The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1891-03-20
IT'S DANGEROUS
BENTON COUNTYS COURT
HOUSE CONDEMNED.
II is Very Dangerous and has Been
Vacated by the Officials,
ONE THO USAND DOLLARS
VIII MIKE IT SAFE.
NenltneMce IS the ANened CaMse.

The courthouse at Camden has
been looked upon as one Of the
best buildings in West Tennessee,
and as matter Of fact was the
pride of every citizen of Benton
County Now It's claimed that by
theneglectof some one the county
court by not giving it proper at
tention and having it kept in prop
err repair as should have been done,
it is now totally unfit for use, and
is ready to tumble down in a heap
at any moment.
Thebuilding was putupby Nash
vile contractors in 1877, at a cost
toour taxpayers of between $4,000
and $4,000 Since its erection
but small sums at different times
have been expended to keep it in
repair. And we do not know that
it has ever been thoroughly in
spected, before the present instance
since its erection. Though some
few have had doubts as to it being
entirely safe since few cracks
caused by settling" soon after It's
completion, were noticed in the
: walls.
Last Friday was the first time its
real dangerous condition was no
ticed. During the night before it
{ spread out so as to throw some of
: the office doors from THEN locks,
: and prevent them from being again
l closed by a fraction Of an inch
1 In response toa telegram George
Moore & Sons, Nashville contract
: ors, sent a man down who submit.
/, ted the following statement after
4 having madea careful examination
n of the building:
D CAMDEN, TENN, AlGrch 1G, 1891.
3 JUDGE b. c. SCRUGGs:
DEAR Strive, the undersigned, having eY
r amined the county courthouse, at Camden
Tenn, we find it in a very dangerous condition
S and would advise you to give it your immediat
" attention in making the same safe.
We find the walls spreading, caused by tn
7. roof letting down, and some of the truss-tmber
, broken, which can only be remedied by "Hog
Claiming" and showing up and strengthenin
the roof timbers.
=. All work should be done very carefully in Oh
5 der to not throw the walls.
e Respectfully,
:, GEO. MOORE & Sons.
= 1t is thought the cost to max
these repairs will be between $50
and 81, 900, and until they are mad
the building is unsafe for use. /
will also be attended, in the cours
l., of making the repairs, as appear
u from the above, with great DANCE
! of being totally destroyed, by tn
= = walls being thrown out.
/ Chancery court was held owe
IL the bank this week, and the build
has been vacated by the variou
E. clerks and officials.
u Judge Scruggs has issued ca
d for an extra session of the count
le court to assemble tomorrow, an
O. that body will doubtless take in
t. mediate steps towards saving til
structure.
le This is a matter that has bee
ed attended with great deal Of della
es and now that the court is forced
I'D remedy the evil, let there be L
o. halfway business about it, bl
up make a sufficient appropriation
~ place the building in as good col
to dition as possible without the G:
O., pense of rebuilding.
j. It would be advisable for Il
Il, court to appoint standing con
II mittee on public buildings and il
He provements, and let it be the du
to of this committee to have all Il
public buildings, bridges, etc, i
OIL spected at regular intervals by
ng competent inspector. In this WI
a our court house and jail could
en- kept in repairat aminimun expen
or and avoid any future inconvenien