking fund ut the rate of $50, 900 ner
year 1t is proposed that the coming
100000 bond issue shall automatically
provide for its own retirement at tho
rate Of $4,000 year. after ten yenrs
The property valuation Of Douglas county
which Is behind these bond issues, he
11ss.4s4.G7O.
With this statement OF facts and con-
ditions, we appeal to you as voters with
the best interests OF Douglas county At
heart TO authorize, at the coming special
election, the issuance OF S2oO, 600 addi-
tionai bonds, chat the proper furnishlas
or the court house and equipment OF the
jail may proceed unintsrruptedIy after
tho completion Of the building, that we
may utilize our new building for the safs
and convenient transaction OF our grow
Ing official business, saving high rentals.
t4,boo yearly now being paid for outside
court rooms and offices, and for thu
safe and humane care of the prisoners
with whose keeping the county 10 charged.
JEFF W. BEDFORD,
o. j. PICKARD.
PETER e. ELSASSER
THOMAS o'CONNOR.
JOHN C. LYNCH