Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1872-02-01
For the Fayette County Herald
SHALL WE HAVE A NEW COURT
HOUSED
Our Present COnditiOn--Necess Tor
n Safe BuiIding--The County
Records in Danger of De-
structiOn-sEEOTV to Raise
the Funds to Build


lie square in Washington, and used as
a Court House, was built in 1923, near
fifty years ago. In the erection of this
building, every thing like utility, con-
venienee, or usefulness, was ignored,
and the combined wisdom of the au-
thorities seems to have been exhaust
ed in showing the world chow not to-
construct a useful building.
At this age of the world we are Of
ten struck with surprise at the way
our fathers succeeded in the transac-
ton of public affairs. If a road was
to be laid out, bridge to be built, a
Jail or any public building to be erect
ed, and there was any way to make
them expensive, i'll constructed, or in
convenient, that plan was generally
adopted. In FaYette County we have
many illustrations of the ignorance
and needless management in public
improvements. I remember that some
years ago n bad mud hole at the cross
ing of the creek, half a mile East of
town, was repaired by hauling gravel
from the Orr farm, two miles below.
Subsequently within fifteen feet of that
i mud-hole a thousand loads of gravel
were taken for the construction of the
Circleville turnpike. And there are
persons, now living at the County
Seat, who can remember when we had
a toli-bridge at the crossing of the
creek on Court Street, within four
squares of the Court House!
But we have improved in these latter
days. Instead of building bridge
from hill to hill, (as il the ease of the
toll bridge above alluded to- we have
learned to build a bridge over the
channel and throw up a levy on either
side. So, in regard to many of the
public improvements of the county,
we have progressed. Our bridges and
roads are evidence of the advance
ment of our people. But our county
buildings, the property of the tax
payers, are lamentably far in the rear
: of what they should be, and what the
interests of the citizens demand. They
are neither useful nor safe. Indeed
they are disgrace and burlesque up
on our people, unworthy of their rep.
utation.
Some persons, under the influence
of determined opposition to all pub
lie improvements, and in defense O
the ancient theory of putting the girls
in one end of the sack and stone il
the other, contend that any kind o
building will answer to hold court
r and refer to the time when q court o-
this county was held in barn, ant
t the Jury consulted of their verdict il
the adjoining hazel brush. Such per
sons seem to imagine that the only
use of a court house is to hold court
{ and that about one month in twelv
is all the time that it is necessaril.
used. Is it necessary to inform sue
: persons that the records of the count
should be preserved? Every Ian,
owner, every person whose title t
property is based upon the adiudica
ton and decisions of the courts, hav
an abiding interest in possessing
safe depository of the public records
The title of millions of dollars of val
liable property in this county, doubt
O less hangs on the records preserve
e in some of the county Offices De
+; stroy these records, and it is not IN
- reasonable to suppose that much of th
,f contention and litigation of the las
id fifty gears will have to be gone owe
TT with an uncertain result.
80 - THE NECESSITY OF A NEW BUILDIN,
,r No one can be found who will hes
'e tate to say the records in the vario
lie offices of this county have been, an
- continue to be, an an qtnsqfe cond
o. ton. These records have been, Fl
ht over third of century, continual
Of exposed to destruction-liable eve
az a. day of the year to the ravages of
- fire; and it is wonder that they a
n. preserved until this time. When '
id reflect on the exposed condition
ty these records-scattered among half
~ ~ dozen offices, laying piled on wood,
1e shelves, without the least protectio
en- are we not fortunate in making
IN escape for so long Il period? Shou
g nc be determined by the people tn
~ ~ they will have new court house,
It. will be an easy matter to provide fiji
n proof vaults for all records
s. Forty five years ago the court hou
Is of Fayette county was burned, inclu
oi ing the court records. The recor
let of real estate escaped because th
he were then kept at the residence of t
OF Recorder, and in consequence we
TO saved from the confagration. Thou
an near half century has elapsed sin
= the burning, we have not yet recc
IRE cred the inconvenience and loss
VI that occasion. Now we have the boo
~ ~ of the Recorder, the Clerk, the Pl
of bate Judge. and the Auditor, &C
ro- stantly exposed. The Treasurer pro
nat ably secures his records in his safe
De the only Office that is provided W
anything tending to preserve the pr
nee lie archieves.
81 II