Friday, March 22, 2019

[Tehama County] 100 years ago: Tehama citizens must decide on new courthouse [history]

Blog note: grand jury procedures were a little different 100 years ago, at least in Tehama County.
The citizens of Tehama county will be given an opportunity to put themselves on record as being for or against a comprehensive program of public improvements. The matter will come of them as a bonding proposition, the program being for an issue of bonds to build bridges throughout the county and to build a court house in keeping, not only with the present needs of the county. but in keeping with the multiplied business of the county for years of growth ahead of us.
The sentiment of the people on this matter of permanent public improvements is so unanimous that a meeting of the grand jury with the board of supervisors today seemed entirely a thing to be expected. It is a forerunner of the spirit of harmony that is to keep pace with the development of the county, for the board and the grand jury did not meet as two bodies in conflict, but as two bodies of forward looking citizens bent only on service to the county. It is fitting that these two bodies should be jointly discussing public improvements and how to get them.
The entire membership of the grand jury was present this morning when the board of supervisors was invited in to confer with them. W. N. Woodson, foreman of the grand jury, presided in his characteristic manner. In his opening remarks he explained to the board of supervisors that it was not the purpose of the grand jury to usurp any of the functions of the board or to trespass in any way on their duties. He states, however, that it was the sense of the grand jury that the county should at once undertake a program of permanent public improvements, and to this end they sought a conference with the board. Mr. Woodson outlined briefly the needs of the county as to bridges and a new court house, and his sentiment was reiterated by every member of the board. Judge Ellison was called into the conference and, seconding the things Mr. Woodson had said, went further into the details of the necessities of the county. He declared the time is ripe for the construction of a bridge at Squaw Hill, made necessary by the rapid subdividing and settlement of the Stanford ranch lands; of the construction of permanent bridges to connect up the highway system of the county: and of a new court house, the need of which has been more than apparent for so many years.
Besides the several members of the board who spoke in favor of bonding for these improvements this sentiment was also expressed by L. L. McCoy, Mr. Holland, William Dale. L. W. Warmoth and others.
At a meeting in the afternoon the resolution was adopted by the grand jury.
— March 21, 1919
March 21, 2019
Red Bluff Daily News


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