Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-01-14
Stannton Spectator,
STAUNTON, VA.
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY IA, 1851.
The Cont House.

The Court House.
Now that the work is about completed in the
interior of our Court House, which has been I'M
dergong thorough alteration and repair, we
deem it proper to give some description OF what
has been done in this great Improvement, ana
to congratulate the people Of Augusta ON the
accomplishment of work alike creditable to
their liberality. good sense and excellent taste
Public buildings in any community may be safe
" taken as pretty fair index of the character
of the people. Judged by this standard the peo-
pie of Augusta must hereafter be regarded by
the stranger who visits their seat of Justice, as
occupying the very front rank in the State tor
Iberality and refined taste. The interior OF
their Court House, from having been one OF the
most unsightly, inconvenient uncomfortable and
repulsye rooms we ever saw, is now transform
ed into the most convenient, the handsomest
and the best arranged 'lIall of Justice" in the
State.
The entrance to the building is from the large
portico in front. You enter lobby or vestibule
10 feet deep and extending clear across the
building with door at each end, leading to the
Clerks Offices From this vestibule there are
two doors opening into the Court room, or more
properly "Hall," and also two flights of winding
stairs leading to the fine galleries above and to
the Jury rooms, the United States Court room,
and the Hastings Court room. The Hall Is
about 3S BY 81 feet in size. On the North side
Is erected the Judges bench, with the Clerks
desk on his right and the Sheriff on his lett
The Judges bench is enclosed in front with
most elaborate, massive and elegant panel work,
returned at the ends, and Surmounted by white
marble slab forming table for "his Honor. =
The enclosed space is occupied by five large
arm-chairs for the use of the County Court
The Clerks and Sheriff's desks are alike, and
correspond in their finish with the "Bench" ex-
cept that in lieu of marble top they are fur
nished with wide inclined ''leaves" to serve as
desks for writing. and are each furnished with
mahogany cases for the deposit and sate-keeping
of books and papers during Court. The jury
are accommodated with cushioned arm-chairs-
six of them on platform s inches high, and six
on the level of the main floor. The Bar is one
of the most perfectly elegant pieces of workman
ship we ever saw 1t is raised inches above
the fioor-iS Semcireuari in form with the "Chord
of the arcn ON the side next the ''Bench, and is
enclosed BY Il massive open railing, that rests
upon an elaborate moulding that is about 10
inches deep, the whole being surmounted by a
moulding in imitation of sandstone, that is a.
bout 10 inches wide and Z deep. The Bar is
furnished with white marble table that is sup
ported on strong ornamental brackets, and ex-
tends clear across its front. At either end of
this table-but outside of the railing-there is
an eliptical space occupied by high armchair,
one for the use of witnesses under examination
the other for Sheriff's officer. The Bar is
further furnished with cushioned arn-chairs, a
mahogany table for the convenience of lawyers
not engaged in the trial that may be going on,
and large mahogany hat and cloak rack.
For TIE accommodation of the public double
rows of seats have been provided next the walls,
on each side of the Bar, thus forming two asles
that lead directly from the front doors through
to the Bench, and Clerks and Sheritf's DESKS
There is further accommodation made for the
public in three beautiful galleries extending a.
round as many sides of the Hall, and all provi-
ded with excellent seats, So arranged as to COM
mand full view Of all that is going on below.
These galleries are furnished in style of ele
gance corresponding with the Bench, Bar, &c.
The walls are finished in ''rough-cast," and
laid off in blocks in imitation of stone of light
gray color The woodwork is all elegantly oak
grained and vanished. The ceiling is hard-fn-
ished in plaster, with large ornamental centre
piece, encircling ventilator
The Hall is lighted by four large circular
headed windows, with triple sash, hung with
cord and weights, so as to be easily worked in
ventilating the Hall.
Above the Beuch-ft ornament for a Hall of
Justice-a silent monitor to the presiding Judge
and an object OF veneraton to the Bar, is sus-
pended noble portrait, by Sully, of the great
Mansfield of America, CHIEF Justice John Mar
shall.
Such is brief description OF an Improvement
in which we confess some pride as citizens of the
county. And it would be improper to conclude
our notice without referring to those by whose
hands the work was accomplished. The Com
mittee in charge OF the work were Col. Baldwin,
j. d. Imboden, Benz. Crawford, John Church
man and VIM. A. Bell. Mr.. Starkweather, Of
Baltimore, was the Architect. Hartman j. Lush
baugh was the Contractor; he and his brother
William and Mr. Kce executed the woodwork,
Samuel j. Lushbaugh the plastering Vim. L.
Balthis the painting and granting, and Messrs.
Marquis & Kelly the marble work, and zee have
done the 'wind work."
Negro Hiring.
The rates at which negroes have hired inmost
parts of the State are higher this year than ever
before known. At Fairfax Court House farm
hands brought from $3.50 to $3.50, women $50