Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1904 — EDWARDS A UNIQUE COUNTY. [ARTICLE]

EDWARDS A UNIQUE COUNTY.

Edwards County, commonly known as “Little Britain,” because it is one of the oldest counties in the State, nnd which was originally peopled with Englishmen to a large extent, is proud of the fact that it has SII,OOO in its treasury. A few years ago a fine new court house was built and within ten minutes after the contractor turned over the keys, the full amount of the contract price was handed to him. The county is also noted for the number of its substantial bridges, all of iron, as the public will not allow the construction of wood. There is not a single prisoner confined in the county jail, nor has there been for several years. The jail is used exclusively as a shelter for tramps

during the winter season. The| county almshouse is without a single inmate. The circuit court! in that model county seldom lasts | | over two days, owing to the re-i markable absence of litigation, ! in the past two years there has 1 I not been a single criminal case! | tried there, and but one jury ! trial in all that time, and that was j brought by a man who sued his j mother-in law for alienating his wife’s affections. The county lias’ I not sent a prisoner to the pen-1 | itentiary in 1)0 years, a record ! perhap,-. nneqnaled. In 30 years ( j there has been but one saloon in :he county, and that was operated ! but a single year. „\li of the en-' viable system of improvement*; 4 4ms-beetraeliiihed~without, |tie or*j (binary sourc - of revenue enjoyed : by oth r cc,nnti''3. It is the envy ■b* all neighboring'counties nnd is i foul! li-:- • unique in the United ! Slat. • Anil;':,.:. Exchange.