Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-04-16
Circuit Court.
WOODSTOCK, VA. April IL, 'S4


The undersigned Commissioners ap-
pointed by an order OF the said court
rendered on the Sd day Of April, 1884
10 examine into the condition OF the
stone front building of the Court House
of this County. and 10 inquire whether
the safety Of the public records and the
transaction of the business of the Coun-
~ do not require a new Office for the
clerk of the Circuit Court, would re-
specially report tn at after examining
carefully the said stone building and
the Offices of the clerks OF the county
and circuit courts, located therein, that
the stone front building Is unsafe, the
loft being mere finder box, with the
timbers of the beliry much m-eaten
and decayed from drv rot; the stone
walls are considerably cracked, the
mortar is dead and has no strength
lett, TN account Of which the walls
have been much weakened.
That the Circuit Court clerks Office
and county treasurer's Office are 10 the
same room, which Is none too large Tor
the purposes of either one, with NJ
convenences for keeping the records OF
the office, which are jambed together
10 wooden safes, liable to be lost and
with no protection against fire and no
room nor con venicuces for examining
the records.
That the off ce OF the clerk OF the
county is still more crowded than
the Office OF the clerk Of the cir
cult court, aud otherwise in the same
condition.
The only purpose that eithor OF these
offices answer is to keep the records oil
the county and its different courts, 10
the dry.
To render this building safe. and th'
clerks offices fire.proof as re quired ol
law, and leave the necessary room re-
oured for the purposes OF these office
would be impossible, neither coulC
these offices be enlarged so as TO CIV
the requisite room.
The only available res ort for the pub
lie safety, and the convenience of the
business OF the county aud its different
courts, is to build entirely new clerks
offices.
In short, your commissioners would
condemn the entire old stone building
as entirely unfit for the purposes FOL
which it is endeavored to use ii, and a
incapable Of being made so.
All of which is respectfully submitted
E. D. NEWMAN.
jos. B. MELHoRN.
l.. NJ. HIsEY,
r. w. CRAWFORD,
G. w. KENNEDY,
r. S. JONES.
Order of the Judge of the Circuit Court
E. Newman, Jos. B. Melhorn, L
NJ. Hisey, R. S. Jones, r. W. Crawior'
and G. w. Kennedy who by an orde
of a former day of this term were re
ouested 10 act as Commissioners to ex
anime and report upon the condition Of
the stone front of the court house 0
this county, filed their report, who
The court hereby respectfully refers tC
the Board of Supervisors Of this count.
for consideration and action thereupon
Add the Judge Of this court upon
y, rsonal examination OF the presen
Circuit Court Clerks Office, fully coc
ours 10 the report OF the commissioner
as TO it. And from O long experience
on the bench and as lawyer an
especially 10 the matter Of the difficu
ties 10 supplying lost records and Il
ascertaining the rights OF parties inter
ested in them and the grea' lo'se
consequent thereon, ia counties wher
the records were lost or muiilated, TIT
said Judge IS satisfied and so urges upo'
the said Supervisors that as matter o
economy and for the safety of the evF
dences of title to the property oil To
citizens Of The county, and Of the ev
dences of the settlement OF long an'
costly controversies, new and amp
provision, fire proof AS the law require:
for the custody aud preservation OF tn
public records is Of paramount impo'
lance and necessity.
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