Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-06-15
THE COURT HOUSE
And the Fnture 3 olarksvIIle.

EDITORS CHRONICLE s-4NON# basAt
the battle has been fought, and both
lost and won, and the smoke having
blown away, feel that there would
be no wrong in saying a few words
in justification of the acts Of the
Commissioners in selecting the lot
for the new Court House that seems
to have given such dissatisfaction
to many persons, and so emphati-
cally rejected by the peoples Fepre-
sentatives.
/ had prepared more ella orate
statement than this, showing the
many advantages of the lot first
selected, which 1 had intended lay
ing before the County Court until
1 found so many good citizens so
strenuously opposed to that locality.
When l became fully satisfied that
the site named was objectionable
to what seemed to be a majority OF
the people of both the city and
county, and wishing not to oppose
their wishes in the matter, or to say
or do anything that might have a
tendency to deprive the people OF
their choice, or to conflict with their
interest, regardless of my own
positive impression that the lot first
selected was the proper one, l
deemed it best to withhold my ar
gument and quietly permit the
sovereign people, through their rep
resentatives, to choose for them
selves. They have chosen, and
although 1 do not, as commission
er, approve of their choice, owing
to its possessing but few of the adj
vantages of the first selection, as
hereafter named, it is not my inten-
ton here to grumble at what they
have done.
When the Commissioners were
appointed by the County Court to
select a site, and arrange for the re-
building of the Court House, they
felt that a deep responsibility had
been placed upon them, and that il
was their duty to calmly canvass
and consider the business contided
to them, and if possible do what
they believed to be for the best in
terest of the whole people of Mont
gOmery county. Feeling thus, and
being actuated by a sincere desire
to do Justice to all, regardless of any
individual preference or interest,
they, after several days of earnest
thought, selected the lot that was
so unceremoniously rejected, basing
their consideration mainly upon
the following many advantages
that they believed it to possess:
First-It is accessible from every
direction, is very nearly the centre
of the city and therefore convenient
to all classes of persons.
SecOnd-It is away from the noise,
dust and hustle of BUSINESSMAN OBJ
lection that was waged against the
old site by nearly every one.
Third-It has ample room on
every side sufficient 10 insure the
building that would have been con-
structed upon it against any fire
that might have originated in
another off of the lot.
Fourth-Its price was less than
the old lot and fixtures sold for,
whilst its size was more than six
times as large, and its distance only
a little over three squares from the
old site and on the same street.
Fifth-It is on the main bust
ness street of the city, in the direc-
ton that business seems to be going,
and lust far enough away from bust
ness to be out of the noise and bus
tie of it.
Sixth-The Court House, if built
upon this lot, could not detract from
one business part of town to benefit
another, and would not, therefore,
iniure the business of any particu-
lar locality.
Seventh-Whilst SHOULD it have
any influence upon business at alD,
to locate it directly at either the
west end or east end of business,
might have a tendency to depreSs
that portion from which it was far
thest removed.
Eighth-Its position is high and
commanding, and a good public
building would look well upon it,
having as it would fine view from
every direction.
Ninth-And, with a little grading
there, grass, shade trees and shrub
berry, in a few years "COurt Square"
would have been a source of joy and
pride to every good citizen of Mont
gOmery county.
Tenth-It would have afforded a
beautiful and pleasant retreat for
the citizens of town during summer
evenings after the cares and
anXieties of business were dispensed
with for the day.
EleVenth-It would have furnish
cd equally as desirable retreat for
the people of the country, who,
when after their business transac-
tiOns were ended, desired pleas
ant and quiet place where they
could rest until time for them to re-
turn to their homes.
Twelth-Having fronts on two of
the principal streets of the city OF
800 feet each, and being 420 feet
long, the county would have had
ample room to construct upon it
any other county buildings that
might be hereafter needed, fronting
them on Main street, without inter
fering with, or marring the beauty
of the court house site.
irteenth-PersOns from the
country, called to town as witnesses
or jurors, having but little time to
remain, and who did not feel able
or willing to use the livery stables,
could have found a safe retreat for
their horses, carriages or buggies on
the back portion of the lot.
FOurteeth-It was not considered
too far away from business for the
convenience of the farmer or me-
chanic, both Of whom are used to
an active life, and, therefore, could
not think it much trouble to walk
a distance of two or three squares.
Fifteenth-It was not considered
too far away from business for the
convenience of the merchant, many
of whom go by it, or near it, in
passing between their homes and
business houses and, when they do
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