Iowa
Old Press
The Iowa Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson co. Iowa
Friday, December 12,1891
page 11, column 1-2
THE COUNTY - TIFFIN.
Rev. and Mrs. Osborne returned to their home in Williamsburgh
after ably assisting Rev. Buriff about a week in his meetings.
Rev. Osborne is a young man of pleasing manner, and ability of an
unusually high order. Those who failed to hear him missed a great
deal.
[transcribed by S.W., April 2007]
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The Iowa Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa
Friday, December 18, 1891
page 4, column 1
The thriving town of Williamsburg was visited by a fire upon
Thursday of last week. A number of frame buildings were
destroyed, the loss amounting to about $10,000, probably
two-thirds of which will be made good by insurance. One man
slipped and fell from the roof of a two story building, striking
on his head and shoulder, sustaining but little injury. While
this fire seems to have been quite a blow to the town,
undoubtedly it will ultimately prove a benefit, as better and
more substantial buildings will be erected in their stead.
[transcribed by S.W., April 2007]
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The Iowa Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa
Friday, December 25, 1891
page 9, column 1-2
TOWN MEETINGS -- THEIR POWER.
Iowa county has had a veritable town meeting. It called into its
august presence the Board of Supervisors and catechized them in
regard to the manner they were discharging their duties in
reference to the bridge building. The County Farmers' Alliance
called the meeting at Williamsburgh. The members of the Board of
Supervisors were present. A public hearing was had. They were
asked to explain why they did not let the contract for building
bridges to the lowest responsible bidder, etc., etc. Jayne &
Son, of this city, were present. Roller & Co., the firm which
has been building bridges for the county, were also present.
After hearing all parties, the following resolutions were
adopted:
Resolved--That after hearing the views of Jayne & Son, Roller
& Co. and the Board of Supervisors on the Iowa county bridge
question, we favor, in the future, the publication of the letting
of the contract for building our bridges yearly, in order that we
may obtain the very best work for the least money.
We view with disfavor the former action of the Board of
Supervisors in regard to the matter, and consider their
explanation of their action unsatisfactory.
Published by order of County Alliance.
N. D. ELY, Secretary.
This appears to be a point scored for Jayne & Son, who have
complained that the letting of the bridge contracts was privately
done and no opportunity was afforded for competition. but in
regard to the merits of the controversy we have examined it
sufficiently to speak. It is the novelty of the affair to which
we wish to call attention. It is a capital idea--summoning the
public servants before the people who chose them and obtain an
account of their stewardship. We like it. In England and most of
the European countries questions can be put to the ministers of
the government in the Parliaments, courts or Reichstadt, but in
America we have nothing like it except the "town
meeting." If there were more of such meetings it would be
better for the people, and the public officers who spend the
people's money, if frequently brought face to face with the
people who elect them and whose money is spent, would feel their
personal responsibility to a greater degree. It would be more fun
than a dozen circuses to see the Johnson county Board of
Supervisors appear before such a town meeting and submit to an
examination as to the manner in which they have discharged their
duties. Let thee be more of such meetings. The Iowa county
Farmers' Alliance is on the right track.
[transcribed by S.W., April 2007]