The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-17
Governor Writes Commissioner
That Strictest Economy
Must Be Practiced.
STATE MILLAGE
HAS BEEN LOWERED
County Plans Repairs, Altera-
tions and improvements
on Court House.

The county commissioners. through
a letter from Governor Sidney J.
Cats, were yesterday reminded of the
necessity for economy in making up
the years budget. at this time. when
expenditures are being cut in all lines
OF public work.
The letter from Governor Cats
stated that the millage of the state
tax for 1918 had been reduced to 31-2
mills for general revenue fund and
2 IL mills for the pension fund. This
is a reduction in the millage levied for
1917 of 1-2 mill for the general fund
and 1-2 mill for pensions. making the
state millage s mills instead of 9
mills.
Permit me to suggest" said the
communication, that your honorable
body do not increase but If possible re-
duce millage where practicable. Max
ing a reduction in the pension fund
will not prevent any of the Confeder-
ate veterans and widows from getting
pensions promptly. BY rigid econonsy
in all parts OF the state administra-
ton the reduction of IL mill in the
general fund has been made possible.
No new buildings or expenditures OF
any nature have been projected or
made public which could not safely
be postponed. and I believe similar
action on your part will meet with the
hearty approval of the people.
A statement was received from :.
r Fulghum & Company, builders and
contractors. giving estimates on re-
pairs. etc, of the county court house
building from sketch by Architect
he 81 D.
proximated estimate:
Contractors fee ........... .s01.f7
se,s1s22
The improvements will include a
three-room addition, with a modern
grand jury room, meeting place for
the commissioners and number OF
repairs.
The estimate provides for the fol-
lowing: One vault door. 1915. remov-
al OF gallery, s175: exterior cementing.
s275; building three small and one
large porticos complete, s2.250; cutting
arch in clerks room. 800: cutting
door and window in Mr.. Edwards Of
fee $50: cutting arch from clerks
room TO new building. transom and
windows. s240: excavation and filing
for new building. s2s5: brick placed in
the new building. sr,76S.40; pressed
brick, $500; concrete floor, $500; con-
crete slab, s64O; ceiling joists, 1000
feet, labor, s12S; screens and floors.
second story. $50: rafters, sheeting.
1856: roofing $3.50; plastering. 5000;
painting, 5000; windows, 500; sky
lights, SIS; sheet metal work. 500:
hardware, s75: small items figured to-
mt
per cent contractors fee, s90f.47; to-
tai, SO. .91e.22.
The matter has been taken under
Amusement There is not sufficient
monev in the county funds for the
improvements planned. OF the bud
get for this year. $2,22o remains. The
proposal for a more modern court
house was made by Gus Soderlind-
Commissioner Soderlind said that he
was afraid the porch would fall down
and the county would have a lawsuit
on its hands
Other members of the board quoted
Gov Cats, asking that only neces-
sary improvements be made in war
time and they did not consider such
extensive repairing necessary with the
present high price OF materials and
the scarcity of labor.
Mr.. Soderlind said that the court
room had been condemned again and
again by the grand jury. that il was
necessary sometimes TO hunt a month
for the records OF the board Of COM
missioners because OF insufficient vault
room to house the books and the con-
seouent storing elsewhere. One COM
missioner was in favor OF destroying
the excess records but he was remind
ed that the law provided that they be
kept Mr.. SoderIind said he was not
going TO be member OF anv board
that would see any damage done 70
the records.
The initial appropriation was made
for the eradication of the cattle tick.
$1,000 will fight the pest in Escambia
county. In the city of Pensacola there
will be two watts. one on the east AMI
one on the west side Of town Six
men at a salary Of SIS each will be
employed by the county In addition to
the government experts in the fight for
a county tick free.
At the meeting OF the county COM
nissioners, in regular session yester-
Continued on Page Three.)