The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-28
THAT NEW COURTHOUSE,
"A COMBINATION WITH THE CITY FOR
ITS HALL CONSIDERED.
There Is Need OF Both, Means TO Secure
Them. and Growing Determination
Chairman Slaughter Says the Effort
win Not Fail, as Yet.

"Mcmphis is wonderfully animated,
progressive and powerful city, socially and
commercially, the throbblngso OF her great
heart being felt throughout the entire
Southwest. The pulsltions penetrate even
the West, and in consequence make them
selves apprcciably felt all over our great
country. Whenever We want improve
mont of heavy character We generally
get II, for there are hundreds and thou
sands Of men with pockets full Of money
who see in 81 judiciously invested in our
midst a return Of $40, accompanied by no
anxiety save the waiting OF reasonable
length Of time. The coming railroads
five or more In numbcr-arc great signs;
20 is the Mississippi bridge, and 80 also is
the assured activity Of the real estate mar
kct during the approaching spring and
summer. But there is one thing about
which | see very little in the newspapers
that would quicken the steps oiprogress Ms
much Us any internal improvement we
could inauguntc and complete"
The foregoing PREDATORY remarks were
patiently listened 10 by an APPEAL report
or Yesterday. The speaker was one ol the
leading and most progressive gentlemen
whosa fortunes are east with those Of Mem
phis. He has iustcrcd many Of the insti-
tutions upon which turned the tide Of the
city's advancement and prosperity. Those
in which he was not directly interested
weic by him watched with keen interest
and solicitudc, until they either failed or
bccnme established. As the speaker hest.
tatcd, continuance Of his pmarks was
caused by the rcportorial inquiry, "What
momcntous institution Is that 10 which
you rcfor2'
"a magnificent city hall and courthouse
combined, he replied. "Thc subject Of
erecting the structure occupied public ut
tcnti0n for n brief period once upon time,
but finally sank ont Of sight with nothing
tangible accomplished. The building
season will soon be nj hand again, and We
should not allow IL 20 pass unimproyed in
this direction"
"Bu,wc havca commodious courthouse
and city hall, separate and distinct, IL is
true. There arr no funds ON hand, or liza
bic 10 be for some time, asl understand w.,
90 build new ones. How can they, there.
fore, bc sccurcdP'
'lloavcn save the mark for both Of
theml The idea OF tcrming those great
old barns courthouse aud city halll'
They are both cyc-sorcs orthcir respective
Purposes, and anything but crcdiiablc TO
this live, ambitious metropolis Why the
latter Is situated In an alley, where IL would
be risky 10 approach after dark without
police protection, although Ia the rear Of
the courthouse. Who would ever think
oi pointing ont either Ia sightseeing visit
orsi Asio the ways and means 10y which
the suggested improvement might be OBJ
tanned, that h a question for the combined
wisdom Of our people. ! have my ideas,
Of cour-c, and suppose every one else who
considers public questions Ia similarly
equipped. 40 far ~ the city's part is con
ccrned, Il has fund for this purpose, In.
adequate though Il may be at present.
But Il has real estate which, II sold and APP
piled 20 that end, would release IL from
any liability. For the county the problem
docs not appear 10 difficult. To begin
with, the present courthouse building
can be readily disposed Of for 100000
or more. There is no doubt that under
the operations Of the new assessment law
her income from taxes will be increased ut
least twO.thirls, and this ought 20 meet
the demand. And suppose our Affairs
were IN such shape that bonds had TO be
Issued Ia build q new one. The sum
neccsary 10 repair, improve aud maintain
the prcsnt building Is more than would
he required Ia keep up the interest until
maturity These are my views, formed
after long and deliberate consideration.
Ono thing Is certain, when the people II
Memphis and Shelby county determine 10
have now courthouse and city halt
whether combined or not, they will get
IT,"
Chairman u. G. Slaughter, Of the county
count, was aiicrward sccn by the reporter
aud Intercepted on the same subject.
lie corroboplcd the foregoing statement
relative 10 tie expense ui maintaining the
present courthouse, aud favored the cree.
ton oi a mammoth and modern structure
20 answer both purposes, not to cost less
than 100000. There In siaEding com.
mittcc Rom the county court 90 sell the
present courthouse whenever Il can he
done adyaniagvously, and the court will
k'Iaiain H. "li Col. Montgomery had