The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-12-03
STATE.EOUsE.

The Act passed at the last session Of
the General Assembly: "to provide ior
the completion of the main building of
the State-House," appropriated $4,000
to defray the expenses of continuing the
construction for the year 1885, and ap.
pointed the Governor, the Secretary Of
State and the comptroller general a COM
mission to make the necessary contracts,
including the employment Of an archi-
tect.
The commission organized on the I'd
of January last. Mr.. ]. R. Niernsee,
the distinguished architect who designed
the building, and who superintended its
construction until the work @as suspend
cd in 1864, was appointed architect. He
entered upon the discharge of his duties
and began the preparation Of the plans
and estimates for the completion of the
building. When the estimates for the
granite work we're ready, bids to be sub.
mitted by the 10th of June were called
for by advertisement. In consequence
of the death of Mr.. Niernsee, which
occurred early in June, the bids were
not opened until after The selection Of
his successor, Mr. J. c. Nelson. of Bal.
timore, Maryland. The lowest bid, that
Of the Westham Granite Company of
Richmond, Va, for s57 ,005, vas accepted.
After the contract was made, all of the
stone balusters required for present use
were found in the basement of the
building, thereby reducing the outlay for
granite work by $500. Some addition.
al cost will arise from the fact that the
amount of cut stone on hand, which
formed part of the consideration of the
contract, is less than that estimated. and
also because it will be necessary to have
work done on the old stone to make it
correspond with the new. The architect
reports that the present roof is in t.d
condition, and that the cutters and spouts
will require about $3.50 for renewal, IN.
!ess the new roof is put on in 1856. The
underground drains for carrying off the
rain water have been put in perfect order,
and nearly all of the work necessary for
connecting the sewerage Of the building
with the river has been completed. The
Report of the architect will give detailed
information oi the work proposed for the
coming year. Two plans are suggested
for increasing the accommodations pow
afforded iu the building TIE architect
states that The work for the nezt year,
and consequently, the appropriation to
be made, viii depend upon the sclect;oa
of one of these plans by The General
Assembly, and that y sum varying from
$50, 900 TO Sl20,000 can be expended
With advantage according 10 the pan
selected. Much Of the work: including
the making Of brick. cal! De dcne By
convict labor.
CRIMINAL COURTS.
The necessity for some changes in our
Criminal Courts is apparent. The tria!
Justice system, which was intended 10
relieve The Circui; Court Of General ;::as.
sons by providing inferior Courts in
which petty offences could be tried read
ily and at small cost, has failed to fulfil
the purpose which it was designed to ac-
complisli. 1t is proper, therefore, that I
recommend, for The consideration of The
General Assembly, such amendments 10
the law as seem most likely to give re-
lief to the Courts of Sessions, while pro.
yding for the prompt trial of persons
charged with crime, and the speedy
punishment of those who may be con.
victed. But two modes suggest them.
selves to ME by which this may be &C.