The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-03-04
that L. COURT HOUSE
First of a Series of Articles Giving
Absolute Facts on Exist
ing Conditions.

l /. d 3
Building is in Good State of Preserva-
ton and Will Last for Many
Years to Come.
Mr.. Taxpayer: You may soon be
called upon to vote upon the proposed
removal Of the county seat from
Princeton to Milaca. Realizing that
every intelligent, minded voter
desires to know the whole truth con-
corning all the facts, circumstances,
and conditions surrounding and inter
woven with this very important coun-
| ty affair, I take this means Of throw
ing the spotlight of absolute truth
upon it, without prejudice or personal
animosity, and with the sole idea that
I may be Of some little benefit in help
ing every voter who wants to do the
fair and right thing to intelligently and
honestly cast his vote on this vital
question.
To begin with, how did it happen
that Princeton, on the southern boun-
Diary line Of the county, was selected
| as the county seat? Mile Laos coun-
ty was organized by special act of the
legislature in 1859-6O and the same
year (1860) the United States nation
al census gave the county population
of 70 souls. Princeton village was or
ganized by special act of the legisla-
ture in March, 1877, although the orig
inal townsite was plated as early as
April, 1856. Naturally, when the coun-
ty was organized, Princeton was unan-
imously selected as the county seat,
for as matter Of fact the entire popu-
lation Of the county was living right in
Princeton or in the immediate neigh
borhood. Thus, in the beginning, the
county seat came to Princeton, in a
logical and natural way and without
discord or dissension.
From 1860 to 1888 the county was
practically without court house build
ing, as the population was small, the
valuation low, and the whole country
was just beginning to get its feet UNI
der it and recover from the bad after,[
| effects of the war. During this twen1
ty-eight year period the county used
all kinds Of makeshifts for court
house, and worried along the best it
could without a regular court house
until 1883. In the spring Of that year
an agitation for new court house was
under way as the county was then
celebrating it's 18th birthday, boosted
of population Of 1000, one incorpor-
ated village, Princeton, and three or
gained townships, Princeton, Green
bush and Milo. The upshot of the
whole affair was that on the 10th day
of July, 1888, the county board let a
contract to w. F. Chadbourne of Elk
River for the erection of a court house
at the agreed price Of $12,496. A site
had already been purchased and in the
spring of 1889 the county owned a
frst-class court house and site consist
! ing Of an entire block, right in the
downtown district Of Princeton, and
the whole plant had only cost the tax
payers about $4,000, including site.
This same court house and site is
what the county has today, the build
ing itself being 81 years old this
spring. The building is substantial
two and half story solid brick struc-
ture, standing upon granite founda-
ton, has basement and built-in
steam heating plant, is electric lighted,
well arranged and ventilated. It has
five built-in vaults that stand upon
solid granite foundations, steel outer
and inner doors and complete inside
equipment, most of which is steel.
These vaults were all thoroughly in
spected by the Toltz Engineering Co.
of St. Paul in May, 1915, and their COM
plete report, with diagrams and blue
prints, is now on file in the office Of
the county auditor, where they can be
seen and read by any one. Briefly,
the engineers report was that these
five vaults could be made practically
fire proof for the small estimated cost
of $500 and that even in their present
condition the worst that would proba-
bly, happen to the records in case of
total loss of the building by fire would
be a slight smoke and water damage.
These vaults are further augmented by
five large steel cabinets which are
guaranteed by the insurance under
writer's to be absolutely fire proof.
Two of these cabinets are in the audi
tors office and one each in the treas
lrer's, surveyors and sheriff's Offices.
There is room in the present building
for every county official whom the law
requires to have his office at the coun-
ty seat and, in fact, the court house to-
4 day cares for in the convenient manner