Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-01-18
some Rensons why the Ceunty-seat Should
Be Removed 10 Wilninstsa.

HenH0nH
Be Remoyed 10 WilIningtss.
To The Editor Of the Commercial:
The removal Of the county seat OF Justice to
Wilmington has, at intervals, for many years
been subject of earnest discussion and agita
ton by the people of New Castle County. This
measure, which, thirty or forty years ago. at
time when the population OF this county was
much less dense, its business interests within far
narrower limits than at present, was rendered
desirable by the mere convenience OF the major
ity Of the people, il by nothing else, is now alb
solutely demanded by the agricultural as well as
the business interests of the County. The pro-
priety and expediency, if not the necessity, OF
such removal should be manifest to the people
at large, for many reasons, OF which the follow
ing are only few.
The Court House at New Castle was built
when the population OF New Castle County was
only small fraction Of its present bulk. 1t was
probably we'll adapted then, and for come time
thereafter, to the purposes Of it's erection. But
the wants and necessities Of the people, to-day.
certainly are beyond the scope OF its plan
1t and its offices are now totally inadequate to
| meet the public demand. Change Of some kind
there must be.
1t is the prevailing sentiment, and fact,
| that such alterations IN the building as would
| render it commodious and adequate to Its pro-
per purposes are lmpractlcable from It's peculiar
| structure. There must, therefore, be erected
new and suitable Court House. The only re-
manning question, then, is as to Its locality:
We believe that any fair and impartial man,
with ordinary intelligence. who has ut heart and
| desires to promote the convenience and welfare
| of the ma jority OF the people OF this County,
| will point at once to Wilmington as the proper
place for the County Sea-.
In the first place, Wilmington has considerably
1 hos, hal thn aft nf
| ty and is, therefore, in point OF fact and in a
| business view. other things being equal, in
terested in this matter more than all Of the rest
Of the County.
Secondly Probably more than Seoea-eiglths
of .he business OF this County rendering re-
course to the County Seat necessary, comes
from Wilmington. 1t will surely be conceded
| by all that, ii any man has three times as much
business as his neghbor at the County Seat
other things still being equal, the former will be
entitled to a more potent voice than the lattel
in the location of that County Seat. The rule
which should thus exist ~ between individuals
it seems, should be applicable to tho case pre-
scented.
Thirdly. Nearly all OF the manufacturing in
| terests of this county conferred in Whining
ton, and always suffer more than agriculture
! interests, from the distant location O
the County Seat While attendance a
Court as witnesses or parties may FIRE
/ quently prove Improbable and annoying Il
farmers, to manufacturing firms it is often pro
ductiye of great loss, through the absence o
skilled workmen, &c, and temporary closing o
their establishments,
Fourth.-rhe great majority Of the Loan At
sociations OF this county, the benefits OF whic
are shared both by the farmer and the Working
man, are clustered in Wilmington. 1t has bee
estimated that over the sum of So, 900, i'd annua
| " paid by the members of such Associations
| Wilmington, on account of travelling expense
necessarily incurred for the purposes Of u
:, examination of titles, the satisfaction Of NOR
CAGES &c; which expenses are rendered nece
sary solely by reason Of the distance Of Il
4 county offices from the majority Of such Associ
o tons.
g The foregoing remarks may properly be CO..
sidered as reasons why the city Of Nilmingtt
= on it's own account, by reason Of its populatio
its convenience and its business interests, migl
justly claim the site for the new County Bull
ings. But beyond the matter OF advantage
Wilmington there are other considerations in
vor OF the proposed removal strongly affectiI
the people of New Castle county generally.
First. Wilmington would afford ample sai
=, suitable accommodation, which at the prese
County Seat is impossible, for parties, witnesse
Jurors, Judges and lawyers. One of the create
y, hardships to (which the people OF this Ooun
have ever been subjected is the frequent necet
ty of travelling at morning and night, to al
from the town of New Castle, and remain
there during the day with no ease or cOnve
fence to themselves, for, days, or, perhal
I, weeks during single term of Court. This gre
p injustice to the people Of New Castle CouI
y. generally, would be signally remedied throu
ei the location of the County Seat at Wilmingto
int Secondly. 1t is a fact known to ALL that ma
persons having Just legal claims abandon thel
: rather than be compelled to undergo the inco
venience, discomfort and pecuniary loss pro
cutting such claims under existing circumsta
- ces and that thereby the present location
the County Seat Of justice defeats lie Gerry er
of justice
10 Thirdly. Wilmington is now railroad cent
The Phila. vii. * Baltimore, the Delaware,
vii. 4 Reading and the vii. IL Western Ri
roads all connect with that city, and furn
easy access to Wilmington to the people OF n
CASTLE County. 1t would not be going beyo
ate the truth to state and it s amatter OF dem
ed stration, that by fUe-sirhtS OF the people of
county, Wilmington, with it's railroad faciliti
ID more easily reached than the town OF :
x. | Castle.
Fourth, The great majority of the lawy
necessarily do and must reside in Wilmingto
and they transact the bulk OF the legal busin
IL of New Castle County. This entails great
pense upon the county generally by reason
= the present site of the County Buildings
lawyers fees for attending to legal busin
which requires their presence at the offices
Court, naturally and justly higher than Il
q would be If the county seat were close at ha
What might be properly performed in a cou
of hours, If the Court were here, now requi
either a whole days absence at New Castle
the hire Of horse and carriage. The lawy
are remunerated, but the people suffer.
-, Many other reasons might be urged, why
hS' city of Wilmington is for the people Of New
tie County, generally pre-eminently the m
proper place for the location of the County s
1t il believed that the foregoing considerable
however, should not and cannot be with
AN great weight before the people; and it is to
earnestly desired that the present Legslat
will promptly authorize and direct meas
which seems to be SO advantageous to the c
zens Of New Castle County. JUSTICE