The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1898-03-24
THE FEDERAL COURT.
SHOULD BE LOCATED AT WIN.
STON-SALEM.
Unanswerable Arguments Advanced
in Favor of Removal by Capt. r.
b Glenn-Should Not be Bad
Blood Between Rival Cities.

.
In the matter Of establishing the
Federal Court in Winston-Salem in
stead of Greensboro, l regret to see
in the newspapers disposition to say
unkind things, which is calculated to
stir up bad blood between the two Sec
tions. The Q1estion OF locating the
courthouse is purely a business one
and should be decided strictly on just
I business principles. II is natural for
both sections to desire the court held
in their midst, and it is right that
each should do all IN it's power to ac-
conplish the desired end. Greensboro
IS wide-a wake, progressive, thrifty
| place, with perhaps the finest railroad
! facilities in the State, and filed with
| a population Of true, energetic and
| good people, whom we respect as our
I neighbors and friends. The same, and,
| from business point of view, even
more, can be said of Winston-Salem,
and so without any feeling, let US lay
| our respective claims before Congress,
| and ask them to decide.
! We are perfectly willing for com
niittee, appointed by the judiciary
| Committee Of the House Of Represen-
| tativeS. to come here, look into all the
| facts and then make their report as to
| which place is entitled to the court
Would not such plan be fair, and
would not then the issue be settled
without any rancor, but simply with
] a view OF locating the court where it
| does the greatest good to the greatest
| number, and at the same time cost
| the Government the least? Congress
| is not interested in building up one
| place at the expense Of another is not
| looking to either aiding or iDjuring
| Congressman Linney or KitchIn, but
| is simply trying to select the spot
| most suited for courthouse and
| which will entail the least expense,
1 and save the most cost.
| Some facts will be admitted by all,
| no matter whether the court is held in
| Greensboro or Winstun-Salem. There
| is bound to be new ourthouse build
| ing. Every witness that Greensboro
| could send before the committee must
| swear that the present Government
! building is insufficient, that it is not
| low even used for courtroom and
| not more than sufficient for pOStOf
| fee and revenue agents Office in case
| the latter used that building, instead
of renting one. They will also admit
that it will cost from $50 900 to S75 900
to add sufficiently to the present build
| ing for a courtroom, and marshalPs
| and clerks offices If fair minded, they
| will also admit that an amount suffi
| cient for their wants, il added on to
what has already been agreed is
| necessary for postoffice and rev.
enue Ctfice in Winston-Salem will be
ample to build the courthouse the
| Government needs. A new courthouse,
| then, being a necessity, let it be To-
| In
| benefited for the least cost to the
| United States
They say we are on simply branch
line, and not on the maine line, but
forget to add that ere six months pass
by, we will be on the main line, and
that even now by reason Of our many
travels. we are the hub for all the diff
ferent counties that form this dis
trict. Look at your map, study it
with view Of seeing which place Is
mosJ centrally and conveniently To-
Gated and you find Davie, YadkiD,
Wilkes, Allegheny, Surry, Stokes,
Watauga and Ashe would be mate
rally benefited by the change; that
Rockingham and Davidson would be
equally as convenient from a business
point to either Greensboro or Wins
ton-Salem and that the only counties
inconyenienced would be Caswell,
Orange, Randolph and Alamance.
Next see where the business of the
district comes from. To ascertain
this, inspect the records at Green's
boro, kept by Mr.. Trogdon, and you
will find that ABOUT 81, or accurately
| stated, even more OF the criminal and
civil cases come from West Of Greens
boro. II WinstonSalem had the
court, at least lo0 cases would be from
counties west Of it and only from 10 to
25 from counties east.
Seeing then that courthouse has
, to be built at either place, and that
the business Of the district is nearer
Winston-Salem, and that great cost
would be saved to the Government
, by stopping suiturs, witnesses and
, Jurors here rather than that they
, should go on to Greensboro, which is
still further east and less favorably and
, conveniently located, it only remains
: to be asked, which place deserves the
most consideration from the Govern
ment? Personally we all feel most
: kindly disposed to those who help us
+ | most, and on the same theory, the
: Government should most assist thai
' | section that pays the most towards it:
! | taxes and towards bearing its burdens
We don't know how much Greensboro
pays to the revenue of the country
but are willing to challenge them to
comparison, and accept no other evil
. | dence than the receipts showing wha
! each place pays. Last year Winston
z Salem paid $4,000 as revenue from
J their postotfices. At our interna
q revenue office, heretofore $4,000 pc
: month have been our collections OF
e tobacco stamps alone, and now witt
8 whiskey stamps added. 100000 PEI
!: month or 81. 200, 600 yearly will be wha
7 we collect in taxes. OF this amour
I our cities pay annaully about $500, ,OO0
. Our cities are centrally located. will
. population about double that Q
Greensboro, rapidly increasing in botl
numbers and wealth and deserving
some recognition from the Govern
: ment.
g We only ask fair investigation an
d will abide most cheerfully the resul
e of the issue. We wish our sister tow
IS all success and prosperity, and hop
our contest will be fair, open an,
d friendly and that nothing may be sal
le or done to leave any bitter feeling. ]
b our people will do their duty, we Wi
d succeed, as we have merit on our side
Very truly,
r. B. GLENN.