Evening star., 1898-11-12
COURT HOUSE DEDICATION
New Temple of Justice in Alexandria to
Be Formally Opened.
GOV. Tyler Accepts Invitation to De.
pected-COmmittee in Charge.

take pace tne 10Th instant. FOr the last
twenty years the Alexandria county people
have been striving to have their court
house moved from the city of Alexandria
and placed at some more convenient point
in the county. and now that they have at
last succeeded they propose to do every
thing in their power to make memorable
the day of the opening of the new temple
of justice.
The law of the state (sectiOn 925 of the
cOde) requires that there shall be provided
by the board of supervisors of every coun-
ty a court house, and clerks office, etc,
the absolute title to which shall be n the
county; that there shall be about two acres
of land, and what may be necessary for the
purpose shall be occupied with the court
house, etc. and the balance planted with
trees and kept a place for the people of
the county to meet and confer together"
This idea the people of Alexandria county
are now about to carry out to the strict
letter of the law. The land necessary con-
tanning two or more acres. was donated to
the county by MeSsrs. Geo. p Robinson
and Daniel X. Trimmer of the Fort Myer
Heights Land Company. 1t is one of the
most beautiful elevation near the national
capital, and has upon it Il fine growth of
oak trees. forming a magnificent court
house green. This ground, it is understood
Will soon be inclosed by a substantial iron
fence. laid off with gravel walks and pic
turesque lawn figures, and made a proper
ty to command the pride of the citizens of
the county and state.
Holiday Suggested.
A request has been made by the executive
committee thai the people of the county
cease from all labor on the day of dedica-
ton. to attend the ceremonies with their
families and friends and make the day one
of feasting and rejoicing. and it now seems
TO be an assured fact that there will be
more people Of the county gathered to-
gether on that day than or any previous
occasion III the history of the county.
The circuit court for the county will be
in session in Alexandria city during all of
reNt week, but Judge c. f. Nicol will be
asked to adjourn his court Wednesday next
the day Of the celebration, so that his
honor, all court officials and all litigants
shall be able to attend and participate in
the dCdiCa tory ceremonies.
me new court house is a beautiful struc-
tGre CT brick and stone. the first story be-
ing occupied by commodious rooms to be
used as CfhceS by the court clerks the
beard of supervisors, superintendent of
public schools, county treasurer commits
sioner of internal revenue and county sur
Feyor. While in the second story Is the large
and handsome court room with lofty CELL
ing, tinted walls and modern Judges stand
witness and jury boxes, etc. and also a
neat private room for the judge and offices
for the sheriff, commemorative attorney
and a room each for the grand and petty
Jurles Experts on court house arrange
lnents have visited this structure, and it is
but fair to say the consensus of opinion
fas been that there is not more con-
and comfortably arranged court
EouSa in the limits of the state. All the
rooms are heated by steam, and the struc-
tIre is practically fire-proof.
The architect of the building is Mr.. A
Goenner of Washington city, whose plan
was chosen in spirited contest held last
spring. in which many of the most promi-
nent architects of the country participated
Architect Goenner paid special attention TO
the building during its construction, and it
stands now a monument to his artistic taste
and mechanical skill and Judgment
The contractor and builder was Mr. j. H.
Hobson of Alexandria county, whose bid
was the lowest of a score or more. The
board of supervisors careful of the county's
interest, put him under heavy bond for the
faithful construction of the edifice accord
Ing to the plans and specifica tons His
work and material We're inspected almost
daily by the architect or some one of the
board OF supervisors, and he is now ready
to, and will Wednesday next turn over to
the county authorities what is believed to
be the handsomest structure in the county
and one of the best built and most con-
Venient court houses in the state.
GOV. Tyler Accepts.
Saturday last ex-Commonwealth Attor-
ney James E. Clements was sent by the ex-
ecutive committee and the county board of
supervisors to invite Governor ]. Hoge
Tyler of Virginia TO address the people on
the occasion of the dedication, and the
governor gracefully accepted in a written
communication as follows:
Geo n. Saegmuller, Chairman Board of
Supervisors, Alexandria County; and Geo
T. Robinson Secretary Executive Com
mittee on Dedication of County Court
House.
"Gentlemen: I have Just received your
kind invitation to address your people on
the 10Th instant. at the dedication of your
new county court house, ard, while my
official duties are pressing, and my time
has been, and is now, much taken up with
necessary military and other affairs vet |
cannot refrain from accepting this cordial
invitation from the good people of Alex
andria county, and herewith send YOU nv
acceptance by your representative and spe-
cial messenger, Mr.. James E. Clements.
With regards and best wishes | remain
your most obedient servant,
y. HOGE TYLER,
Governor of Virginia"
United States Senator John w. Daniel
RiXey, Commissioner Wight
of the District of Columbia and Attorneys
A. A. Lipscomb and James E. Clements of
Alexandria county have been invited to
speak on the occasion, and the ceremonies
will be enlivened by a splendid military and
concert band. A sumptuous repast of the
most substantial and tasteful viands will
be spread. The executive committee as
sisted by a large reception committee of
gentlemen. and enthusiastic auxiliary
committee of the best known ladies of the
county, whose names are printed below are
doing all that can be done to make pleas
ant. joyous and memorable the day of the
dedication.
While special invitations have been sent
to the Commissioners of the District of CO.
lumbia and to the authorities of the sur
rounding counties and towns q cordial in
vitation is extended by the committee TO all
to come and participate in the ceremonies
of the day and partake of old-time Virginia
hospitality.
The Committees.
The committees in charge are as follows
Executive committee-Geo. n. Saegmulier
VIM. Duncan. D. X. Trimmer. Geo. G. Bote-
Ter, A. b. Hines. Fred S. Corbett, Geo. p
Robinson, r. s. Lacey, Geo. E. Truitt, eX-
Senator Jno. b. Henderson.
Reception committee--W. C. Wibirt, a.
NJ. Lothrop. A. w. Armstrong. R. A Phil
lips, r. II. Philips. Robt. r. Veitch, Brooke
Young. Robt. Walker, F. c. Schutt. VIM
Ball, VIM. n. Febrey. Geo o. Wunder r.
w. johnson. Thos w. Buckley, A S. Doni-
phan, Geo. W. Veitch. Geo. Rucker, DR.
Talbot, Frank Hume, NJ. 3. Harlow Jas
T.. Clements. DR.. p. NJ. Rixey. Jos. II. Hob
B. Graham. II. w. McGeorge. w w. Doug
A Douglass, Meryyn Buckley. John l..
VIM. lockwood. A. ID. Torrison.
Hume, Mrs Geo. N. SaeGmuiler Mrs. DR.
I Fob Vnht Y