Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-09-16
IEWl9BURH EiIRDMlGhR
SEPTEMBER l6, 1858.
Row they Work it in Sister Counties. !"
A Timely Caution.


Norristoun, the seat Of justice for Mont
gomery county in this State, is not in the
center of population, but is the largest and
most business place in the county. Potts
t0ua, near the north end of the county, is
also thriving town,and with neighboring
townships has for some years advocated the
division of the county. But the political
wire workers and the capitalists "most do
congregate" a: Norristown, and the means
now made use of in Union county to pref
udice the Division movement, a there
piled most industriously. at wW increase
your Tdres.r' was the alarm. And yet,
the Divisionists few years snce-in that
Democratic county of 1000 majority
elected George Richards, Wing, to the
State Senate; they have elected Division
Representatives; and a Wing Senator,
(giving the State Senate to the Wigs
probably for two years to come, y and
Wing Sheriff, were last fall elected by the
Division movement. Thus, for many
years, has that local question agitated their
social relations, and disturbed their polit-
cal organizations, The old county seat
party, however, have kept the ascendancy,
and how they are using it-and how they
intend to S fastfR f9,J the Rsa@pt6 to vAGsstgap
count from i recent West Chester RepaJ-
Gcdn:
"The new Court House at Norristown
,as commenced Ia 1850, occupying the
whole length of a square, fronting on
three streets. The main trout is l92 feet
q inches, from the centre of which will cx-
tend beautiful pedment, 81 feet VIDE,
supported by six Ionic marble columns,
three feet in diameter and so feet high,
surmounted by an imposing tower, 100
feet high The whole exterior will be
built of Montgomery county marble, reiiev-
ed on all sides by rccesses and pilasters,
and on three sides by pannel-work, finish
ed with heavy ornamental cornice, The
first floor will have courtroom IS by Oh
feet, 20 feet in the clear, together with
four large fre-proof offices for county re-
cords. These offices will all communicate
with the court room through two large
side halls, which also lead to the second
story, containing Jury rooms, Commis-
sicners' Office, Sheriff's Office, Auditors
Office, Law Library, and Arbitration rooms.
This building is elevated and well vcntlla-
ted, and has nine flights of marble steps
to reach the first floor, and four halls and
four stairways to reach the second story,
and uhen completed will excel any Court
House in the United States, and few, If
any, State Capitols will equal it"
Here is an outlay of ia least S13 600 or
100000, for Court House, not yet COM
pleted, to adorn county town, and all ty
taration upon the people. ra3" And when
the people have paid that amount of tax
es, Norristown feels quite confident that
Division is killed for one generation, and
that it is sure of splendid, capitol-like
building, in any event
In Lancaster, Chester, York, and other
counties, similar cases might be cited OF
enormous county buildings-not necessary,
but merely ornamental-ercctedf from the
taxpayers pockets.
TFrom the New Berlin s STAR Of Feb. 1851
. 4Union county is sadly behind the majority
of her sister counties, III the BEAUTY AND
CONVENIENCE OF HER PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Some
of tie citizens of the county feel tins uery serasl-
he. and they find the reflection very unpleas-
ant one, painfully calling 10 their public 7rade
and spirit, therefore are THEY determined,
that those Buildings shall fall, and
another rise in their place that SHALL BE
CREDIT TO THE COUNTY. They have already
once exercised their right of petition, asking
the Grand Jury 10 recommend the new build
ing. but this was refused, though the close uote
is encouragement enough 10 proceed. BY the
way, il is somewhat remarkable what marvel
lous changes sometimes take place, between
sunset and sunrise, as well in mems opinions
as the weather. But let the Grand Jury al May
term prepare 10 receive petition, so numer-
o,siy signed, and couched IN such language, as
WILL compel raEs to report favorably to a
New CoURT HousE, and WIPE ouT A FOUL
STAIN on THE FAIR FACE OF THE COUNTY.
-TAX-PAYERs OF UNION COUNTY
Here is lesson you will do well to heed.
Put the County Offices into the hands Of
New Berlin men-of Commissioners who
are mere noses of wax in the hands of the
juntos there-let them draw Grand Jurors
to serve their ends-and you may rest as
sured that you will ere long learn by heart
what our "sister counties" have learned
the exact cost Of "beautiful and conye-
nicnt building at the county seat