Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-09
THE NEW COURTHOUSE.

RepOIt of the COmmissiOners on
the Site, Cost of Erection. Etc.
Some time since the County Court ap
pointed Messrs. j. II. Goodlett, j. p
Irrelevant, E. Magevney, W. A. BickforC
and NJ. d. l.. Stewart as commissioners
to examine and report as to the proper
location for a courthouse for Shelby
county, to receive specifications, plans
ETC., for the building, and to report on as
early day as possible. The above
named gentlemen performed the labori
GUS duty assigned them, and this morn
ing fled their report. Their investiga
ton was limited by the County Court to
the county lot on Adams street, beyond
the bayou. The committee reported in
favor of the plan and specifications pre-
scented by Mr.. Winters, architect for the
erection Of building on the above prop
erty, and in favor of the plan presented
by Messrs. Jones 4 Baldwin for the cree
ton of building without reference tc
the Adams street lot, for which theiI
plan was not specifically designed. The
cost estimated by the above named ar
chitects for the erection of a courthouse
sufficiently large to hold all the courts
in the city, including the United States
courtsis near $3.50, 900. The County Court
this morning. refused to take up the
report for consideration, stating that il
would be taken up at a future day, when
the heavy docket now before the Court
was disposed Of. So the matter is al
rest for few days. Several propositions
as to location viii be pressed upon the
County Court, as follows; The old Post
Office Building, the Gayoso House anC
the Waldran Block. The peculiar ad
vantages of each of these locations viii
be presented by able lawyers to the
Court. In the event that location il
decided upon and an appropriation o
$3OO,O is made by the County Court fol
the erection of a courthouse, we under
stand a proposition will be made to Tho
u. s. Government that the proposed
building will be so arranged that the
United States Circuit and District Courts
wifi their respective Offices for clerks
marshals, etc., can be located in it, anC
the above named courts furnished will
large and convenient rooms, provided
the Government makes an appropriation
toward the erection of the building. i
would certainly be great convenience
to have all the courts held in one build
ing, as in other large cities. The 10
out on Adams street is most inconve
niently situated for legal business 4
courthouse should be centrally located
A new proposition has been suggested
which seems to meet with general favo
from lawyers and business men. 1t II
to erect the proposed courthouse on tn,
bluff in front of Madison street. Thi
central bluff has a front Of nearly fou
hundred feet, and building situate'
thereon would be an ornament to tn
city, The bluff, on the river front
could be graded or terraced and forme'
into delightful walk or promenade 70
our citizens. The mounds Of dirt o
bluffs on either side of this centra
mound will then be removed, leaving tn
splendid ediice prominent feature an
ornament to our city front. 1t is under
stood that nothing is in the way of thi
new proposition, and we have no douf
the proposition for the ERECTION ola fin
courthouse building, at the foot an
in front Of, Madison street will DO r.
garded by the citizens Of Memphis a
worthy Of endorsement and adoption.