The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-10
IT WOULD BE SUICIDAL.
THE CoSsITT LIBRARY AND ITS
PRESENT SELECTED SITE.
Judge Hammond Catches q Reporter
in His Courtroom, When Noises Are
Loud, and Emphasizes His Objections
to Placing 1t on the Bluff.

'In my opinion, it would be a suicidal
policy to locate the Cossitt Library build
ing on the bluff site now set apart for it"
This was the emphatic statement OF
Judge L. s. Hammond TO an APPEAL re-
porter recently, while the latter was in the
United States Circuit Court room, watch
ing the progress OF case on trial before
the Judge and jury.
Singularly enough, the case pending was
n damage suit for $4,000 against the New
port News & Mississippi Valley Company,
s OF which Mr. Holmes Cummins is the local
Illegal representative. Mr.. Cummins was,
Din his official capacity, fighting it, Judge
Hammond had abandoned the regular iu-
5dicial bench and prompted the United
States Marshaps chair, Immediately TO his
tight.
This was necessary to catch the testi-
5nony OF the witnesses. He sat closely in
their rear and leaned over the desk con-
annually, yet, with all this endeavor, be-
came disguised at the frequent failures.
WAS he deaf? Not exactly, save rs the
pufing of railroad locomotives, ringing OF
@heir bells, blowing Of stoam-whistles and
& similar disturbances from river craft made
him so. Then there were the attorneys,
Judges Greer and Moss for the prosecution
y OF the suit, against Mr.. Cummins. Judge
\ Greer piled the witnesses with questions,
while his associate counsel made minutes
OF the important points drawn out. Al
though the witness chair was but short
distance in their front their attempts at
catching every word were almost Us futile
us were his Honors.
Occasionally they would have to discon-
tinue entirely until noisy locomotive had
passed, and in other instances call upon
the witness to repeat his answer. The
witness, too, was observed 10 frown and
look puzzled more than once. lie desired
10 float along smoothly, giving the attor-
neys no trouble by failing to catch their
questions, but II seemed task difficult, il
not impossible OF accomplishment. As il
holding all courts, all comforts and all
conveniences in utter contempt, the dis.
turbances went right along, intensified by
the necessity OF getting up q steep incline
in the railroad track, and pulling into a
safe harbor at the river landing, at the base
OF the bluff.
Twice did Judge Hammond leave his
seat to call the reporters attention to the
quire il the newspaper mans impressions
relative to the Cossitt Library site were
not the same rs his "Do you think yor
could sit down here and read with any
pleasure or profit with such dins rs thai
continually beating upon your ears anC
distucting youf mind2 Holmes Cummini
is getting some Of his own medicine now
That locomotive belongs TO his company
and right below Us here is regular switch
place" Then followed the remark quoted
al the beginning, succeeded by the follow
ing
at is only q question Of few years
when Memphis gets out OF her vilag
ways, as she surely will, when this who'll
river front will be undesirable ioi sny In
stiiution OF that kind. There isn't q cit,
in the country having q river front when
they are placed there. IL is perfect,
natural for il TO become the center oil ship
ping interests, railroad and marine, and b
surrendered 10 wharf rats. draymcn an,
warehouscmcn. DO you suppose Nc'
---Nsrk would think for a moment OF locai
ing q public library at the Battery or o
the North or East River fronts! Woul
they 20 so at st. Louis. Chicago, Cincir
natl, or any river or lake city? No, sil
They would place II somewhere in th
heart OF the city. As SOON rs Madiso
street ceases 20 be the financial center an
the banks scatter out over the city, the
YOU will see q revolution set in that wi
change the aspect OF river front business
This custom.houso will be turned into
vast warehouse, and the Government 1
compelled TO build outaway from the rive
The day Is surely coming, and no, man
years hence. Therefore, / say, ii would !
suicidal 10 locate the Cossiit Library o,
here. We certainly desire that 10 be
permnncnt institution"