Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-03
The Court House Question.

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SIR: 1t is q surprising thing to De tha
matter of so greatimportapce as the pro
posed removal of the Court House has re
ceived so little attention or consideration
at the hands oil the public or the press
Aside from the few persons who compose
the city and county authorities no one
seems 10 have taken enough interest in the
subject to make any investigation Cr ex.
press any opinion "a 10 the desirability Of
the proposed charge l do not believe il
would be wise TO abandon the present
Court House, and beg leave to submit a
few reasons for my belief.
In the first place it seems to be assumed
By those who favor the change, that the
present Court House ia insufficient or in.
adequate foc court and county purposes
This id a or assumption is grossly incor-
rect The old Court House is abundantly
ample for all purposes, and will answer all
demands for many years 10 come. The
building is one Of the most substantial and
massive in lite construction that there is in
the city Not only the outside but the in
side or partition walls are of solid and
heavy brick and stone masonry, and would
stand firm and erect for one hundred years.
We have two court rooms large er ough for
al legitimate purposes, and larger than
modern court roomsin Other cities. There
is not an average of elk times in year
when either Of the rooms is filled with PEG
pie, and on those occasions it would he
better for public morals if there we're fewer
present
We have handsome, commodious and
comfortable Office for each of the clerks
Each OF these Offices has large FIRE proof
vaults, sufficient TO safely preserve all the
records that will accumulate in many
years.
There is An elegant Office or library room
for each of the Judges There are two jury
rooms, zach admirably adopted for the
purpose.
There is q large and splendid room
which contains the county Law library, and
which is used By ,he grand jury.
Aud lastly there are two good rooms
which answer all the needs of the Board
Of Commissioners Now what more does
the county wsn,9 What more can it get
by moving, even though it spend thousands
in repairsH
The present Court House needs no re.
psirs except some plaster and paint on the
outside.
Look q. the front Of the First Presby.
terrain Church and see what a little fresh
paint will do That church is similar in
style Of srcbitec ure to the Court House,
aud in durability and beauty both far sur
passes the Capitol building.
Is il proposed to wreck such building
ns the Court House2 That would be van.
dalism Aud yet that would be the result
if it is vacated By the courts. Perhsps
the build pg would bring $3.50. as did
tie city building, but is it proposed to de.
stroy such a building for that money!
One o'her point The old Court House
is almost FIRE prof, that's to say, by reason
of the heavy outside and psctition walls,
ard by reason OF the large water pipes with
hose attachments in both stories il would
be on y by miracle that The building could
ever be poIe than slightly damaged by
FIRE.
There are many other matters that might
be alluded TO in discussing this subject but
| leave them to others. Ny object in writ
irg this is to al the attention of the pub
lie to matter Of great public Importance,
and hope, Mr. Editor, that You will en-.
deavor TO awaken the interest of the citi.
zens on this subject, so that it may not be
decided while the taxpayers are sleeping.
CITIZEN.