People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1896 — Jasper County's New Court House. [ARTICLE]

Jasper County's New Court House.

To the Editor of the People’s Pilot. The statute requires that the board of commissioners shall keep all the public buildings in the county in repair and shall make the offices of clerk, recorder, treasurer and auditor fire proof if practicable Sec. 7833 R. S. 1894. The statute also provides that the board shall not make any contract to construct any court house until plans and specifications have been adopted and deposited in the auditor’s office for the inspection of the people of the county, and all contracts attempted to be made in violation of the provision for inspecting the plan and specifications shall be null and void. Sec. 5589 R. S. 1894. This statute contemplates that the people who pay for a court house should discuss and suggest what they deem advisable as to plans and specifications. The supreme court has held that changes may be made in details and minor particulars, even after specifications are prepared and filed and proposals to build are invited. One of the most important minor particulars connected with a safe, convenient and beautiful court house is the plan for heating and lighting the same. See Bass Foundry Co. vs. Board, 115 1nd.,234, and Board vs. Heating Co., 128 Ind., 240. The supreme court in the case of Kitchell vs. Board /decided that the county commissioners could not be enjoined from building a new court house unless it could be .shown that the decision of the board to build was influenced by corrupt or fraudulent means, or unjess the resolve to build was so prejudicial to the public interest as to create a conviction that such act could only have resulted from a palpable disregard of official duty. See 123 Ind., 540, 542. .

It seems that the county board of this county has determined that the old court house is insufficient and insecure. Plans and specifications could only be prepared by some one skilled in designing and drawing and also possessed of a practicable knowledge of building. At present the board of commissioners by the aid of an architect are trying to agree upon definite plans and specifications so that the contractor may know upon what to base an estimate of the cost. These specifications should be as perfect as possible so that there would be few occasions for other arrangements for extra work by reason of changes. The county of Jasper owns a lot across the street north east of the court house which is convenient to the jail and to the court house square. The heating and lighting apparatus for both court house and jail could be placed upon said lot and the county buildings heated by steam and lighted by gas or electricity with the apparatus therefor upon said lot. This would make the public buildings safer, more easily kept clean, more easily heated, better lighted, more comfortable and beautiful. The beating and lighting machinery is being taken away frotp all public buildings where practicable. This would make the insurance less and would in fact make the public offices almost perfectly free from liability and injury from fire, dust, or explosion. Why not in adopting plans and specifications utilize this lot and there manufacture materials to warm the buildings by day and light them by night. If we build why not build after the most approved pattern and according to the best rules for the preservation of the public records and the comfort of those who may be in said buildings? The citizens of the county might as well do all they can to get the best possible building for the money and let those who come after us foot as much of the bill as possible. Simon P. Thompson. Washington’s Birthday, 18%. [please note comments on above on page two. — Editor.]