The Forrest City times., 1898-04-01
The Court House is Ours.

he has, as the officer of the county
court, and in conjunction with said
court, received plans, contracted
for, supervised, and accepted from
the hands Of the contractor a grand,
handsome, stately new building,
which has been dedicated to God
and justice.
1t was practically finished Wed
nesday, and received by the proper
authorities, subject only to a few
MINOR considerations. 1t is the
pride of every citizen in ST. Francis
county.
THE OPENING.
On Wednesday night the stately
building was thrown open to the
public. A few lines in the city
papers had made tho announce
ment. A thousand souls with but
single thought (and that 10 eat)
gathered in response to tho .nvi.
tation. They came for miles. All,
delighted at what they saw, and
wrapt in very establishment at its
imposing beauty. The architect
was pointed out and it was said by
the ladies, at is treat to look up.
on the man whose BRAIN planned
so nobly."
It's true, and pity, that no
program was made forthe occasion.
1t was altogether a ego as you
please" reception. But the crowd
gathered into the court room on
the second floor, and without an
understanding seemed with ono ac-
cord to expect something-ihey
knew not what. Then it was sug-
gested that udgc Hutton entertain
the eager crowd. He responded
in a pleasing manner, and Hon.
Jno. L. Hicks was called, and re-
sponded i'll his invincible way.
Judge George Sibly, Commission
er Baugh, Architect Chas. J..
Thompson and Judge ]. S. r.
Cowan responded to urgent calls
for speaker, in brief though earn
est and heartfelt strains. Hon. O.
B. Rollwage was vociferously call
ed and responded with the elo-
quence of Il Dcmosthenes. He
spoke earnestly, and we believe
sincerely, and he stated emphat-
ically that whatever differences
may have existed heretofore as TO
the location Of the building had
been swept to the rear and left in
the past, and that tive arc now
united In universal pride and Joy
at the successful finale" THIS
means much, and we rejoice that
that is the feeling. 1t is the proper
feeling.
Music was furnished at intervals,
the people meandered down the
beautiful halls and through the
cosy rooms. from basement to
dome, and the clock licked on
as it will continue to do for per-
haps a century, and this grand
building will still remain tower
ing monument TO Judge j. S. R.
Cowan, who found the way, TO the
Quorum Court, who came to the
idea with Their endorsements; to
Commissioner Baugh, who has not
| only performed the onerous duties
of his Office, but who has by his
private means and influence kept
the matter on its feet when it
seemed lettering and ready to fall
through; and last and by no means
least, but greatest of all, to the
glory of the citizenship ofthls great
county of st. Francis.
The Times is perhaps the proud
est of the proud at the completion
Of this building. 1t has at last
seen ONE building erected In the
county according to its views Of
economy, beauty, architecture, etc.
The beauty Of the school-housc
was ruined for the sake of n few
dollars, The Jail was built upon
a plan out of date fifty years ago.
The churches were curtailed for
want offunds. Yet we do not mean
to say that they are not even yet
beautiful. But the court house 1T
is perfect. II is substantial. 1t is
there to stay, to be admired-not
to be found fault with-there is no
fault. Its stability, its beauty, It's
cost, all positively make il tho
cheapest public building in the
county. 1t is always so.
We claim, too, somo credit for
the erection of this house. We
have ding-donged the matter for
dozen years in these columns, and
we have got it, just as we did
the churches, the sewers, the Jail,
the Institute, the parks, and just
as we're gong to get RID Of the
hateful hogs. They are u nuisance,
and every body knows that the