Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-02-20
REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT.

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THE COMMITTEE.
Special Correspondence Of the Commercial.
DOVER, Feb. 20.
At 6.25, last evening, the following members
of the Bar Association of New Castle county,
went down to Dover to impress the Legislature
with the Importance of the removal OF the coun-
ty seat from New Castle to Wilmington: Thos.
f. Bayard, ]. O. Patterson, s. NJ. Harrington,
Charles b Lore, Benjamin Nields, George H.
Bates, Anthony Higgins, W. II. Hodgson, E. q.
Bradford, Jr.. j. M. Williamson, Henry r. du-
Pont and ]. P. r. Polk These gentlemen went
down as representatives of the Association, du-
ly commissioned at q previous meeting to per-
form that which is hereafter related.
An informal meeting was held in the hall of
the House Of Representatives, when Mr. Bayard
expressed his pleasure that he had the opportu-
nifty of meeting with the General Assembly Of
the State, but he had done 80 at considerable
Inconvenience to himself, feeling the Importance
Of the movement.
Hecalled attention to the fact that the condi-
tions that once made New Castle the most conve-
nient location in the county had now changed and
it was 80 no longer. When the county seat bad
been fixed there that was the only place Of safe
ty, and the whole State q vast hunting ground,
whose only means Of convenient communication
was by the water courses. New Castle, there
fore, being on the Delaware, although on the
very verge Of the county, was more accessible
than any other point that might be chosen. This
is no longer the case. Wilmington is nearer and
more accessible to a majority OF the citizens Of
the county, while to all Others, except perhaps
very few, who live directly upon the Delaware
river, aud few in the town Of New Castle, it is
equally convenient.
The greater part of all of the business of the
county, came from or through Wilmington, and
an immense amount OF time was lost by business
people of Wilmington, especially those summoned
as witnesses, which would be saved by the re-
moval of the Courts to Wilmington. Men were
frequently kept for days waiting for cases to
come up, while in Wilmington they might be
brought in at few minutes warning, and not
kept from their business for any great length of
time. He instanced one case that had come to
his own personal knowledge, Of the head Of one
of our large manufactures. the foreman and two
of the most needed workmen, who were taken
to New Castle on subpoena, and kept there for
several days to testify, in an assault and battery
case, to the good character OF the defendant,
while il the witnesses could have under the law,
done so, they would have been perfectly willing
to have bad ths man plead guilty and pay! his
fine for him.
He said that the bar took greater interest in
this matter than any other class OF men, not be-
cause the Inconvenience especially fell upon
them, but because their business put them in a
condition to see the evils under which this in
convenient location placed our people.
He thought that at this time the work could be
done, more cheaply and effectually than ever be-
fore, ,or insalprobability ever aganI The offer of
the city was very liberal and the cost of the re-
moval would be very slight. He believed, sin
cerely, that the interest, at least Of all the ex-
pense that the county would be com
pelled- to pay on account of the removal,
would be saved from the extra mileage that the
county was compelled to pay for the attendance
of witnesses from Wilmington in criminal cases,
and for the summoning of them, without once
taking into the account the saving to private in
dividuals.
He'beeved, too, that an equal sum would be
saved to suitors from casual fees. The slightest
information in regard to the condition Of a rec
ord required a trip to New Castle. at a loss OF at
least half day to the counsel. Men must live
and their time is valuable to them, and when
that is used 1t is but common justice that they
should be paid for it. He said that If the Court
House OF Kent was at Dover Landing, much Of
the information which was now gladly given by
the gentlemen of the bar of Kent without charge
would OF necessity demand compensation.
He spoke OF the Inconvenience OF the present
building and that it had been indicted by the
grand jury Of our county as nuisance that al
though we had much larger population than
Kent, we had at least no better buildings than
it.
He said. further, that he had not been able to
do what, perhaps. he should-prepare heads for
his remarks but had, in very desultory man
ners set forth some Of the reasons for the change.
He knew of no single good reason why the
county seat should remain at New Castle, but
il any OF the members of the Legislature would
suggest any objections, he would be very happy
to answer them, If possible, or If valid, admit
them.
Mr.. Harrington was next called upon by the
committee, and stated that he had been author
lad to make the proposition OF the city, which
that the city gives the site and pay half of the
expense of the buildings which is to be used
jointly by the county and city. He referred to
the conveniences Of access to the city of Will
mington, and the accommodation for persons
attending upon the Court. He said that no sin
gle advantage possessed by New Castle was not
possessed equally by Wilmington, and the latter
had many not possessed by the former. He
said that conforming with other buildings i'll
Wilmington-the Opera House and new hotel
he felt perfectly certain that all OF the necessary
outlay would not exclude 100000. He did not
believe it would be more than $4,000 or this,
he showed that the amount to be raised by the
people outside Of Wilmington would not exceed
$15,5O0.
He, too, referred to the miserable condition
Of the Court House, and thought that new
| building would be necessary. Now, indeed, the
Levy court had under consideration a PROPOSE
tion to expend in further patches on the old
building. 1t, therefore, became practically,
whether We shall build at New Castle or Will
| mngton.
Mr. Lore was next called upon, and gave his
full and hearty approval Of the movement. He,
/ too, believed that merely as an economic meas
are it would be a success, and the county be
pecuniarily benefited. He believed that the sa-
wing would not only keep down the interest, but
In ten years would pay of the principal He
also adverted to the fact that new buildings
would be required in less than ten years that
/ they had been patched and patched with evil
dence OF its insuiicency; that each addition was
| only confirmation more strong than the last,
that the old building would not do for the BUSH
i the county.
Mr.. Higgins, in very few words, stated that
| he had heard but one objection-that of expense
and that he like the rest of the speakers, had
never heard a man oppose it for any other rea-
son. Some had signed remonstrances because
they thought Wilmington should bear the whole
| expense Of the removal, but outside Of the
question Of expense, he knew Of no objection.
The conference was protracted to late hour,
considering which the speakers were heard with
marked attention and patience. No remarks
were made by any Of the members Of the Legis-
| lature, and no intimations were given as TO what
would probably be its ultimate action.
A counter movement was in progress at the
same time in the Senate chamber. and, az We
understand, under the management Of VIM. G.
Whiteley. A. B.
Gold closed yesterday at 11456. Government