The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-02-09
THE COURT HOUSE.
WHAT THE COUNTY PAPERS SAY ABOUT
A CHANGE.

Everybody Seems to be of one Opinion
and that is that Something Should be
Done, and at once.
The Alliance Review is very sensibly IN
favor of something being done to the
present court house. The Review says:
The present Stark county court house
has now been doing duty for many years.
quarter OF century ago 1t afforded suf-
ttcient capacity for the official business
Of the county. Siucs then there has been
wonderful increase in the interests and
population of the county. The populG<
ton has been about doubled, likewise the
tax duplicate of the county. The court
house business has mora than doubled,
but the court house i'self Is no larger than
1t was then. These facts make it very
evident that our court house must be of
insufficient capacity. The fact is that the
building is over crowded from top to bot
tom and there is no room available for the
use of the prosecuting attorney, nor is
there one that can be given for use as
library. There 10 no room for the use of
waiting witnesses, and when sent out of
the court rooms by order OF the court, as
Ia often the case, they must be within call
ing distance. Very valuable records of
the county are not cared for as they
should be, from lack of room.
What Is to be done about it? One OF
two things must be done. Either new
court house must be built or the present
one must be enlarged. Which shalt it be
1t is thought by some of the citizens of
Canton that the court house should be To-
| Gated on back street where there Is less
| noise and confusion, aud quite q number
| advocate the selling of the present props
erty and the building OF new modern
structure of sufficient capacity. We do
not believe the taxpayers of the county
will consent to so great an outlay Of
| money as this would involve ut this time.
We think all will concede the neco ssity OF
Of providing additional facilities for the
transaction of the business OF the county,
however, and to this end will endorse the
proposition made for the enlarging of the
present court house by adding another
| story.
1t is believed that this can be done
that the building will safely bear the ad-
dition OF another story, and If 80, it 10 es-
timated that it can be done at a coat of
$4,000. Say il costs 10000, as it probably
would, it would be a good Investment.
| The building would present far hand-
s"m-r appearance than il does nov, for il
is now too low and squatty to look well,
and would then afford ample room Within
| for all departments OF business. An cis-
vator could be operated with but a small
| increase OF expense and thus rooms on
| either floor could be reached quickly and
without the climbing of apy stairs. The
offices would, of course, remain upon the
frat floor, as now, and thus bs just az
accessible to the public as they are now
Thus enlarged our court house would pre-,
sent very handsome appearance, proper
facilities would be provided for the trana'
action of the business of the county and
the proceedings of Cur courts, with a com,
paratively small expenditure Of money.
We believe the county commissioners
should at once consulta competent arcli-
tect as to the feasibility Of she plan and
secure sn estimate AZ to tho cost.
THE MAssILLoN INDEPENDENT
is also in favor Of change. The indo.
pendent says; To all familiar with the
present court house IL is well known that
the departments are crowded, and that
additional room inevitably mus. be pro.
vided. The records are inaccessible and
cannot be properly protected. The two
court rooms are not provided with sufll
eient number Of adjoining apartments
and the probate judge IL Obliged 10 hold
court In tho Canton city hall or rent
quarters elsewhere. The polnt has beer
reaehed when something must be done,