Rooks County Courthouse Stockton, Kansas
By Roger Morris
Rooks County Historical Society Board member
(Continued From 3-2-23)
March 8th, 1917 - Objections have been made to the levy of a tax for a courthouse because material is high, and the position taken that we should wait two or three years until the prices to come down. Under the plan to be followed, the county creates a sinking fund by the levying of a special tax, covering a period of three years, so that when the building is turned over it is all paid for. That does not necessarily mean a new court house right off the reel, but after sufficient funds have accumulated to pay for the material and world as they are needed, then operations begin. That may be 12 to 18 months yet. However, there is no indication that after the war closes building material will come down. Vast devastated regions in Europe will have to be restored, and it will take many years to do it. The demand for all kinds of building materials will be tremendous; instead of prices going down, they will soar to higher levels. A courthouse in 1919, or in 1920 will cost a good deal more than in 1917. So far all the material that goes into a building -- structural steel excepted -- has advanced in no such measures as other forms or merchandise. Stone and lumber are higher, but not as high by means as steel, iron or food. A gentleman who knows what he is talking about, informs us that after making comparisons, a building such as is contemplated will cost $5,000.00 more to build nowthanitwouldhavecost two years ago. This is partly because of higher wages, and on a $75,000.00 building, the actual increase in the material used would not be over $3,000.00.
March 8th, 1917 - Rooks County papers and people are seriously discussing building a new courthouse. There is no questioning the fact that Rooks has the bummest old shack for a courthouse in this part of the state, and if the towns of the county can lay aside their jealousy for a while, a good building will be erected. Stockton agrees to donate a new site for the county capital near the center of town . — Cawker City Ledger.
March 15th, 1917 - COURTHOUSE LEVY ORDERED: It will be seen by the official proceedings published on another page that the board of commissioners, acting under the provisions of section 2552 of the General Statutes of 1915, did on Thursday last order that a new building for courthouse purposes be erected, as the same is now necessary. It was also decided that said county spend for such courthouse not to exceed $90,000.00. And further, it was ordered that a tax be levied for the erection of such a building, the amount of the first levy to be determined at the August meeting of the board. The matter of change of site was taken up, and the opinion was unanimous that a site nearer the business center of town was desirable, but the decision as to such a new location was reserved until the next meeting. On Saturday, the board went over to the center of town and noted the various desirable sites.
In ordering the tax levy, the board had no option as over 1,400 bona fide taxpayers had signed the petitions, about one-half of all in the county, making it mandatory. Onefourth would have been enough. Had a more thorough canvas been made, no doubt many more could have been secured. As it is, there is a majority who express their wish to have a new courthouse at this time. The site is furnished by the City of Stockton. It is right and proper that everybody should share in the expense of its construction, as it will then be in truth the people’s temple of justice and the place where all its affairs are transacted. The burden will be so light as not to be felt by anybody.
March 22nd, 1917 - SHOWED PLANS OF THE COURTHOUSE: Mr. Ernest Brown, representing the firm of W.E. Hulse & Co. of Hutchinson and St. Paul, was in Stockton last Thursday and Friday exhibiting sketches and tentative plans for the contemplated courthouse. This concern has 29 big buildings under construction from designs made by them, and is drawing plans for all the courthouses being built in Kansas. At least, that’s what Mr. Brown says, and he probably is not romancing, as he has the papers to show for a good deal. A building of the grade and style suitable to Rooks County was shown to all callers at Sweet’s office, which was drawn for Barton County. It offers a peach of a building 120 feet long, 80 feet deep and 52 feet from the ground to the upper cornice. The lines are classically simple but dignified and imposing. Courthouses, schoolhouses and libraries are standardized to a large degree in these days, especially in their interior arrangement, so that the greatest convenience and efficiency may be assured without waste of room. In this design there is a courtroom on the second floor capable of seating 550 people. The jail is placed in all modern structures of this nature on the very topmost floor, with roomy galleries for taking in the air and exercising. Large vaults are provided for all the officers requiring them, and beneath each one is an equally large storage fault for the books and records seldom used. Of course, other architects will show up their own special features, and we may be assured that the board will give them all the most careful consideration, and when any choice is made, it will have been submitted to a great many for their approval.
It should be noted that while it costs more to build now than it would have done five years ago, a contract let a year from now will cost $15,000 more than present, and still more if put off a longer time. This is the opinion of all the building experts.
(To Be Continued)
