The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-08-27

1885. And it was proud county that
boosted of that splendid edifce then.
Then followed long period before
it was evident that the structuz
housing the courts and the Jail was
far from being able to fill all the
needs of the county. The courthouse
even today reports plaster loose,
floors shaking, stairs creaking. The
Jail is in pretty poor shape in spite
of the capable efforts of the sheriffs
during past years to keep. it inhabit-
able.
Waited Until Present Day.
Finally the agitation ball got roll
ing and on November 10, I91S-thirty-
three years later-the county board of
supervisors set aside from the gener-
al funds Of the county the sum of
100000 as a fund for the purchase
of real estate and the erection of a
new courthouse and Jail. This sum was
taken from the money collected in
taxes in 1918. A committee consisting
of Supervisors Scott, Fleming and
Dowse was elected by the board to
act as a site committee.
On November 20, 1918, a resolu.
tion was passed by the county board
authorizing the county clerk to draw
county orders in payment of a court
house site. In the meantime the
committee was seeking desirable lo-
cation and when the county board met
on January 16, 1919, it eliminated all
sites selected for a courthouse with
the exception of the Pennefeather and
English blocks. The board finally
selected the English block, purchased
for the sum of $94 $4,000. The county
selected from the sale of building on
this block the sum of $10,S60.
Appoint Building Committee.
On March 10, 1919, building COM
mittee of five supervisors was elected
by the board as follows; Supervisors
Strangberg, Dowse, Kline, Scott and
Fleming. On March Ia, 1919, ten
architects submitted sketches and
plans for the building of a new court
house and Jail.
The first bids received by the coun-
ty board for the project were excess
sive, exceeding 100000 and these
were rejected. Nothing happened but
more agitation appeared on the hori-
ION for the next two years, until on
November 80, 1921, the county board
unanimously passed a resolution set
ting aside the county's share of the
income tax receipts as a sinking fund
for the purpose of paying for a new
courthouse and Jail. The finance com.
mittee was instructed to invest the
money in. United States government
securities. In March, 1922, the pro-
ject was again brought up and it was
suggested that 100000 bond issue
to spread over q period of twenty
years be presented for passage. A
new building committee was elected,
consisting of Supervisors White,
Dowse, Zerfas, Cook and Sorrensen.
On March 80, 1922, architects again
submitted sketches and the contract
was finally awarded TO those plans of
Lindl Lesser and Schuette.
Morris Barnett, in the capacity of
district attorney, drew up all of the
contracts and bonds connected with
, the new. courthouse.
Snapped Sites With City.
Then came the swap of sites between
the county and the city. The city,
gave up the site on which the new
courthouse now stands in trade for
Il the site on which the high school is
now being built.
On December 2s, 1922, sealed bids
were received for the construction Of
the new courthouse and jail and the
contracts awarded as detailed in an
other column. On January 3, 1923,
contracts were signed. The site was
cleared of buildings on October l.,
1923. On that day the 100000 bond
issue mentioned above was sold to
the r. M. Grant company, Chicago,
at premium of $7,075. Actual work
of construction went on through that
winter and on November ID, 1923 the
cornerstone was laid amid impressive
and elaborate ceremonies.
The county boards plan of financ-
ing the project has made it possible
for the major portion of the money
required to build the building to be
paid for through the county's share
of income taxes collected each year.
In addition to the 100000 secured
through the bond issue, the county
has raised approximately $4,000
through income tax receipts and this
money has been applied on the build
ing. 1t is the present plan to use the
income tax money each Gear to retire
a portion of the bond issue-fguring
approximately $4,000 each year in
addition to the interest on the entire
principal. In that way the county is
given painless way to pay for itJ
courthouse without the necessity Of
levying an extra penny for taxes. But :
how long this money will continue I
to come in as it has now depends on ,
the whims and fancies of the state
legislature. Last year the income tax
bill was materially altered, and the
tax problem was changed--but that IL
another story.