Knox County, Illinois - The whole text, 1912 (part 3 of 56)

In 1873 he was succeeded by Alfred M. Craig, who held a seat on that bench until 1900. His opinions are found in volumes 67 to i86 inclusive and are noted for their clearness and hard common sense. He displayed g^eat legal acumen in adapting judicial principles to new and changing conditions, without being chargeable with judicial legislation. In a case involving the question of the right of school directors to provide separate schools for colored children, in which the supreme court judges were divided in opinion. Judge Craig held with the majority, that while school directors had large discretionary powers, yet they had no right to discriminate between children on account of color or social condition. He wrote the opinion in the famous Illinois Central Railroad case, involving the right of the railroad company under its charter to submerged lands along the lake front in Chicago, in which it was decided that the state held the title to the lands within its boundaries covered by the waters of Lake Michigan, in trust for the people and that the state had no right to sell such lands.

Arthur A. Smith, judge of the circuit court from 1867 to 1894, was born in Batavia, Ohio. He graduated from Knox College in 1853. He studied law for a while in New York and afterwards in Peoria and was admitted to the bar and opened a law office in Galesburg in 1855. At the breaking out of the Civil war he helped to organize the 83rd Regiment of Illinois Infantry, of which he was elected lieutenant colonel. He served his country well until the close of the war, when he was mustered out with the rank of brigadier general. For a short time after the close of the war. General Smith remained at Clarksville, but returned to Galesburg in 1866, where he resumed the practice of law. In the early part of 1867, he was appointed circuit judge to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge John S. Thompson of Mercer county. ' - . - v ;' -

In pursuance of the policy announced in the preface of this history, it is now our intention to write up the several matters of interest to the people of this county in such detail as to present them as they really occurred.

In our third chapter it seemed natural and convenient to attach an account of the construction of the first court house and jail to the account of the final organization of the courts and the election of the county and township or district officers. We were explicit in everything pertaining to the construction of the court house, but the jail does not appear in so much detail on the record. In fact, it does not seem to have been fully paid for until the year 1838.

Since that time two court houses and two jails have been erected in Knox county. All of these buildings were fine structures for the times in which they were built, and it will be seen from the account here given, that they were all thoroughly well built, and that there was never the slightest evidence or suspicion of fraud or dishonesty in the work. It was the writer's pleasure and honor to have been county clerk during the construction of the present court house, and he wishes here' to state that during all that period the men comprising the county board of Knox county were men of honor and ability and would have been a credit to any state legislature of any state of the Union.

In December, 1836, it appears from the records that the county commissioners were moved to consider the question of again building a court house. The log structure which was erected at the start, and costing less than $400, was in the very nature of things temporary and designed only to meet the then pressing needs of the county. It does 'not appear from the records that there had been any previous discussion upon this subject on the part of the people, but we find a simple order directing the preparation of plans with the provision for advertising the same and placing those plans where they would be accessible to such architects as might be found in the then new cities of the state. The following orders appear of record :

ORDERED: That Henry J. Runkle (or some other person whom he may employ) be requested to furnish three copies of a suitable draft for a court house to be erected in the town of Knoxville, of the following description: The main building to be 40 feet wide by 50 feet in length with a portico in front of suitable proportion, supported by stone pillars. The basement story to be of stone and to be divided in the middle lengthwise by a hall or passage and one side divided into three apartments, and the other side in four apartments, and the main building to be of brick, the whole to be of suitable proportion.

be inserted in the newspapers printed at Peoria and Quincy. That sealed proposals will be received at the office of the clerk of this court until the March term of this court for said building in separate contracts : one for the walls and outside of said building, and the other for the inside work of said building, having reference, to the said drafts for particular information, the said drafts to be deposited with the clerks of the county commissioners courts of the counties of Knox, Peoria and Adams.

It appears further that the foregoing advertisements did not result in the production of any plans or at least any plans that were satisfactory, for we find the following order entered of record at the March term, to which term of court plans were to be returned.

ORDERED: That Eldert Runkle, one of the commissioners of this court, be and he is hereby appointed and authorized on the behalf of said court to procure a suitable draft or drafts of a court house for said county, previous to the next regular term of this court. . : . j : - J^ ^ '- ^

The county commissioners' record does not make any statement in regard to plans and specifications for court house filed pursuant to notice given at the September term of court. Plans and specifications were, however, filed with the clerk of the court, but were probably too elaborate and were therefore not entered of record ; but we find a contract for the building of a new court house for the sum of $15,450, made and entered into with Alvah Wheeler and Zelotes Cooley, who at that time lived in Hancock county, Illinois. This contract is given below as it is made for the erection of the building which now stands in the public square at Knoxville, and is therefore of sufficient interest to the peopie of this county to copy it from the records which are scarcely ever seen, and make it a matter of historic value by including it in this history of Knox county. The following is the contract :

Alvah Wheeler and Zelotes Cooley have entered into contract with the commissioners of Knox county in articles of agreement as follows: This agreement made and entered into this tenth day of March, A. D., 1838, between AJvah Wheeler and Zelotes Cooley of Hancock county, in the state of Illinois of the first part, and Jos Rowe, James Ferguson and Eldert Runkle, county commissioners of the said county of Knox in said state of Illinois on behalf of said county of Knox of the second part, Witnesseth: That the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the covenants on the part of the said party of the second part hereinafter mentioned, hereby covenants and agrees to and with the said party of the second part and their successors in office to furnish the materials for and to erect and build a court house in the town of Knoxville, in said county of Knox (upon such site as shall be designated by the said party of the second part) agreeably to certain plans and specifications by them filed with the clerk of the county commissioners' court of said county of Knox (to which plans and specifications reference is herein had, and they are made a part of this agreement), the said court house to be fully completed and finished (agreeably to said plans and specifications), on or before the first day of May, A. D., 1840.

In consideration whereof, the said party of the second part for themselves and their successors in office hereby covenant and agree to and with the said party of the first part to pay to the said party of the first part, the sum of fifteen thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars at the times and in the manner following, to-wit: To advance to the said party of the first part (when this agreement is executed), the sum of one thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars (which sum is to be secured to the said party of the second part by good personal security to be by them approved), and tb make further payments from time to time (as often as once per month as required by the said party of the first part) as the work progresses proportioned to the progress thereof, so that the last payment shall be made when the said court house is completed. And it is mutually understood and agreed by and between the parties that in estimating the progress of said building reference shall be had to the value of the materials provided therefor and of the labor bestowed thereon, so that the said party of the first part may (whenever an estimate is made) be paid a sum proportioned to the advancement of the work, and it is further mutually agreed by and between the parties that if at any time they shall not agree upon the amounts which should then be paid, that then each party shall nominate one person who together shall estimate the progress of said work and fix the amount which is at that time to be paid to the said party of the first part and if the two persons thus nominated shall disagree they two shall appoint a third person to act as umpire, whose decision shall be final in the premises, and the said party of the second part shall thereupon pay to the said party of the first part the sum fixed by said umpire.

And the said party of the first part further covenants and agrees to and with the said party of the second part, that whenever any materials by them provided for said court house shall have been estimated, and they shall have received the payment based upon such estimate, that then the materials so estimated shall be considered and shall be the absolute property of the said party of the second part, subject however to be used in and about the building of said court house by the said party of the first part. It is 'further mutually understood and agreed by and between the parties aforesaid that if the said party of the second part shall deem it expedient to make any change or alteration in the plans or specifications that then such change or alteration shall be made in such building and if such change or alteration increases the expense of said court house, that then the said party of the second part shall pay the said party of the first part (in addition to the gross sum above mentioned) a reasonable compensation, proportioned to such increased expense, and on the other hand, if any such change or changes shall diminish the expense of said building, that then the said parties of the first part shall make a reasonable deduction from said gross sum, proportioned to such diminished expense. In witness of which said several premises the said parties have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals the day and year first above written.

' Messrs. Wheeler and Cooley entered into bond in the penal sum of $28,000 with the county commissioners with Moses Stevens, Sidney H. Little, Wesley Williams, David W. Matthews, Thos. L. Barnes and Jesse B. Winn of Hancock county, state of Illinois as sureties and John G. Sanborn. Parnach Owen, Herman Knox, Enos Pomeroy, Robert L. Hannaman, Geo. A. Charles and George

Newman of the county of Knox and state of Illinois also as sureties. The county commissioners at this time were Joseph Rowe, James Ferguson and Eldert Runkle. This court house was completed in good shape by the contractors but it is a little interesting to know that at the start they proceeded to borrow from Knox county the sum of $1,450 and gave a note therefor signed by nearly all of the men who were upon their bond as sureties. The following is a copy of the note.

$1,450 - On or before the first day of July next, we jointly and severally promise to pay to Joseph Rowe, James Ferguson and Eldert Ruukle, county commissioners of Knox county, or to their successors in office, the sum of one thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars for value received. .V'. . '- ; V > x

This contract for the new court house placed the county where it had to raise :V ' .;'- 'x' money to meet the payments on the same. Accordingly on the same day in which ; - V; v. . .; the contract was entered into, the county commissioners entered the following vvv.;.. V order for the collection of a part of the money which had been loaned out from :.;;:' '.v'^ time to time. i ;- . ;

ORDERED : That the treasurer notify all persons (owing money due the county) .. - ';. to pay to said treasurer the twenty-four percentum, as ordered by the commis- A ---'.;'.- sioners court at March term and interest, and that he notify Lester J. Gillett, Geo. , - ./; -.,^''.; Losey and Gilbert Buckingham, to pay in (as required above) and to renew their .. ..: * -' - .; bonds with approved securities. "^^ '. : j;

And that the treasurer is hereby authorized to put in suit all notes, that are \;'. - ' not paid as above specified and to employ an attorney for that purpose. - ' ?' :

The court house plans as originally drawn did not provide for a cupola. It '- ':' ' ' r. .was afterwards concluded that it better have one for then as now a court house .'-' :.4 .> without a cupola or a dome did not seem quite in keeping with the architecture -V?-';:-' of public buildings. Accordingly at the January special term 1839 the following .: .'- order was entered pursuant to the agreement with the contractors. Wheeler and ,.'-:?> - Cooley. ..'-.-

ORDERED: That the plan and specifications for a cupola on the court house, -"' .> be filed, plan marked letter A., specifications marked B., and the same be con- "'; ;' sidered a contract in accordance with said plan and specifications, and is made "^ ^ - a part of the original contract, for building the court house, with \Vheeler and i; > Cooley. The consideration for building said cupola as per specifications to be :: . . - seven hundred and twenty-five dollars. '-"' at that time which it is doubtful would be made at the present time considering that the brick then burned were so soft and porous. This order is also given: ORDERED: That Wheeler and Cooley be and they are hereby requested to alter so much of the court-house contract as requires the furrowing and lathing of the inside walls of the house, and the same be plastered on the brick work, the difference of expense to be deducted from original contract. . By the March term of the county commissioners court 1839 the court house was sufficiently advanced to consider the question of painting the exterior of the building. The following order will show the color agreed upon. Some of our older citizens may remember the first color given the building, which was

ORDERED: That Wheeler and Cooley be and they are hereby authorized to paint the outside of the court house cream color, the difference of expense of paint to be allowed on their contract.

. - Again in the June term 1839 the county commissioners decided to add to the plans and specifications with which the contract was originally made. This addition is fully described in the following order:

ORDERED : That Wheeler and Cooley are to be allowed four hundred dollars for putting on the court house Venetian blinds for all the windows, except the lower side lights to be finished complete, in proportion to the rest of the building. Also sixty dollars for deafening the court room fioor and the stairs, also fi'fteen dollars for putting in folding doors between the two first offices on the west side, the whole to be finished in a good and substantial manner. An allowance has been made in the above contract for not putting in the two doors in the two north offices as specified in the original contract.

ORDERED : That John Eads be and is hereby authorized to furnish a lightning rod for the court house, out of ^ of an inch iron, at 19 cents per pound, the silver plating of the points to be allowed for at cost.

At the December term 1839 of the county commissioners court of Knox county on the 4th day of December a final settlement was had with Wheeler and Cooley for the construction of the court house and the following orders were entered :

ORDERED: That at the settlement with Wheeler and Cooley for building the court house in Knoxville, the sum of one thousand three hundred and two dollars is due to Zelotes Cooley on the same and that he be allowed interest on the same at the rate of twelve per centum per annum.

ORDERED: That at the settlement with Wheeler and Cooley for building the court house in Knoxville the sum of one thousand, three hundred and two dollars is due to Alvah Wheeler and that he be allowed interest on the same at the rate of twelve per centum per annum.

At the March term 1840 further action was taken in regard to the court house. A table for the bar in the court room to be covered was ordered at a cost of $12 without the cover. At the same term it was deemed advisable to get some income from the court house and the following orders were entered:

ORDERED: That the clerk of the court rent the two upper jury rooms at one dollar and twenty five cents per month each subject to the use of the jurors at that time which it is doubtful would be made at the present time considering that the brick then burned were so soft and porous. This order is also given:

ORDERED: That Wheeler and Cooley be and they are hereby requested to alter so much of the court-house contract as requires the furrowing and lathing of the inside walls of the house, and the same be plastered on the brick work, the difference of expense to be deducted from original contract. )

By the March term of the county commissioners court 1839 the court house was sufficiently advanced to consider the question of painting the exterior of the building. The following order will show the color agreed upon. Some of our older citizens may remember the first color given the building, which was yellow.

ORDERED: That Wheeler and Cooley be and they are hereby authorized to paint the outside of the court house cream color, the difference of expense of paint to be allowed on their contract. ' I

Again in the June term 1839 the county commissioners decided to add to the plans and specifications with which the contract was originally made. This addition is fully described in the following order:

ORDERED : That Wheeler and Cooley are to be allowed four hundred dollars for putting on the court house Venetian blinds for all the windows, except the lower side lights to be finished complete, in proportion to the rest of the building. Also sixty dollars for deafening the court room floor and the stairs, also fifteen dollars for putting in folding doors between the two first offices on the west side, the whole to be finished in a good and substantial manner. An allowance has been made in the above contract for not putting in the two doors in the two north offices as specified in the original contract.

ORDERED: That John Eads be and is hereby authorized to furnish a lightning rod for the court house, out of -% of an inch iron, at 19 cents per pound, the silver plating of the points to be allowed for at cost.

At the December term 1839 of the county commissioners court of Knox county on the 4th day of December a final settlement was had with Wheeler and Cooley for the construction of the court house and the following orders were entered :

ORDERED: That at the settlement with Wheeler and Cooley for building the court house in Knoxville, the sum of one thousand three hundred and two dollars is due to Zelotes Cooley on the same and that he be allowed interest on the same at the rate of twelve per centum per annum.

ORDERED: That at the settlement with Wheeler and Cooley for building the court house in Knoxville the sum of one thousand, three hundred and two dollars is due to Alvah Wheeler and that he be allowed interest on the same at the rate of twelve per centum per annum.

At the March term 1840 further action was taken in regard to the court house. A table for the bar in the court room to be covered was ordered at a cost of $12 without the cover. At the same term it was deemed advisable to get some income from the court house and the following orders were entered:

ORDERED: That the clerk of the court rent the two upper jury rooms at one dollar and twenty five cents per month each subject to the use of the jurors and the lower north west corner room at two dollars and eight and a half cents, and if the lessees will put in good cylinder coal stoves, they can relinquish the same to the county at cost in rent if any one wishes to rent the same for office, etc. ORDERED: That the north east room in court house, lower floor, be rented to Walker L. Bean for twenty-five dollars, and a lease given for the same.

ORDERED: That the middle room in court house lower floor east side be ' rented to Julius Manning for forty dollars and lease given for the same.

ORDERED: That the middle room in the court house lower floor west side be rented to C. K. Harvey and John Jackson for twenty five dollars subject for the use of the commissioners court for court purposes.

ORDERED : That the clerk put up notices to sell the old court house without the lot, to be sold to the highest bidder on the ist day of April, and also the letting of a fence round the court house to be let at the same time, specifications for fence and terms for the sale of the court house will be made known at day ; . of sale.

.,' . The old court house is hereby sold to Alvah Wheeler for the sum of eighty ;. nine dollars and fifty cents, for which a note is filed, said Wheeler is to have . -, two years use of the lots it now stands on.

court house as appears from the following entry upon our record. ;.:;vv ; -: Zelotes Cooley stated an account due him from county of Knox as follows:

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasury in favor of Zelotes Cooley for four hundred and eighty two dollars and sixty one cents for account as above stated. '^ A :-'-';:-.'--:--'- - ' ' -V V money was formerly considered by the board of supervisors and if a little care be taken to examine the ayes and nays it will be found that the division in the ^ board was shown in a singular uniformity.

At the January meeting, 1858, supervisor Charles offered the following resolution for making certain changes in the court house. '.-';:.;--'.' .1 V

Resolved, that the board deem it expedient to repair and enlarge the court room, by taking out all partition walls in the upper story, and make it one room, and that we appoint an agent to contract and superintend the work and have it done as soon as convenient and render an account to this board. . Resolved, That the chair appoint a committee of three to take into consideration the property or expediency of enlarging, improving or repairing the court house; to take into consideration the different ways of making such alteration or improvement, with the probable expense of such different alterations, and to report to next meeting of this board. ; . ' -^ /-' ; ' ;-'^V' .;/]:'

Supervisor Miles read report of committee appointed at last meeting of the board to make estimates of the expense of alterations and repairs to the court house and present plans for such alterations, when on motion of supervisor Charles the report was received and the committee discharged. . -' I " -'

Supervisor Charles brought up the matter of enlargement of the court room and repairs to court house, when supervisor Martin offered the following resolution :

Resolved, That it is inexpedient to make any repairs to the court house at present. Which was discussed at length when Supervisor Charles offered a resolution to postpone action on said motion until tomorrow morning - carried.

. and repaired according to plans presented to this board, by the committee ap- ; pointed at previous meeting and in such manner as not to cost over five hundred dollars, and present bill at next meeting of the board.

The yeas and nays being demanded, resulted. Yeas, Messrs. Routh, Charles, LeBaron, Godfrey, Miles, McCornack, Stuckey, Knable, Jarnagin, Shinn and Tucker, ii. Nays, Messrs. Meek, Kelly, Gale, Brown, Titus, Martin, Holyoke and Gibbs, 8. Resolution substituted.

The yeas and nays being called for, the vote resulted - Yeas, Messrs. Kelly, Gale, Brown, Martin, Holyoke and Gibbs, 6. Nays, Messrs. Routh, Charles, LeBaron, Godfrey, Miles, McCornack, Stuckey, Knable, Shinn, Tucker, Jarnagin, II, so the substitute was lost.

Resolved, That the subject of repairs and alterations be referred to a committee to report in full at the next meeting, full specifications and estimates of ' the cost of repairs and alterations according to the plan presented by the com- . mittee of the last meeting.

Yeas and nays were demanded on adoption of substitute, resulting as follows : Yeas, .Messrs. Meek, Kelly, Gale, Brown, Titus, Martin, LeBaron and Gibbs - 8. Nays, Messrs. Routh. Charles, Holyoke, Godfrey, Miles, McCornack, Stuckey, Knable, Shinn, Tucker and Jarnagin - ii. So the substitute was lost.

Supervisor Miles then offered the following resolution as a substitute for the resolution of supervisor Charles, which substitute was accepted by supervisor Charles, as follows, to-wit:

Resolved, That Z. Cooley be appointed to have the court room enlarged and repaired according to the plan presented to this board by the committee appointed by a former board. Provided the same can be done in a good and workmanlike manner, according to said plan, and Provided, said repairs and alterations can be done at a cost to the county, not exceeding four hundred and fifty dollars; and if the said Cooley cannot contract for or do the work and have the same completed for that sum, he is not to commence the job.

September 1866. - The committee appointed at the April meeting of the board to complete repairs and paint halls of court house and offices, made the following report. To the Board of Supervisors: .- ;'"'--...;"> ^r :--:-...; :^.r --;>.-

Your committee appointed at the April meeting 1866, to complete repairs and painting of the court house halls, sheriff's and jury rooms, would report, That they engaged one Kellar to do the work, that after cleaning the work and puttying up, no painting having been done for some 28 years, and the wood work very much out of repair; they found the work of Mr. Kellar not such as they could approve; and therefore procured other and competent painters, engaging Mr. Ball of Galesburg, to do a job similar to that done in the court room, at the rate of $3.50 per day, which was the lowest we could obtain a competent ^::' hand for. '':' ^/.^'''''..^-^/O -iv;"^ '-"'::.'' . ; ' : ,-.f/ ./>V :

This seems to be the last expenditure ever made on the Knoxville court house by the county. An election for the removal of the county seat to Galesburg was : ; held eleven years later which resulted in removal to that place in February, 1873.

The city of Galesburg was obligated to furnish fire proof county offices, court and jury rooms for ten years after removal so nothing appears on record in regard to court house matters until about the time this ten-year period had expired. There we find the following at the ' ~'j ;'. '

Resolved, That the judiciary committee be directed to inquire and report at the next meeting of the board, whether any measures must be taken during the current year to secure adequate provisions for court and jury rooms for the use of the county, and to make to the board such recommendations as the case seems to require.

July meeting, 1878. - Mr. Temple, from committee on judiciary and clerk's offices, to whom was referred the resolution of Mr. Gale adopted at the last April meeting of the board in regard to court house, presented the following report: , ; . ... .^;>..v ;, . - i

Your committee would respectfully report in regard to the resolution of Mr. Gale, at the April meeting, under which the committee were instructed to inquire into the necessity of taking action during the coming year, towards securing rooms for circuit court, that the committee met at the county clerk's office and examined papers on file relating to the removal of the county seat; and while it may be an open question as to the expiration of the term of ten years for which the city of Galesburg is bound to furnish buildings for court house purposes, the committee conferred with owners of the present rooms occupied for such purposes, and other proprietors of rooms in the city, and received offers as follows :

From the proprietors of the opera house, they received an offer of the use of the present court room at $i,ooo per year. From !Mr. John Johnston, proprietor of Caledonia Hall, received an offer of his rooms at $400 per year, the county to be at the expense of any changes required for heating, ventilating, etc. And would respectfully leave it to the board to judge from these offers whether any immediate action is necessary.

Whereas, It seems to be an open question as to when the lease of the opera house for county purposes expires under the contract ; therefore ; .' ; . j

Resolved, That the judiciary committee be directed to examine the papers and investigate the matter, and that said committee report to the board at the September meeting, 1878.

Your committee would further report, that in relation to the resolution of Mr. Sellon, referring the subject of providing court rooms, etc., for the circut court, that they have met and discussed the question, and would recommend that in view of the uncertainty and difference of opinion, as to the obligation of the city of Galesburg to furnish buildings beyond the coming spring, a contract be executed between the board and the proprietors of the rooms at present occupied, provided the rooms be furnished on the same terms as at present, said contract to take effect from and after the expiration of the time for which the city of Galesburg is bound to furnish the same.

The committee have decided to present to the board the contract and other papers bearing upon the subject, believing that the information desired can be better supplied by the reading of these documents, than by an expression of

On motion th^ report of the committee was accepted and adopted (except as to report in relation to rooms for circuit court), and orders directed to issue in accordance with recommendations of committee.

Mr. Gale made a statement in regard to present contract and obligations on the part of the city, leasing rooms, now occupied for court purposes, and offered the following resolution :

Resolved, That the chairman and clerk of this board be authorized to contract with the owners of the opera house in Galesburg, for use of court rooms at the rates now paid by the city of Galesburg and with like conditions, for a term to .commence at the end of the term of lease to the city, and to terminate on six months' notice.

' ' Mr. Sellon, wishing to offer a minority report, Mr. Gale withdrew his resolutions, when Mr. Sellon made the following minority report: ' : Mr. Chairman and Members of the Board:

Your committee appointed for the purpose of investigating the papers and facts as to the extent of the lease of court rooms and offices, having carefully examined all the papers bearing upon the lease of the opera house for county purposes, including the lease and stipulations, find the following indisputable facts to exist :

First. The city of Galesburg is bound by stipulations to furnish, free of cost to the county, suitable rooms for county and court purposes for a term of years not to exceed ten. ^. ' - -v- ^ i:^^.- ::^ :-

Second. A lease was obtained by the city from Messrs. Bfechwald & Co. for the use of the opera house for court and county purposes, during the term as specified in the above named stipulations, viz., ten years. -

In view of these facts a minority, and perhaps a majority of your committee, are of the opinion that the obligation of the city to the county is not cancelled, and will not be under the contract until January, 1883, and we would respectfully recommend that this board be governed in their action by the facts in the case.

We would further state, that we have had no official communication with the city authorities as to the terms of termination of said lease, and we have reason to believe that the city will, in good faith, fulfill her obligations to the county in this regard.

Mr. Gale then renewed the resolution for the adoption of his resolution last before offered, and the resolution of Mr. Gale was also adopted. ; January meeting, 1879. - The clerk presented report of special committee, .' appointed at last meeting of the board, in relation to renting opera house for court purposes; which report -was referred to committee on judiciary and clerks' offices.

April meeting, 1879. - Mr. Gale (W. S.) presented the following report of the city council of the city of Galesburg, in regard to furnishing court and jury rooms for the county: To His Honor the Mayor and City Council:

By special statute, authority was given the city to contract with commissioners appointed by the county board, upon certain terms and conditions. Under that authority, the city, in March, 1869, contracted with the commissioners to furnish a site for a court house, a site for a jail, a lot for clerks' offices, and to . erect on such lot a suitable building; to pay to the county $20,000, to be applied in the erection of a jail, and to furnish the county with suitable court and jury - rooms until a court house should be erected, but not to exceed a period of ten years. The contract to be void in case the majority of votes cast at the county seat election in April, 1869, should be against removal to Galesburg; else in full force.

At such April election a majority of the votes cast were for removal; and the city did fully perform every condition except the last named, and did tender to the circuit court at its first term held thereafter, suitable rooms.

The expense to the city of the performance of this contract was about , $40,000, all of which was paid immediately after the said election. .;.,--. I ; But the advantage expected to result from this expenditure was not realized for four years thereafter, owing to the fact that the canvassing board declared the result otherwise than in favor of removal ; and until the action of the board was pronounced erroneous in the circuit court, and the decision of the supreme court affirming such decision in the circuit court was published, the county officers refused to recognize Galesburg as the county seat.

During all this time the city of Galesburg was paying interest on its public debt, $40,000 larger than it would have been but for the expenditure above re-

- and anxious to secure the expected advantage at the further cost of providing court and jury rooms. In February, 1873, the county offices were removed to

- Galesburg, and since that time the city has provided court and jury rooms. :. ' Next month, ten years will have expired since the contract spoken of became in force, and since the city has, so far as it was permitted to, performed its part of the contract; and since that time there has been no default on the part of the city.

Your committee have no means of knowing the views that will prevail in the county board, and are of the opinion that if possible all collision with the county board likely to result in expense or inconvenience to the public should be carefully avoided, and recommend,

That the finance committee be authorized and directed to communicate with the county board; to inform the board that the opinion of the council is that the city is not under obligation to further furnish court and jury rooms; and in case the county board shall not concur in such opinion the finance committee be authorized to arrange with the county board for a speedy reference to the courts of the questions in dispute. i ^^ '- ^: ' " . ' - "

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true transcript of a report of the finance- committee, adopted by the city council of the city of Galesburg at a meeting held on March 8, 1879.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the official seal of said city, this eleventh day of April, 1879. . : .;;.:

Resolved, That a committee, to consist of Messrs. Aldrich, Benson, Corey, Robson and Harden be appointed to confer with committee of the city council of Galesburg, and arrange for a prompt reference of the question named in the communication of the city council to the courts.

Resolved, That the judiciary committee be authorized, if necessary, to make temporary arrangements for court and jury rooms until the next meeting of this board.

Resolved, That the committee to whom was referred the question concern-.' ing court and jury rooms, be authorized to employ counsel to assist the state's attorney, if in their judgment they deem it necessary.

April meeting, 1880. - Mr. Robson, from special committee in regard to the suit between the city of Galesburg and the county, involving the rent of court and jury rooms, presented the following report: ,';-:.; '?.,= rv..;:.. - '

Your committee to whom was referred the communication of the mayor and city council of Galesburg, in regard to the matter of furnishing to the county, court and jury rooms, beg leave to report that they have employed J. J. .-- Tunnicliff, state's attorney, and P. H. Sanford, Esq., as attorneys for the county In said matter, and that they have got an agreed case with Mr. Leach, the city attorney for Galesburg, and that they have agreed to submit said case as agreed to Judge Pleasants for his opinion. ^-'^ - '

On tnutiun of Mr. Gale the report of the committee was accei>ted, and the committee, so far as the same are still members of this 1x>ard, be continued.

- Your special committee to whom was referred the questions of removing the court room, and the future provision for court and jury rooms, Ijeg leave to report -

That while it is the duty of the city of Galesburg to supply the county with court and jury rooms for two years, it is not advisable for the county to make any other provision for that purpose at present, but they recommend that this board authorize the committee to consent to any change in location which the city council may desire to make, which shall be approved by the judges, and, in the opinion of the committee, afford increased conveniences to the people of , the county. ' ' ''----:;-;:'..;; '-. ''^'\ -'';-'--'';'->,-::-'- ,:^'~ '';--- 'l:l;^->'j :-':'.;-:-'-^

In reference to permanent possession, they have to say that the present scattered accommodations for court rooms and offices have nothing but economy to recommend them. That they are, and always will be, in many ways unsatisfactory, that they have already become in some respects quite insufficient, and are gradually becoming more so, and they should at some time give way to suitable and permanent provision in building specially adapted to the purpose, and owned by the county.

The cost of labor and materials is much less than it has been, the county is fairly prosperous, owes no corporate debt, and is in good credit, the rate of taxation for county purposes being but about one-half of what it was a few years ago. - ;-- - ..' ; ' : - ' ,U--v.'."';'-"-.--';./..'-; -C I -'-^'' '^"

Should it be thought best to extend the time of payment over a term of years, it would be easy to secure the money at a rate of interest not more than half of what the county has within a short time paid.

They believe the bonds of the county can be disposed of at par. bearing a rate of interest not exceeding 5 per cent; that a series of bonds having from i to 20 years to run, can be so negotiated that an annual payment not exceeding 8 per cent will keep down the interest and extinguish the principal within 20 years.

Your committee are further of the opinion that there should be no undue haste in the erection of buildings designed to be permanent ; that no expense, except for preliminary examinations, should be incurred until plans and estimates are fully matured and proved to be acceptable to the county ; that in building once for all, great care should be taken to provide buildings creditable in their appearance to the taste and good sense of the people of the county, thoroughly substantial, constructed economically, not beyond the real wants of the county, but so as amply to provide sufficient and suitable room for everj' department.

To procure the necessary information and advice, and to properly mature such plans, will require time and the careful attention of somebody, and, until such time has been taken and improved, the county will not be in a situation to commence building, however favorable the situation may otherwise be.

Stephen .V Douglas

- On motion of Mr. Gale the report of the committee was accepted, and the committee, so far as the same are still members of this board, be continued.

Your special committee to whom was referred the questions of removing the court room, and the future provision for court and jury rooms, beg leave to report -

That while it is the duty of the city of Galesburg to supply the county with court and jury rooms for two years, it is not advisable for the county to make any other provision for that purpose at present, but they recommend that this board authorize the committee to consent to any change in location which the city council may desire to make, which shall be approved by the judges, and, in the opinion of the committee, afford increased conveniences to the people of the county. - .

In reference to permanent possession, they have to say that the present scattered accommodations for court rooms and offices have nothing but economy to recommend them. That they are, and always will be, in many ways unsatisfactory, that they have already become in some respects quite insufficient, and are gradually becoming more so, and they should at some time give way to suitable and permanent provision in building specially adapted to the purpose, and owned by the county.

The cost of labor and materials is much less than it has been, the county is fairly prosperous, owes no corporate debt, and is in good credit, the rate of taxation for county purposes being but about one-half of what it was a few years ago. 1

Should it be thought best to extend the time of payment over a term of years, it would be easy to secure the money at a rate of interest not more than half of what the county has within a short time paid.

They believe the bonds of the county can be disposed of at par. bearing a rate of interest not exceeding 5 per cent; that a series of bonds having from i to 20 years to run, can be so negotiated that an annual payment not exceeding 8 per cent will keep down the interest and extinguish the principal within 20 years.

Your committee are further of the opinion that there should be no undue haste in the erection of buildings designed to be permanent ; that no expense, except for preliminary examinations, should be incurred until plans and estimates are fully matured and proved to be acceptable to the county ; that in building once for all, great care should be taken to provide buildings creditable in their appearance to the taste and good sense of the people of the county, thoroughly substantial, constructed economically, not beyond the real wants of the county, but so as amply to provide sufficient and suitable room for every department.

To procure the necessary information and advice, and to properly mature such plans, will require time and the careful attention of somebody, and, until such time has been taken and improved, the county will not be in a situation to commence building, however favorable the situation may otherwise be.

Stepiikn A. Douglas

On motion, the report of the committee was accepted. It was then moved to adopt the report of the committee, and the yeas and nays being called for, the motion was lost by the following vote:

Resolved, That a committee, consisting of Messrs. Dieterich, Mathews and Charles, be authorized to confer with owners of rooms in Galesburg suitable for court rooms, and obtain of them written proposals for rent of said rooms, to be furnished the county for a term of five years next ensuing after the expiration of the present lease of court rooms from the city of Galesburg to the county, and to report said offers of rates at the next meeting of the board in such shape that acceptance by the board shall close the contract for lease.

X Resolved, That the chairman of the board of supervisors appoint a special committee of three to report at the next meeting of the board on the expense of building another story on the clerk's office, or building another room on the north side of said office for the use of the county court, treasurer's office and state's attorney. Lost.

Your committee, authorized by a resolution passed by this board, to consult the owners of rooms in Galesburg suitable for court rooms, and obtain from them written proposals for rent of said rooms for county purposes, for a term of five years, next ensuing after the present lease for court rooms shall expire, and report said offers to the next meeting of the board.

In accordance with the spirit of the resolution, we called first to see the owners of the opera hall building, but finding but one of them in, we could accomplish nothing. Our call, however, was the means of assembling them together subsequently for consultation. At that meeting the subject was fully discussed, and the conclusion reached, that as they have no competition in the premises, they would submit the case to the decision of the board, and in order that all the difficulty of obtaining a conference with all the owners of the building might be removed, they authorized Chas. Brechwald to act as their agent in negotiating with the board of supervisors, and whatever agreement the parties may determine upon, shall be binding on their part. .; ;-;:--

Upon reaching this conclusion, Mr. Brechwald, in the capacity of agent for all interested, submitted in writing, with his name thereto appended, the proposition thus: "\\'e will lease to the county of Knox the needed rooms for county purposes in the opera house building for a term of five years, or less, at the option of the county, at a price of rent per annum that the board of supervisors in its discretion may fix. The rent to cease at any time during the period stated should the people of the county in the meantime build a court house."

I made three efforts to see John Johnston, Esq., owner of Caledonia Hall, but failed to find him, and finally I asked Mr. Greenleaf to send him to see me, which he did not do, but before leaving home, he wrote a letter and addressed it to the committee, which was sent to me, and in which he made the following proposition : "I will rent to the county of Knox, Caledonia Hall for a term of years (not less than five) at an annual rent of $500." Signed John Johnston.

As your committee have not agreed upon any special advantages of either of the rooms in question, we submit that matter to the discriminating judgment of the board, and ask that we be discharged from any further special duty in the premises.

A. G. Charles

Mr. Mathews was called upon for report of the special committee, having the matter of adding a second story to the fireproof offices under consideration, so that the board might consider both matters at the same time. j

Your committee appointed at our last April meeting to look into the feasibility and probable cost of adding a second story to the present county office building, would, after investigation and consultation with architects report as follows: The probable cost would not exceed $i,8cK), and in their opinion would not impair the safety of said building. - . - ^ ^' " , : i ] ;. -; ,

Mr. May moved that the proposition of Mr. Johnston for the lease of Caledonia Hall, now known as the "Academy of Music" for five years from the expiration of the present lease of the "Opera House" be accepted.

Resolred, That there be a committee of five appointed, who shall report to the next meeting of this board plans and estimates for the proposed enlargement of the clerks' offices ; such improvement to be made in such manner as not to impair the fire proof character of the rooms; ^' ' .V I v- V.. '

And also to receive definite propositions from the owners of halls, and estimates of the necessary cost to the county of fitting up such rooms ;

Mr. May moved to amend the substitute of Mr. Gale by referring the resolution to a committee consisting of the same members of the lx)ard as constituted the committee in relation to addition to fire-proof building and rental of half for court room. . '.

After some discussion, Mr. Gale suggested the ajjpointment of 'Messrs, Robson, Todd, Charles, Mathews, and the chairman, as the committee under his substitute; which was acceptable to Mr. May, and the resolution, as so ; amended, was accepted by Mr. May, and adopted by the lx>ard. / .

September meeting, i88l. - The special order being the report of special .- ; committee on renting court rooms and building addition to clerks' offices. ' Mr. Robson presented the following report: ;'.'."<." ;.-'-:...

Your special committee, to whom was referred the matter of receiving defi- -' nite propositions from the owners of halls suitable for court house purposes, -;- :- and estimates of the cost of the county of fitting up such rooms and other / duties, would respectfully report. -.

Th'at your committee has examined the opera house, which has been cleaned and improved since our last meeting and of its convenience this board is cognizant. We find we can rent said room and necessary jury rooms, for the sum of $940 per annum (not including treasurer's office), or at the same rate of rent paid by the city of Galesburg therefor. The lease to terminate at the -; will of the county. -

That we examined the academy of music, and are offered it by Mr. Johnston for the sum of $500 per annum for a term of not less than five years from the first day of February, 1883 ; with authority to make such alterations therein as may be deemed necessary. That we have estimates of the cost of such changes as we thought necessary to accommodate the court and find they can be made for about $400, and we estimate that an additional $100 %vill be needed for heating purposes, which would be an average rental of $600 per annum . for the five years.

That we examined the commercial college room, and are offered the same. - together with three rooms on the second fioor for jury rooms, by the owner, .'. Mr. Allen, for the sum of $500 per annum for the term of five years. The . '- cost of fitting up said rooms would be about the same as the academy of music.

Your committee would further report, that they have had plans for the - second story addition to the clerks' office, together with plans for iron roof and - . iron stairs for said building, drawn, thus providing for maintaining the fire- -,:; proof character of the building, and from estimates received from several /-- parties as to cost, we find the expense will be not exceeding §5,000, one estimate being less than $4,000. :. . -

Your committee would further report that since preparing the foregoing, they have received another offer from the owners of the opera house, as follows: , . - , ;

The undersigned, representing the proprietors of the opera house building, in the city of Galesburg, hereby offers to the county of Knox to extend the same occupancy and use that the county now has in said opera house building, for court house and court room purposes, beyond the termination of the present lease, for such period as the said county may wish to occupy the same for court house and court room purposes, for the annual rental of five hundred ($500) dollars. C. Brechwald.

Resolved, That so much of the report relates to the improvement to be made on the record building, and as relates to the rental of the opera house building for five years, be adopted; and that the same committee be continued, and instructed to carry out the plans and provisions of the report and close the contract of lease mentioned.

Resolved. That the offer of the owners of the opera house be accepted, and that the committee be instructed to procure from said owners a contract for the use of the rooms now occupied by the courts for court and jury rooms, for a term beginning with the close of the present term of occupancy by the county, and terminating at the pleasure of the board. - . " I .

And the question recurring on the resolution of Mr. May, on motion of Mr. Gale, the resolution was ordered to lie over and be made the special order for two o'clock tomorrow afternoon. ,', -'-- , ,;.:.: ^^:"--'^'''.' ^- i '

Mr. Dieterich called for a division of the question. Objection being made, the question was voted upon and the division ordered. '.- .; ' . .

Resolved, That the present committee be continued, and be instructed to procure necessary plans and specifications and proceed to make contracts with the lowest and best bidder for the enlargement of the county offices by the erection of a second story and the necessary approaches thereto to be erected and completed in such manner as shall be satisfactory to said committee, and at a total cost not exceeding five thousand dollars.

Mr. May accepted the substitute, and the resolution was adopted. -'-'-'-- Yeas - Messrs. Latimer, Patch, Smith, May, McCallister, Charles, Montgomery, Robson, Sumner, Boynton, Rebstock, Wyman, Leighton, Fredricks, Wertman, Mathews, Shaffer, Sansbury, Todd and Hale - 20. .,,_,.

Resolved, That this board accept the proposal of the proprietors of the opera house building, dated Sept. 2ist, and that the committee be instructed to close up a contract with said proprietors of the opera house building for the occupancy of the same for court house purposes, for a period of not exceeding five years from the termination of present lease, '.v; ...

And the substitute as amended was adopted, by the following vote: Yeas - Messrs. Boydstun, Patch, Dieterich, Smith, May, McCallister, Charles, Montgomery, Robson, Sumner, Rebstock, Wyman, Wertman, Mathews, Shaffer, Sansbury and Todd - 17.

Resolved, That in the judgment of this board the erection of a court house in Knox county should be undertaken at the proper time, with a view to completion six years from the present time.

That no expense should be incurred in such building except upon thoroughly matured plans, which will secure to the county suitable accommodations at reasonable expense.

That we recommend to succeeding board the levy of an ani\ual tax of one mill on the dollar valuation, the fund so raised to be kept invested in government bonds or other suitable securities, and that at a suitable time plans should be procured and fully matured, such plans to be canvassed and acted on by at least two successive boards.

December meeting, i88i. - Mr. Todd, from special committee on court house and clerk's office reported contract made with the owners of the opera house for court and jury rooms at a rental of $500 per annum when .Mr. Mathews moved that the lease be accepted at the original proposition, and that the chairman of the board be authorized to execute contract therefor.

The yeas and nays being called for on Mr. Mathews' motion, it was adopted : ' Yeas - Messrs. Boydstun, Latimer, Patch, Chambers, Smith, Townsend, Mc- Callister, Charles, Montgomery, Sumner, Boynton, Rebstock, Wyman, Leighton, Fredricks, Wertman, Mathews, Sansbury and Todd - 19. :. - 1 : - -

January meeting, 1882. - Mr. Robson, from special committee on county buildings, made the following report: To the Honorable Board of Supervisors: . - :' , -, . - -I , '

Your special committee on county buildings, etc., would respectfully report that all matters referred them have been attended to, and recommend that the clerk be directed to issue orders in payment of allowances made. . Your committee report that the addition to the county building has been accepted by them, the same being as nearly completed as the weather would permit ; that of the contract price therefor $4,933.00, the sum of $2,000 was paid by clerk's orders, we recommend that an order now issue to Frost Manufacturing Company, the contractors, for $2,900, and that the remainder of contract price, $33 be retained until the work is completed. -

Your committee would further report, that the following extra expenses were incurred in and about said improvements : Frost Manufacturing Company, for plumbing, gas fixtures, repairing and

A. S. Anderson, repairing brick work of lower story and extra stone work 12.62 Babcock & Pierpont, guttering, and conductors for building, and other

The chairman, as special committee to complete contract for renting the opera house for court purposes, reported that duty performed, and presented the contract.

April meeting, 1883. - Mr. Gale offered the following resolution and asked that it be referred to the committee on judiciary and clerks' offices.

Resolved, That the chairman of the committee on judiciary and clerk's offices be authorized to allow the city council of Galesburg to hold their meetings in the county court room on such terms as will indemnify the county for any increased expense in case of lighting or heating the room, and in no case to interfere with the use of the room for county purposes, such permission to be only until the further pleasure of the board, and at all times revocable.

; September meeting, 1883. - Mr. Gale moved that a tax of one mill on the dollar valuation be levied on all taxable property in Knox county in accordance with the following resolution, passed at the September meeting, i88i, of the board of supervisors, viz:

Resolved, That in the judgment of this board the erection of a court house in Knox county should be undertaken at the proper time with a view to com-, pletion six years from the present time ; that no expense should be incurred in such building except upon thoroughly matured plans which will secure to the county suitable accommodations at reasonable expense; that we recommend to succeeding boards the levy of an annual tax of one mill on the dollar valuation, the fund so raised to be kept invested in government bonds or other suitable securities, and that at a suitable time plans should be procured and fully matured, such plans to be canvassed and acted on by at least two successive boards.

Nays - Harden, Rankin, May, Eiker, Charles, Montgomery, Allen, Boynton, Rebstock, Wyman, Leighton, Fredricks, Sloan, Mathews, Wilder, Sans-- bury, Todd - 17. The motion was declared lost. ' '.::;i"''^

The final resolution in relation to the construction of a new court house for the county of Knox offered at the September meeting, 1883 by Mr. W. S. Gale, ' seemed a reasonable one and was offered with the full expectation that it would pass. The use of the opera house for court purposes was never convenient, nor was it ever considered safe. At the September 1881 meeting of the board, a committee was instructed to procure necessary plans and specifications and proceed to make contracts with the lowest and best bidder for the enlargement of the county offices by the erection of a second story and the approaches thereto etc., at a cost not exceeding five thousand dollars. This work was substantially completed by the January meeting of 1882. A committee of the board had canvassed the city for suitable rooms and conveniences for holding court for five years, which resulted in a new contract with the opera house people, ordered at the September meeting i88i. (It is well to remember that , the opera house burned in the fall of 1883.) It was not contemplated that the circuit court would be held in the so-called fire proof building for there were ^ no jury rooms. It could not be otherwise, therefore, but apparent to every one that a court house was much needed and must soon be built. Neverthe- less, the resolution was beaten by a vote of 6 to 17. The disappointment to the friends of the resolution was great. The difficulty was the resolution originated with a Galesburg man whom the county feared. To the county people, the court house was simply an ornament to Galesburg and not many of the

': county supervisors cared to act in opposition to that feeling. This was well known to the county officers and they believed that a movement for a new court house originating somewhere in the country would at once be popular and succeed. Acting upon this belief two of the county officers interviewed Mr, Charles P. Sansbury, supervisor of Victoria township, at the close of the Janu-

. ary meeting 1884, urging him as coming from a distant township, to head such a movement. Mr. Sansbury went home, called a meeting of his constituents, explained to them the full situation and by a unanimous vote, strong resolutions were passed endorsing the movement for a new court house, calling upon the board to proceed to build and authorizing Mr. Sansbury to use his influence to aid the accomplishment of the same. This action was approved and

! confirmed by the voters of Victoria township at the April election and he was re-elected to the county board and had the pleasure of aiding in the success of the plan to build, as shown by the following action taken at the April meeting 1884.

Resolved, That Messrs. Sloan, Robson and Gale be appointed a committee to report to the board a resolution for the appointment of a committee on public buildings, whose duty it shall be to take into consideration the propriety of preparing plans for the building of a court house, or to consider and report to the board plans for such building. ^^ : '.

- , Mr. May moved to amend by adding "and that said committee be requested ' to report said resolution tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock." Carried. . , . ; And thereupon the resolution as amended was adopted. Thursday morning, April 17, 1884. - Mr. Gale, in behalf of the committee

' He thereupon reported the following report and resolution: To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Knox County: ,. -- Your committee, appointed to draft a resolution appointing a committee on buildings, beg leave to report for the consideration of the board the following resolution. In drafting the resolution the committee have assumed that, however desirable it might be to proceed at an early date with the erection of a court house, the board cannot be prepared to take definite action until after a full and thorough investigation, ascertaining the wants of the county and the best and most satisfactory way of meeting those wants.

They believe the board are unanimously of the opinion that no serious expense should be incurred and no irrevocable steps be taken until all questions connected with building shall have been fully and freely discussed by the board in full session and an intelligent understanding obtained; and that building shall not begin until after full and complete plans are agreed by the board and reliable estimates of the cost obtained.

X College For Linco Scene Of The Lincoln-Douglas Debate

burg Oct. 7, 1858, on a platform erected on the eaft side of the main building of Knox College, and was listened to by a great multitude of people, over a thousand of whom were still living at the fifti less, the resolution was beaten by a vote of 6 to 17. The disappointment to the friends of the resolution was great. The difficulty was the resolution originated with a Galesburg man whom the county feared. To the county people, the court house was simply an ornament to Galesburg and not many of the county supervisors cared to act in opposition to that feeling. This was well known to the county officers and they believed that a movement for a new court house originating somewhere in the country would at once be popular and succeed. Acting upon this belief two of the county officers interviewed Mr. Charles P. Sansbury, supervisor of X'ictoria township, at the close of the January meeting 1884, urging him as coming from a distant township, to head such a movement. 'Mr. Sansbury w'ent home, called a meeting of his constituents, explained to them the full situation and by a unanimous vote, strong resolutions were passed endorsing the movement for a new court house, calling upon the board to proceed to build and authorizing Mr. Sansbury to use his influence to aid the accomplishment of the same. This action was approved and confirmed by the voters of Mctoria township at the April election and he was re-elected to the county board and had the pleasure of aiding in the success of the plan to build, as shown by the following action taken at the April meeting 1884.

Rcsohed, That Messrs. Sloan, Robson and Gale be appointed a committee to report to the board a resolution for the appointment of a committee on public buildings, whose duty it shall be to take into consideration the propriety of preparing plans for the building of a court house, or to consider and report to the board plans for such building.

Mr. May moved to amend by adding "and that said committee be requested to report said resolution tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock." Carried, i

Thursday morning, April 17, 1884. - Mr. Gale, in behalf of the committee on resolutions in regard to building committee asked leave to report at once.

Your committee, appointed to draft a resolution appointing a committee on buildings, beg leave to report for the consideration of the board the following resolution. In drafting the resolution the committee have assumed that, however desirable it might be to proceed at an early date with the erection of a court house, the board cannot be prepared to take definite action until after a full and thorough investigation, ascertaining the wants of the county and the best and most satisfactory way of meeting those wants.

They believe the board are unanimously of the opinion that no serious expense should be incurred and no irrevocable steps be taken until all questions connected with building shall have been fully and freely discussed by the board in full session and an intelligent understanding obtained ; and that building shall not begin until after full and complete plans are agreed by the board and reliable estimates of the cost obtained.

Sckne Of The Lincoln-Douglas Dkbate

The fifth of the seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas was held at Galesburg Oct. 7. 1858. on a platform erected on the eart side of the main building of Knox College, and was listened to by a great multitude of people, over a thousand of whom were still living at the fiftieth anniversary celebration in 1908.

duty it shall be to take into consideration the propriety of preparing plans for building a court house; to inquire into the requirements of the county for the proper accommodation of courts and county officers; to inquire into the cost and relative advantages of available materials for building; and if in the opinion of the committee desirable, to procure plans and estimates of a suitable building, which can be erected at a cost not exceeding $100,000, to ascertain what disposal can be advantageously made of the building now occupied by the county offices, by sale to the city or otherwise, leaving possession in the county until other accommodations can be secured; to report to the board at its next regular meeting, or at any meeting, which may be sooner called, whatever progress shall have been made. That the committee be appointed by the chair with the approval of the board, one member to be selected from each of the districts as constituted by the resolution creating the committee on equalization.

Resolved, That the question whether measures should not be adopted involving expense to the county, for the purpose of beginning the erection of a court house in this county, is a question properly belonging to the people of Knox county to decide; and that a good and sufficient building can and ought to be erected and finished, ready for use, for a sum not greater than $100,000, and should by no means cost to exceed that amount. Therefore,

Resolved, That the supervisors are hereby instructed to give the proper notice so that the several townships will, at the annual spring election next April, vote for or against the erection of a new court house building, the cost of which, when completed, shall not exceed $100,000. ' ; . : .''^

The chairman ruled that the substitute was in order, and thereupon thd ayes and nays were called on the substitute with the following result. : Ayes - 'May, Clark, Charles, Montgomery, Rebstock, Wyman, Parker, Todd - 8.

Nays - Harden, Latimer, Paden, Gale, Cooke, Olson, McKee, Foote, Rankin, Robson, Allen, Townsend, Boynton, Leighton, Andrews, Sloan, Sansbury - 17. The substitute was lost. -. - -, i

In pursuance of the resolution adopted yesterday, the chairman announced the following committee on public buildings: Messrs. Sloan, Robson, Gale, Charles, Harden, Leighton.

The first point now to be considered was what shall be the plan of the new building. Immediately after the adjournment of the board, -Mr. W. Selden Gale called on the writer, who was then county clerk, and the arrangement of the rooms thoroughly considered. It was agreed that the circuit clerk should have two rooms, one as clerk and one as recorder, with door between and that the sheriff's office should open into the office of the circuit clerk; that the county . clerk should have a large office and a work room and that the office of the county judge should be adjacent to and opening into the county clerk's office. The office of the treasurer and superintendent of schools were also provided for on the first floor. The county and circuit court rooms and state's attorneys' office were provided for on the second floor. The supervisors' and jury rooms put on the third floor. With these ideas as a starting point, Mr. Gale went home and the next day returned to the county clerk with the plan worked out, substantially as the building was erected. The committee was called together and approved the plan. The committee thought it advisable to employ an architect to come to Galesburg and develop a general design and work out the details under their inspection and so called a Mr. Hackney of Des Moines, Iowa to Galesburg, who undertook the work. This soon proved unsatisfactory. The committee let Mr. Hackney go and at once advertised for plans, based on the sketch made by Mr. Gale. This resulted in a number of designs from different architects, which were submitted -at the July meeting 1884, and upon which the following action was taken.

July meeting, 1884. Mr. Gale stated that the building committee had given considerable attention to the matters referred to it, but were not ready to report; that there were in attendance several architects with designs for court houses, which the committee would like to examine, and he asked that the committee might be excused from the board for a time, to further consider these plans and other matters connected with building. . - I -;:-.''

1:30 P. M. - The building committee asked for further time in which to examine plans and other matters connected with court house construction.

Adjourned meeting July 28, 1884. - Mr. Gale in behalf of the building committee, asked that said committee be excused during the reading of the record and of the bills, as they had some matters to arrange before making a report.

Mr. May stated that the building committee at the meeting of July 14, reported that they had not agreed upon a plan for court house, and asked that they be authorized to select a plan and make the contracts, or that the board grant them more time in which to report a plan to the board, whereas the record simply shows that the committee asked for more time. He desired the record to show the facts.

Of these plans they recommend to the consideration of the board as their preference the plan submitted by E. E. Myers, of Detroit, the character of the building being fully described in the plans, sketches, estimates and statements herewith submitted.

The estimated cost of the building (furniture and heating apparatus not included) built of brick with trimmings of cut stone and terra cotta is about $90,000. And in the opinion of the committee it can be built in the manner described for a sum within, or not much exceeding the estimate.

The committee are of opinion that the same designs are with slight modification well adapted to stone construction, and may be erected in stone, the walls in rock-faced Gladstone stone, or Bedford stone with cut stone trimmings, for an additional cost of .about six thousand dollars.

The committee are of opinion that the stone construction if stone from Gladstone quarries can be obtained or equally satisfactory stone can be elsewhere obtained at a reasonable cost, will give best satisfaction to the board and to the public.

They recommend that the committee be authorized to employ Col. Myers to prepare plans and specifications of the building, substantially as described both in brick and stone construction, preparatory to advertising for contracts.

The employment to be upon the condition that in case the building cannot be let after due advertisement to responsible parties who will promptly come forward and secure the performance of their contracts to the satisfaction of the board for the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or such sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars as the architect and committee may agree on, such plan shall not be accepted or paid for, except at the option of the board.

And if the plans and specifications shall be in any way deficient or incomplete, the said Myers shall be liable for all loss or damage or extra expense occasioned by such defect or omission.

W. Selden Gale, A. G. Charles

GENTLEMEN : - The design I have submitted for your new court house is for a first-class fire-proof building, built of the best and most substantial materials and workmanship, the foundation to be of stone, laid in hydraulic cement mortar. The basement will contain all the water closets, wash basins, the steam heating and ventilating apparatus. The plans of each story will contain the several apartments for all the county offices, court rooms, etc., and to be of the several sizes and forms as shown upon the plans. The exterior parts of the building will be of pressed brick, terra cotta and cut stone for all the surfaces above the basement or first floor line; the basement wall above the grade line will be rock face work; all cornices, belt courses and sills will be cut stone, except such portions thereof as are shown to be terra cotta. The floors of all apartments in each story will be iron beams, with brick arches, to be turned between the beams, and concreted up solid to receive either the wood or encaustic tile floors. The entire frame work of the roof and tower will be wrought iron, and have iron arches between the beams, and concreted up solid to receive the slates of the roof. The entire roof will be covered with extra heavy slate; all gutters and valleys to be lined with the best quality and grade of tin. The stairs will be made of cast-iron. The galleries in the circuit court room will be supported on wrought iron girders concealed within the gallery fronts. The ceiling of this court room will be stained glass sky-light placed within a curved dome, which will afford a direct vertical light either in day-time, or at night, the light being placed over the sky-light. The outer sky-light will be made of heavy hammered glass. The outside door sills will be granite surfaces, patent axe-flnish. The steps should be by all means made of the same material, as it is the best that can be used for such purposes, where the material is subjected, not only to so great a wear and tear, but this material in so exposed a surface is decidedly the best to resist not only the uses, but also the action of the elements. All the interior finish of the basement will be long-leaf, best quality, yellow pine. All the interior finish of the first and second stories will be red oak. The finish of the third story will be long-leaf yellow pine, the surface finished in oil and varnish. The glass used in all the windows will be the best quality French plate-glass, full quarter inch thick. The floors of the corridors will be encaustic tile. The floors of all offices, court rooms and galleries will be long-leaf yellow pine, bedded solid on the concrete, and secured to the floor strips with secret nailing. All the walls will be built of brick, laid in a mortar composed of hydraulic lime and hydraulic cement mortar. Pressed brick should be laid with what is termed a steel tucked joint, using glazier's black putty for the tucking of the work ; all the backing of the pressed brick, will be brick laid in cement mortar. All interior walls to be hard burned brick laid in cement mortar. This building can be erected, using first class workmanship and materials for one hundred thousand dollars, ($100,000). Should you desire to use in place of pressed brick for the outer walls, rock-faced stone work or scratch mason-work, using either Sagetown marble, Indiana stone, from Elliottsville, or Ohio blue sand stone, the cost of the structure will be increased about six thousand dollars ($6,000), making a total cost of one hundred and six thousand dollars. You can rely upon getting a structure of first-class character, and of a style of architecture and finish that will not be in any respect inferior to any of the first-class modern court houses erected in your state.

The building, either built of pressed brick or stone, will be one of the handsomest structures in your state, and in no wise be inferior either in style or finish to any of such buildings.

;- The chairman stated that the matter for consideration was the motion of Mr. Latimer to adopt the report of the building committee and concur in its recommendation.

Resolved, That the present building committee be constituted a permanent building committee, whose duty it shall be to advertise for bids for building a court house, which bids, when received, are to be opened when the board is in session, for the consideration of the board, and to perform all other duties pertaining to the building of a court house. ,.> , --.

Resolved, That the chairman of the board be authorized to contract with the city of Galesburg, or its authorized agent for the sale of the county building, and lot occupied by clerks' offices and other uses for the sum of $10,000. The possession to be retained by the county until the completion of the new court house, allowing the city to make such use of the building as may not inconvenience the county officers. The purchase money to be paid when called for, whenever the contract for the completion of the court house shall be made, and $30,000 expended in the erection. The contract to be rescinded at the option of either party, if no commencement shall be made of the building befbre the first day of January next, and that the building committee be directed not to incur any considerable expense in preparing to build until the completion of this contract.

The bill of Mr. W. F. Hackney amounting to $420.25, for preparing plans, and other services for the building committee, was read and referred to the committee on judiciary and clerks' offices. .

Mr. Gale requested to be excused from the committee while considering the bill, and moved that Mr. Latimer be substituted in his place. Carried.

Your committee on judiciary and clerks' offices would respectfully report that we have examined the bill of W. F. Hackney, and accompanying papers, and we recommend that he be paid $120.25 in full of bill presented amounting to $420.25. Respectfully submitted, ; .

Resolved, That it is the opinion of the board of supervisors, that it is for the interest, comfort and convenience of the people of the county that the vicinity of the court house and the usually traveled route from the depot to the court house, and from the court house to the business portion of the city, should be kept free from the presence of dram shops and their disagreeable accompaniments; that this board respectfully call the attention of the city council of Galesburg to the subject, and ask the council to consider the propriety of taking immediate action, before vested interests opposed to such action intervene, to prevent the establishment of dram shops in the vicinity of the court house park, on Broad street between the park and the public square, and on either route from the depot to the court house park by way of South street or Tompkins street ; that the clerk of the board be directed to present a copy of this resolution to the city council.

September meeting, 1884. - Mr. Gale asked leave to submit the following report of the building committee. To the Honorable, the Board of Supervisors: ;

GENTLEMEN : The committee on buildings beg leave to report that they did on the 1st day of August contract with E. E. Myers in accordance with the instructions of the board, passed at the last meeting; that since that time Col. Myers has been employed in preparing plans and specifications. The committee have not advertised for bids for material and construction for the reason that the plans and specifications have not been completed. The committee are now advised that the plans and specifications will be completed on the I5th day of this month, and the committee recommend that they be directed to advertise at once for bids for materials and construction, such bids to be examined by the board on the 3d of October. ; ,

M. B. Harden

: - On motion, the report was adopted and its recommendations concurred in. . On motion of Mr. Gale, it was ordered that when this board adjourn it adjourns to meet October 3d, 1884.

On motion of Mr. Gale, Mr. Paden was elected temporary chairman.' On motion of Mr. Gale, the time in which to file bids for the construction of a new court house was extended to one-thirty P. M. :^ On motion the board adjourned to one-thirty P. M. : - One-thirty P. -M. - Board called to order by chairman Mathews.

The clerk read a portion of the minutes of the meeting of September lOth, when, on motion, the reading was suspended, and, on motion, the clerk proceeded to open bids for the construction of a court house, which were as follows :

The committee have examined the bids referred to them, and are of opinion that it is not for the interest of the county to accept either of the bids. They recommend a further advertisement for bids to be opened on October 24th. ;.^' i^t Vi v- V ' -V V W. S. GALE, Chairman.

Messrs. Robson, Allen, Leighton and Andrews having entered the board was called to order, and on motion, the clerk proceeded to open and read the bids for the construction of a new court house as follows: Robert C. Greenlee, in best Ohio blue stone for exterior, with Joliet . . ,../- .-- ; or lime stone for foundation, corrugated iron arches for ceilings, except for corridors and court rooms, where hollow tile will

Will cut and deliver rubbed ashler at building at 45 cts. per superficial foot, and will use ornamental stone in place of terra cotta for $5,000 extra. V

'-'-:. .-'-'-'- Will furnish and set ashler work for 50 cents each super- -r.'... ficial foot, and use stone in place of terra cotta for $5,000

Mr. Gale read the following report of the building committee: ' To the Honorable Board of Supervisors: -- Your committee on buildings beg leave to report that they have examined the several bids referred to them, and they find the bid of Dawson & Anderson the lowest and best bid.

They recommend the acceptance and approval of the bid of Dawson & Anderson for stone construction, and that the committee be directed to conclude a contract with Dawson & Anderson for the erection of the court house, to be completed September ist, 1886. The committee are satisfied that these bids are as low as the board can expect for this building, and are satisfied that the bidders are men of character and responsibility. They are further of the opinion that the building, if completed according to the plans, will be a credit to" the county, and they do not believe it is for the interest of the county to reduce either the size or character of the building.

W. Selden Gale, W. H. .Leighton M. B. Harden, John Sloan

And thereupon, said committee entered into a contract with Dawson & Anderson of Toledo, Ohio, for the construction of the court house according to the full plans and specifications prepared by said architect, E. E. Myers, of Detroit, Michigan, and on file with the county clerk. ';: -

Said contractors immediately made preparations to begin the work of construction and in pursuance thereof, the ground for said building was broken October 26, 1884, and before building preparations were suspended on account of cold weather, the footings, and quite a portion of the foundation, were put in. :, January Meeting, 1885. - Mr. Gale read the following report of the building committee : To the Hon., the Board of Supervisors of Knox County, January Meeting,

GENTLEMEN : - Your building committee beg leave to report that upon the day after the close of the October meeting they proceeded to locate the court house. That immediately after work was commenced by the contractor, and between that time and the second Wednesday of December the excavation for the building was made, the trenches for the outside walls and a portion of the inside walls were dug and filled with concrete and covered with footing stone.

A considerable amouot of material for the foundation is collected upon the ground. Since the date last mentioned^ no work has been done, it being thought better for the interests of the county and the contractor to suspend operations till settled weather in the spring. By the terms of the contract, the contractor is entitled on the second Wednesday of each month to receive from the county payment for the work done up to that time, less lo per cent, and less amounts already paid. No provision was made by the board at the last meeting to meet such payments, unless the very general authority given to the committee might be considered as authorizing them to order payment.

It appears that the contractor had expended about $2,500 prior to the second Wednesday of December. It was thought desirable to avoid the expense of a special meeting of the board, and the committee took the responsibility of advising the issuing by the clerk and payment by the treasurer of orders to the amount of $i,8oo to the contractors. They also procured the clerk to issue to the chairman of the committee an order for $14.65 to cover the incidental expenses incurred by the committee since its appointment.

The committee ask the approval of the board of their action in making paytnents, and desire that some provision may be made to provide for payments coming due during the interval of the meetings of the board. They recommend the passage of a resolution that the clerk be authorized to issue to the contractor on court house orders for such amounts as by the terms of the contract the contractors are entitled to receive, upon the request of the building committee.

They also advise that the building committee be authorized to appoint a superintendent of the work. It is well understood that the work cannot be allowed to proceed with safety to the county except under the constant supervision of a capable and reliable builder. During the progress of the work already performed, the committee requested Samuel J. Parry to take temporary charge and it being from day to day doubtful how far the work would proceed without interruption by winter weather, it was for the time found necessary, the price named by Mr. Parry as satisfactory to him was 50 cents per hour for the time actually spent. ; ,. '

M. B. Harden, John Sloan

RESOLVED: That the building committee be directed to procure suitable plans of the heating apparatus for the new court house and advertise for bids for its construction, such bids to be opened and passed upon by the board at the July meeting.

July Meeting, 1885. - On motion of Mr. Gale, the building committee was authorized to make such temporary arrangement for jury and circuit rooms as may be necessary, and that the sheriff be directed to have the telephone now at the opera house, moved to the county court room.

On motion of Mr. Gale the opening of the bids for steam heating at new court house was made the special order for tomorrow at ii o'clock a. m. ^ I , ..

The building committee desire to call the attention of the board to the necessity of the construction of a cistern for rain water at the court house, and the importance of undertaking it while the ground is comparatively free from water. They have not given the subject the consideration necessary to express an opinion as to the necessary capacity of the cistern, but recommend that the

W. Selden Gale, John Sloan R. W. Miles, Wm. H. Leighton

The undersigned, who, by virtue of a resolution of your honorable body at the July meeting, 1884, was made special committee to dispose of the county building to the city of Galesburg, would beg leave to oflfer the following report : That he conferred with the honorable mayor of the city of Galesburg, who was empowered by the city council to act for the city, and that the city attorney at our dictation drew a contract selling to the city the county's interest in said building and lot for a consideration of $10,000, the money to become due when $30,- ooo was actually expended in the erection of the new court house, the county to retain possession until the completion of the same, the city of Galesburg to have such present use of said county building as would not inconvenience the county. Said contract was duly signed and placed on record by Mayor Stewart for the city of Galesburg, and by the undersigfned for Knox county, August 14, 1884.