The Forrest City times., 1897-03-05
The Courthouse Site.
DEAR EDITOR :

A) ~@AAh i~DlAOhs
 You are aware that the Count, Court has appointed me commissioner to build a courthouse. You are also aware that l am personally opposed tC the site on the hill. You have asked me to state in sn article for publica ton my views in opposition to the hil site. l cheerfully G0 so, believing tha our feIow-citizens will candidly weigl the logic Of my arguments. and if be correct in any essential, probably those who now favor the hill site vii ''change their minds"
 I. The site at the jail is on the wes slope of the ridge, necessitating tn, two main elevations of the couIthous, to face the west and north making tn, i building quite uninhabitable in sum mer from the heat of the sun, and dur ing the winter from cold west ant north winds, driving the occupants tt the rear of the building. Do you re. call the cold cutting winds in front o the Hotel It would entail cost tC the county of 25 per cent more for fue to warm the building in winter. Win dow awnings during the summer might, to some extent, furnish protec tion to the inmates but to refurnisl the tweutyfour awnings contemplated would entail an expense to the county of So each, every year, making thi: item alone amount to Sl20.00.
 U.0I It is inaccessible, requiring the crossing and recrossing of railroad tracks, climbing up hill-freight trains frequently block the streets, as may bt noticed daily. Suppose jury, a wit. ness or other person having business in court-if he happen tos be on the north (the business side) of town. such person would be ia sore predicament The Little Rock road will doubtless bt extended into Texas soon. in creasng the number of freight and passenger trains and incident switch ing. The noise made by locomotives, as we all know frequently disturb the court in our present courthouse. On the hill all such disturbances would be augmented on account of the elevation. and probably, ill consequence, our Judge might some day refuse to hold court there, 1 am informed that such is the trouble at Water Valley, Mississ- ippi.
 III. A crier who could yell loud enough to be heard down town, would not be tolerated by any court. The courts now hardly ever permit the cri CT to go out of the court room. People from the country attending court usu- ally remain about the court premises, within hearing. Business men usually arrange with their attorneys to be sent for when their presence is required in court
 ". The.nmere fact, that the jail building is located on the hill, is nc argument in behalf of the hill as d suitable site for the erection of the County's courthouse. The jail, as such, is already condemned by public sentiment. Its construction and ma terial is inferior and will within few years show decay, incuring constant expense for repairs, etc. There is nothing about it's exterior to indicate s jail or public edifice. Some day tht county may realize on it, as a residence property, till then the lot adjoining may be utilized as garden by tht jailor.
 V. The building could not be seer by passengers on the Little Rock road unless they chanced to be OF the plat form of the car. On the l. NJ. railroad it would, for a short time, ee in view but what is that feature worth com pared to the convenience of our citi zens and permanent utility of the build ing? Recall your own experiences ir travelling, How often have you seer beautiful edifces from car windows and as fact, could not remember tht name of the town in which you saw them twenty-four hours afterwards ? Stran, gers or prospectors visiting our towr or county. when courteously showr our public buildings will not soon tor. get, ard great results may come from their visits.
 VI. Public buildings should be To- cated with a view to the convenience of the people above all ether consider. ations; then as d minor pretext it may be located for the purpose of promoting the growth of any particular section oi town. It would be preposterous to assume that the site on tie hill would enhance the value of adjacent proper.