The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-18

P"" vi Sorhc OF the Lawyers IN Re-
gard to the Matter-They Are All
Unanimously of the Opinion That the
Court Should BE Located Here-Why
the Magic City Is nn Advantageous
Piace-The Public Building Matter
Must BE Fixed First, Though.
Some time ago the issue was discussed
as to making Roanoke one of the places
for holding United States district
court Since the complications which
have arisen concerning the validity of
the title to the proposed site Of the gov.
eminent building this question of hold :.
ing district court here seems to have
sunk into innocuous desuetude. 1t ap-
pears that there may be something
wrong about the title to the government
building land. The history of this prop
erty is we'll known. The alley between
Campbell and Robertson avenues is the
bono OF contention. The lot is not sufIi-
GENTLY large without the alley, so that
the alley must be utilized if the building
is placed on the proposed site.
1t is general impression that the
district attorney, VIM. e. Craig, had
Strengthened this matter out and mado
satisfactory report to the Treasury
Department. On August "a, 1892, VIM.
E. Craig wrote to the Attorney General,
saying that the investigation Of the site
had been attended with many diff
culties. He stated that he was in pos
session Of tho necessary data for an
abstract of title, already partially COM
pleted. He forwarded during that week
what was supposed to be favorable
report
The following is an extract from
letter written by the acting supervising
architect Of tho Treasury Department
to the board of trade, dated August 90,
1899:
ut is expected that the opinion of the
Attorney General relative to tho validity
of title to the property selected for
the site will be received at this office
within the next few days, when further
action will be promptly TAX en- looking to
the commencement of and ton
of the work of erecting the building"
The title, it appears, has only been
submitted, and that Mr.. Craig's report
was contingent one.
With the completion Of this building
Roanoke could doubtless secure the
setting of United States court. Here
are some of the opinions OF tho peoples:
w. w. Berkeley: "Wo have for some
time past been trying to establish dis
trict court here. Roanoke is more cen
trail than Lynch burg or Danville. This
court will have jurisdiction over all
matters regarding the revenue laws Of
the country; also over civil suits where
parties are non residents. Tho railroad
facilities of Roanoke are better than
any other place east of the Alleghanies.
United States prisoners arrested in
Floyd, Grayson, Montgomery and ad-
joining counties, are either taken to
Abingdon or Lynchburg, and CONSOLE
dating this city with tho western dis
trict would be matter of economy"
d. Allen Watts was of tho opinion
that as Roanoke was so central, with
railroad lines in all directions, United
States cases would be all tributary. He
said: Roanoke has gotten circuit and
State court, and with work could get a
United States court. 1t would be a
source of great revenue through wit
nesses and litigants. The work could be
pushed through our Congressman and
Senator. and ,od work could be done
by the board of trade" Mr.. Watts fur
ther said that the holding of this court
here would have very appreciable ef
feet on business and be equal to largo
industry.
Mr.. Hardaway favored the plan, and
was of the opinion that when the liquor
laws of the surrounding counties of
Floyd, Henry and Franklin were broken
Roanoke would be tho easiest and most
accessible point.
G. w. Crumpccker: 81 am thoroughly
in accord with those who advocate the
putting forth of extraordinary exertions
to have Roanoke designated as one of
the places for the United States district
court for tho western district of Vir-
GINA. Our geographical position, as
we'll as being almost directly in the
midst OF that portion of the district
where matters arise that must como
into court for adjudication, with rail
road facilities running north, south,
cast and west, aifording easy and quick
transit to attendants upon tho courts,
just now, too, at time when the Gov
ernment has purchased q lot with the
view of building a postofllce, these and
other things should conduce to fire tho
energies Of our good citizens to secure
this Government court building
Jas. S. Simmons was heartily in favor
of the proposed measure, and thought
1T would be of great value in many ways
TO the city or Roanoke.
Condition of the Treasury.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.-ISpecial II
The heavy pension payments this
month amounting to nearly $4,000, 900
and the unexpected falling off in gov
eminent receipts has reduced tho cash
balance of the Treasury to S27, $50, 900,
nearly all of which is either in sub
sidiary silver or on deposit with national
banks. Secretary Foster said tot day that
nnfwithQtQndinn no1