The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-09-19
The New Court House.


Tho New Court House.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PuGNIx: The
community has been very much surprised
in the last few days, to hear that the new
Court House may possibly be located in
the upper wards of the city, away from
business and the Offices Of those who
daily attend upon the courts. There arc
so many strong reasons against this novel
idea that we ta5e up our pen to remon-
strate, and to call the attention of the
public to this sad Inconvenience that is
about to be fastened npon us for the
future. Why carry the Court House
into cotton town? Can any decent rca-
son be given for it? Tho Court House
will be an ornament to the city, and
should be placed where, at least, it may be
seen by the passer-by. The sale of the
old Court House square, on Main street,
was wise, in our Judgment. It is better
thnt the building should not be on Main
street, but is that IA reason why it should
be carried oM Of to,rn? In the immediate
vicinity Of the business portion of the
city, neur the site of the old Court
House, aud contiguous to the Offices of
those who hnve most to do with it, is
beautiful site. that mny be procurcd-ou
the Sonth-east corner Of Washington aud
Sumter streets. It is IL high, dry aud
airy situation, convenient, aud altogether
desirable. The site will cost something,
but what is the first cost of lot in com.
parisOn with the advantages aud disnd-
vantages to the community for hundred
yenrs to come? This is u serious oues-
ton, and we hope that the Com mission.
ers will not undertake So important
matter without ascertnining the wishes
OF the citizens respecting 1t. The Tux
payers arc the parties out of whose pock-
cts tho building is to be- puid for, and
surely their views should be consulted
the beginnings of plan for the new
submitted by Mr.. Berg, M accomplished
architect, and should his plan bo adopt.
ed, we can say that it will be, though
plain, an ornament to the city-nt
least, such structure as need not
hide its head in the byways OF
cotton town. Other plans may be
presented of equal or greater merit
than Mr.. Bergs, but in no event should
the light of justice BIZ hid under bushrl.
AT least, Mr.. Editor, lot us have dis
cussion of this important question, and
let ali who arc Interested speuk out now,
before it is too late The site should bn
determined upon immediately, ms in
many instances, much will depend upon
making the plan OF tine building TO suit
the situation. We have named the cor.
ner Of Washington and Sumter streets,
because it is IL largo square. The build
ing could be erected Ill tho centre of it,
and with handsome fence around it
and {. green grass plat we'll kept and
ornaniented with Shade trees, we shall
have something pleasing 10 the eye, and
our children may see hereafter that their
fathers had some respect for the temple
of justice and some tnste in erecting it.
The United States Court House and
Post Office together, in one building,
have, it is true. been carried up town,
but that is very we'll understood to be {.
job of Uncle Sans, with what We have
nothing to do. It is seldom, too, that
our citizens will have business in that
building. Once year, the court will
sit there, and once or twice day, a
clerk may have to run to the post office,
and that will be the end Of it, inconve-
nient though it be. But with the Conn-
ty and State Court House. tho case is
very different. All the records nre those
OF every kind, to begin with; the Clerk,
the Sheriff, the Probate Judge, the
Auditor, the Coroner, the County Com
missioners, are all provided for there.
Every hour in the day, the business
public will have mead to visit the Court
House, and it should be in as convenient
and central position as can possibly be
selected. Let us hear the other side, if,
indeed, there be any other side.
TAXPAYER.
1.-THE MEETING HERE Melton, Cur
ney and Ranser spoke here on Friday