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Show A Statement to the Tax-paying Voters of Sanpete County Having called a special election for the purpose of submitting to thi qualified voters of the county the question of issuing bonds for the erection erec-tion of a suitable Court House, we deem it proper to submit a brief statement state-ment of the reasons which impel the call for action at this time, namely: 1st The Need The present building is absolutely inadequate for modern requirements require-ments of the respective offices of the county and the proper accomodations of witnesses, jurors, the court and the general public. The crowding of several departments into one room seriously impairing the efficiency and econ mical management of each. It is notoriously and rediculously out of keeping with the dignity and wealth of our Commonwealth which, while fifth in importance in the state, stands but 25th or practically at the foot of the list in court house facilities! facili-ties! A fact whicti alone should appeal to the pride and patriotism of every ev-ery citizen of our constituency. It is not fire or burglar proof! AND EVERYDAY EV-ERYDAY WE ARE RISKING THE LOSS OF PRICELESS DOCUMENTS WHICH NO AMOUNT OF MONEY COULD EVER REPLACE! Ordinarily we do not require much of a jail, but recent experiences prove the necessity of better security for the skilled and professional class of criminal element which occassionally must be detained. 2nd Tne Proposition In our opinion, imperative necessity demands that one of two things must be done at once; either a new and convenient structure erected or the present superannuated building remodelled and enlarged. Thorough investigation convinces us the latter move would prove but temporary, and A WASTE OF MONEY, while the former plan commends itself to all thoughtful citizens as the wisest thing to do. The estimated cost may seem high to some but it covers everything and is easily within our reach as the following carefully compiled statistics show: Sanpete County Has No Bonded or Other Indebtedness The assessed valuation for last year was $5,180,403.00; a levy of ONE MILL (or $1.00 per $1,000) will be more than sufficient to pay the interest on the proposed bonds of $70,000., at 5 percent and provide asinking fund for their retirement at the end of the twenty year period. Ten years ago (1903) the assessed valuation. of the -county (exclusive of sheep) was $4,277,696.00 while now it is exclusive of sheep $5,180,-468.00 $5,180,-468.00 a gain of $902,772.00 or $90,270 per year sheep are excluded because be-cause under the present law they are assessed in other counties. These figures show that the interest can be met and the bonds paid without at any time imposing more than a maximum tax of one mill as stated, while the assurance of a fair measure of property as in the past plainly shows that less than one mill levy will care for the proposed bonds. Taxes for our schools generally run from 10 to 30 mills annually while this proposal is for one-tenth of one per cent ONLY! And it is interesting ta note that about 50 per cent of the tax-payers would pay less than $1.00 pex year each. 3rd In Conclusion Your Board of Commissioners would emphasize the fact that the desire de-sire to serve the best interests of all the people of Sanpete county alone actuates it in this most important matter, and it urgently requests each and every tax-paying citizen to closely and impartially consider the proposition propo-sition presented, take time to fully study the question, and then register his or her judgement at the polls on June 16th, next, that a full and representative rep-resentative expression of the people may be obtained. Very respectfully yours, C. M. Madsen, Chairman. James Anderson, Jr. Peter Mortenson. . Manti, Utah, May 31, 1913. |