Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-25
THE NEW COURT HOUSE

unlsucu 81 Coot vi pS,OOV,OOO, Wao ueui-
Gated with appropriate ceremonies.
THE NEW COURT HOUSE
Dedicated With Impressive Ceremonies
= Speaking by Notable Men.
PIrTsBURG, September 24.-Neyer be-
fore in the history of Allegheny county
were there so many people gathered on the
streets on the hill. In front Of the grand
stand at the Court House thsre was per-
feet Jam, and Grant street from Fourth
avenue to Fifth avenue was packed. The
police tried to preserve order, but this was
The jam at the Ross street
entrance 70 the Court Honse was as
great as that on the street. All
sorts of devices were uaed to get
into the building and on the platform, but
the Deputy Shariffs knew DO friends, and
would admit no one without credentials.
The crowd became so dense in front of St.
Pstsr's Episcopal church, which is oppo-
site the grand stand, that il wss found
necessary to break down the fence and let
q number Of women ard children out
through the yard. 1t was varicu'ly est;-
mated that from 90, 900 to 100, 900 people
were in front Of the grand stand and
around the surrounding strettI
The decorations along Third avenue
were simply supsrb. All the business
houses were gaily festooped, and that
Pittsburg did herself proud goes without
saving. All along the streets where stands
were erected, the seats did not seem to be
selling as fast as they might, but everybody
seems to be waiting for the grand parade
tomorrow.
It was Just ten minutes past ten when
the County Centennial exercises were COM
meneed by the Centennial orchestra rem
dering Hail Columbia " Hon. Morrison
Foster then stepped forward and in few
well-chOSon words nominated Hon. Judge
Stowe for chairman of the meeting. In
accepting the honor Judge said:
ADDRESS OF JUDGE STOWE.
FELLOW CITIZENS: We have met togeth-
ar upon this anspicious September mora
ipg TO commemorate the Centennial birth
day Of Allegheny county.
The mechanic has lefG his workshop, the
farmer his fields, the merchant his store
and the professional man his Office and
liorary-and come together to-day, not
only from our own county, bat from places
hundreds of miles distant, 10 join rs In
celebrating this occasion.
On the 24sh of September, 1888, the
county Of Allegheny was created. West
morelsnd eounty, ont Of whose original ter
ritory this was done, had itself been erected
into county, in 1773. out of all Western
Pennsylyania included iu the cession of the
Six Nations and West Of Laurel Hill.
Hannastown, 8 very inconsiderable ham,
let, situate about three miles northeast Of
Gresnsburg, was the seat OF justice till
destroyed by the Indians in 1871. In
17s1 all that portion of Westmoreland
county west of the Monongshela river
was erected into the county Of Washing,
ton. In 1882 the portion Of Westmore-
aud county between the Monoagshsla and
Youghiogheny river was made the county
of Fsyette. Then this county WAS in 17Ss
creeated out of parts of Westmoreland and
Washington counties. In 1889 an sddl'
tiooal part of Washington county was an
nexed and by the Act Of Assembly oi
April 3, 1892, some 2O0. 900 acres on Lake
Erie purchased by the State from the gen,
eral Government was declared to be part
of Allegheny county. This extended
boundary was subsequently reduced by the
formation of other c0uaties west and north
of the Allegheny river, until this county
was confined 70 its present limits, embrac'
ing an area of some 754 square miles ol
482, $50 acres. Although thus reduced II
extent il has grown in population, wealth
and influence until 1t stands IN the Com
monwealth second only to Philadelphia.
HOW WONDERFUL HAS BEEN ITS aRowTB
since 100 years ago! Then the inhsbi
tants of that part Of the county lying out
side of the portion between here and tht
junction of the two rivers, contained IN
all but few hundred people living in tht
urimeyal wilderness, and where we nov
stand Wss high hill overlooking q email
village or cluster of houses near the point
containing some 500 peopls, from who's
sides aoWed two fountains which, says al
old writer, in summer continued with
limpid current to refresh the taste, }" anC
ION its summit was O mound Of earti
supposed to be catscomb or ancien
burial place Of the sayages."
Look in fancy upon these rivers; yoV
see q solitary barge, or old-fashioned ma
bost, floating along, moved only by tn
silent current Of the stream, or some Ign
skiff or Indian canoe skimming thar sur
face or moored to some tree overhaagini
the shore. Cattle grszs quietly In tn
field along the banks. Orchards ant
groves and shaded walks meet your view
on every side. All is rural peace and qui
etness.
Than turn from fancy to reality. Sc
the long lipes of thronged streets-th'
magnificent buildings towering towards tn
sky-the lofty temples dedicated to on
God, pointing their innumerable spires Il
heaven-the painting steamer ploughing th'
yexed waters of these rivers, and the rush
ING trains of cars, whirling along theil
banks. Listen to the roaring OF our mill
and factories-the din Of business and th'
noisy clamor of trade. Well may We say
In the languaS 20 of another ''The same Sky
indeed is over our heads, but all else how
changed"
Hon, Robert E. Mercer then presented
the Court House to the people, giving
history of its construction, and highly
compiinenting the architect In charge
On Sunday, the 7th Of May, 1882, the OLD
Court House had been destroyed BY hre
This new and handsome structure took it'
place. It's cost had been $500, 600,
every dollar of which had been paid Of
provided for.
Hon. J. W. T. White then made brie
historical address: "Pittsburg In 17SS bad
800 inhabitants; now it is over S00, 600
I call Alleghsny and the country district Al!
Pittsburg. They are all with rs and should
be in our city. Then Pittsburs could take
its place as one Of the foremost cities
of the country, Wonderful. marvellous
has been our prosperity. Well may thu
people of Allegheny county rejoice to-day
In refinement, taste and education we have
kept pace with the country, we have ais
done il 10 manufacture. In PittsburS
alone there is more manufacturing than II
thnt States Of the Union. That w
have kept pace with the times, i can poin'
II ~ ,