The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-04

MAI. Patterson Asks for in Explanation Oh
the " nrico Boards Action.

To the Editor Of The Times;
sir-The letter Of Major Cooley in your
Thursdays issue touching the movement
for a new courthouse In Hen.ico - Llosl
timely, and. / am sure, voices he sehil-
ment Of every Taxpayer IN the county
who has 10 axe to grind.
What means the renewal Of this ae'ia-
ton, any how? The scheme hau 80
origin a year or two ago, before the p'eS-
ent Board Of Supervisors came INTO CI1ee.
AS soon as IL became known r"mneI
of citizens Of the county app aayed reicie
the old board TO protest against s"'h Oh
act OF folly: and so strong was tie oppo-
sition that, although q mOIon haf al
ready been passed looking 10 the con-
struction OF a new building, ms motoh
was reconsidcred and the Wnoie lhlls
dropped ft was suggested al inat meet
ing that an election was near az manu.
and that IL might be well to .est tne
sentiment of the county people on lilis
subject by making the courthouse acheiile
an issue in the approaching caihpalsn,
but the agitatOrs retired from the ueiu
until after the election when 1t soon be-
came known that the same pues'lon
would be brought UP again before the
present board. Two new members were
now upon the board ass a result o. the
ciection-viz., Messrs. Frayser ana Rose
At the time appointed for considering the
matter, certain citizens ana taA-paS els
of the county again appeared and entered
their solemn protest against the piopo7eu
action Every aspect ot the case ""0
carefully considered. and after lengthy
discussion OF the question IN an It's pear
ings. a motion boy Mr.. Frayser, secohueu
by Mr. Rose. was unanimously carrie"
Ghe chairman. Mr.. Hcchler. not Votlhsl'
TO the effect that no new courthouse
should Dc built but that the ola one
should Dee repaired according 20 certain
views expressed by members ana sehei"-
ly approved.
This resolution also provided for the
4ppointment Of a committee TO prepare
specifications for such improvement ana
report on cost Of same. q am stating
the facts from memory, ana subject 10
corrocti0nJ Those who had been Watcn-
ing the scheme now hreathed freely reel
ing that % serious menace 10 the welfare
OF the county had been averted, Tor the
term of the present board AT iea7''
Hence tho uuspeakable surprise MntN
| tine papers stated q few days ago that
the former action Of the board had been
rcconsidered and that a new courthouse
porter did not give the exact state or
The case II was incredible that Inc
Board of Supervisors. knowing the sehtl-
ment of our largest taxpayers ana tAe
history of this movement would iahe
such action without giving some pubic
notice Of their purpose 10 do so and an
opportunity for the people 10 be heard.
/ Who is IL that wants a new court-houfe
! at the expense of every other interest III
the county, We have tried IN vain 10
find out. 10 certainly is not n popular
demand. Excepting a few oiiice-hc.defs,
the people are an against fl, so far as i
have been able TO ascertain.
The Board Of Supervisors have shown
on two occasions what they understood
10 De their duty in the premises. tX-
merits have proved conclusivcly that there
is no necessity for tearing down the pres
ent structure, and that few hundred
| dollars viii put IL in a condition 10 an
syver every purpose Who. then, Is al the
| bottom Of this thing?
VIII YOU please invite those who are
| devoting themselves with such untirirs
zeal 20 the accomplishment Of this pro-
iert to GONE ont and defend heir most
| ton? There are suspicious OF 1obbery
which should Doe removed IT not Well
founded. and ]. for one. will be Glad 10
hear any argument that can be advanced
in favor OF the measure in question.
Perhaps Mr. Hechler. the only member
of the board who wants a new building,
| may be able 10 throw some light on tfa
[ subject. He will probably tell us who IS
clamoring for IL in the county. The
| dangers pointed out by Major Dooicy
should arouse all sober-minded citizens
of Henrico 10 en- emphatic declaration or
/ their wishes in the matter. Let us hear
from them. Very respectfully,
A W. PATTERSON
! p. S.-since writing the above / have
! seen the interview Of your reporter with
| AR Hechler.
| II seems now that the board has gone
| further than we supposed in its recent
| action WEI hc explain why this was
| done so quietly. after an that had gone
| before? Doesn't 10 SAVIOR Of star-chamber
| proceedings? The only reason or pre-
| text assigned by him for having new
! house is the same one that was urged and
! exploded on both the occasions above
! mentioned If there is no good reason
for spending thousands Of dollars Of the
| countv's money. then lir. Hechier should
| not feel "insulted' when the people ac-
| count for il in way not entirely agree
able 10 his sensibiities.
one word more. air. Hechler says that
there would be- no opposition 10 now
building if # was going 10 De- pat some
where else. I'm this be is entirely mis-
taken. Speaking for myself and those
| with whom / have conferred. our position
! u.s. that the courthouse should not be
! pulled down az all. that r. 70 ever becomes
| necessary 90 do so. then il should not boz
rebuilt on the present site; and that. IL
| removed to the county. a free site could
! DE- obtained without any difficulty. ana
| the required buildings erected with the
! proceeds from the sale OF the old pro-
! perty. thus saving our revenues unim-
paired and avoiding the risk of incrcas-
! ing taxation or having an enormous