The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-03-17
Back the New Court House Tomorrow

Voters Of Burleigh county have a duty to perform at
the polls, tomorrow, which comes closer to their personal
welfare than an ordinary election at which county Off
cials are chosen, when they express their attitude on the
proposed new court house in the form Of a ballot.
This time they are called on to say whether or not U1eg
are in favor Of providing greater security for their in
vestn1ents in properties and homes. Their titles TO all
their farms and residences, business establishments and
industrial plants are a matter largely Of official records
stored in the present old and r1ckety fire-trap which has
for more than 40 years served the county as a court
house and county office buindirg.
As long as no fire occurs, the properly owners ana
taxpayers Of the county get by in their daily assumption
Of risk. Bit whether this safety will continue thus when
disester is virtually invited day in and day out. is a mat
ter for pause and. in fact, for action. 1t is not GOOD
Indictment to trust to luck so long.
This is an era OF fire menace. Millions arc lost daily
in flame and smoke. Fire peril turks all around. 1t is
the day Of the careless smoker, who losses a burning
cigaret butt where it can be Of vast harm and often is,
as iii the great forest fires which sweep the timber
country every summer and in other instances. as the in
stisation or destructive fires in hotels and other big
structures.
Conceivaoly a cigar or cigaret butt tossed carelessly and
llnthinkincly on the greasy floors Of tho old court house
may some day bring about the disaster 50 long talked
about without doing anything about 1.-THE burning Of
the old building and its irraplaceable county records.
Aside from the peril of fire, which is a consideration
that the most obtuse taxpayer cannot reject, there arc
other reasons for replacing the present eyesore OF a
county building with A structure befittinr che county
and city In which are located the states capital, One
is the consideration Of dignity. The present building
LACKS all sense Of that and violates every tenet and canon
Of civic taste.
Then. there are sanitation and health. No court house
should be such an architectural hive Of anemic unrildi-
ness as IS this old rookery. It reeks with tnsanitary con
ditions. inviting the spread Of c~ontaeion ana injection,
imperfIling not only those who discharge official func-
tions there. but the transient taxpayer VINO comes to Il
when called on legal business Or court sessions which
claim service as a Juror or attendance as a witness.
IN edition, the offices should be relieved Of their
tunky, because inadequate, filing facilities and real ac-
commodations In this line should be provided The Old
fixtures could be supplemented, but in such patchwork
there is no virtue. Already there has been too much
patchwork. The time has come TO make 4 clean sweep.
Everybody who knows anything about il knows that that
implies a new court house and iaii-a building which
shall be adequate and properly equipped and which in
architectural appearance shall at the same time provide
that artistic touch which the dignity Of a leading county
Of the state, containing It's capital city, deserves.
The tribune can see no other argument than those
In favor Of a new court house. Whether agreeing with
this view or dissenting, the duty Of every taxpayer, to-
morrow, is to go to the polls and express his Judgment
on the proposal.
Especially those taxpayers who are In favor Of the new
building. 1t we're a crime If among them there should
be recreants SO indifferent to their own vote being cast
that they neglect that opportunity and duty. There vii,
be some opposition, and In neglect there might be an
opportunity for what seems an unbeatable minority to
triumph by the default Of the friends Of the project.