Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-11-18
In Favor Of a New Court House.
To the Editar Of the Spectator:

In Favor Of New Court House.
To the EdSt0r of the Spectator:
There appeared in the Waynesboro
Herald of October 20 an article signed
''South River" in which the writer has
very severely, and with good deal of
sarcasm (which is very poor way to
reason, especially In print), attacked the
proposition of building new court house
for our county. Having given my views
(which were based upon actual knowl-
edge and by discussing the subject with
many of the most careful and wise busi-
ness men of the county, in two recent
articles in the Daily News, had hoped
that some one else would carry on the
discussion. if need be, and 1 now with
much hesitancy. venture an answer to
the above mentioned article, upon re-
quest from yourself to do so I regret
very much that the gentleman did not
have confidence enough in his supposed
arguments, to affix his name to them,
but suppose that after reading over his
article be saw its utter lack of argument
and felt secure in the fact that he had
appealed to the people by asking them if
they desired an increase of taxes, just as
| it it were a question in the abstract,
stated thus: Resolved that we increase
our taxes" 1t is hard to conceive of SO
many erroneous statements being con-
tained in the space given to the article,
one would suppose that the writer not
only had never been outside Of Augusta
county, but had actually never stepped
foot inside of the court house. He stated
as s'plain truth that Augusta has very
good court house, well lighted. we'll ven
tilated, well aired and amply commodi-
GUS and convenient for the purposes. y
Now the ''plain truth" is that not one of
these statements is correct-(and in so
saying l trust my unknown friend will
believe that what / say is with the
kindest feeling.) It is miserably lighted.
and as far as ventilation is concerned
every man knows who goes into the court
room, that the ventilation is simply hor-
rible. The impure air during trial,
owing to the lack of proper ventilation.
could not be worse, and endangers the
health of every one that stays in it. But
my friend says this would be prevented
it the court would exclude ''alI idle spec
tators." Is he ignorant of the fact that
one of the blessings our fathers fought
for and obtained in that glorious struggle
for independence, is that Sin all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the
right to speedy and public trial." and
that no man shall be deprived of hfs lib
erty by a trial behind closed doors. That
might go in Cuba, but not in the land of
| the free. Then my friend goes ahead
and declares that the court room and the
two clerks offices are amply commodious
and that the clerks offices have fire proof
vaults for the safe keeping of the re-
cords, that there are good jury rooms and
witness rooms. My friend you surely
must have been speaking of the court
house in Rockingham or Rockbridec.
Let us see what the evidence is as to
these statements. First the court room
is not c0mmodious. 1t is very small and
crowded. and during trial is very diff
cult for the officers of the court and wit
nesses to go in and out. Now everybody
knows this to be the plain truth. do
not like to speak evil of the dead. but
am glad that the fellow who planed our
our court house is where he never will
plan another. And as to the clerks Off
ces, do you really want to know the plain
truth as to them 1t is this, not one
fifth of the papers in the two clerk s Off
ces which contain the title to all the
estates in the county can be, or are in the
iron vaults, and should they be destroyed
there would be such an amount of litiga-
tion kicked up as would cost more than
dozens of new court houses. And when
you declare that there are places for the
safe keeping of the records, let me say in
all pOliteness you are mistaken. Go there
and examine for yourself, or ask the
clerk 8 for, the plain truth. Can the coun-
ty, as a matter of economy. afford to run
such risk? I? There are two good rooms
one over each of the clerk s Offices it is
true, but what job it is to get juries up
those little narrow steps, and did it ever
occur to you that the dely in taking
juries there land they often have to 90
out while a point of law is being argued)
is an expense, which being saved would
help to pay for new structure. And
when you speak of witness rooms, 1 ask
where are they?
Go in the clerks Offices during trial
and see the witnessed all huddled to
; gether with no place to go and prevent
ing the clerks from attending to theil
: duties; and you will find "the plain
' truth" as to this. My Judgment is that
: the court room with jury and witness
rooms, opening upon the court. room
should be on the second floor, with the
clerks offices and other offices needed
on the ground floor. It is true the
. county has building for the sheriff
e and superintendent of schools, which
is needed and which can remain as il
is. When we speak of the wealth an6
}, pride of Augusta, my friend works
: himself up to perfect fit of passion
t and asks sarcastically if the county ha,
any bank stock, or gold and silvel
mines. Does he know of any county
in this State, or IN any state that has
would it be proper for her to be deal
n ing in stock or working mineral lands
What kind of argument is this. M,