This is just one of several articles I plan to post about the courthouse issue.
The Caddo Herald
July 4, 1913
The Herald does not believe the people of Bryan county will at this time vote bonds for an $150,000 courthouse and jail. They need the money for various other purposes.
The Herald is opposed to the issuance of these bonds for many reasons, among them being:
Bryan County does not need a court house of this degree of fineness. One could be built for half the money that would answer all the purposes. It is nice to say that we have such an elegant building, but what about the bowed backs of the men who have to dig up to pay for it? What about the occupants of the hovels throughout the county who are the ones to be hurt by the large expenditure?
Bryan County now has pretty fair court quarters. We remember these same men who are now clamoring loudest for a new court house, five years ago were asking the people to favor Durant for county seat because such a nice building could be procured for a low rental, and that the building of a court house would not be necessary. The need of a jail is apparent to all, buy why swallow a court house and all to get a jail that could be built for $25,000 if built alone?
The rents we now pay for court quarters would not be enough to pay the janitor hire of the new building, much less meet the interest on the bonds and other necessary expenditures. If we had a new court house it would mean new furniture, new accommodations of every character, and more and more expenses to the county for upkeep.
Bryan County is in good financial shape because our people have consistently refused to bond it for any purpose and as long as they keep this up, the county will stay in good shape. If the people listen to the blandishments of the tony tongued orators of the county seat, every dollar they make will find its way to that town to be used in riotous expenditure for its aggrandizement.
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