Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-05-20
The Court House Discussion.

Court House than they were twenty
four hours ago?
It's certainly a perplexing question
for the gentlemen to decide-one man
pulling this way, another hauling that
way
The matter was discussed pretty
thoroughly before the Commissioners
Friday, there being a far attendance
of representative citizens from the
country and town, to either voice an
expression of preference and give ear
to those who had ideas in the matter
which they cared to tell.
The merits Of the several sites pro-
posed by citizens were discussed up
one side and down the other, with more
or less effect. The PAGES spoken of as
suitable were as follows: The Ice
Harbor lot; the present location: the
jail lot; the west corner of Fourth and
Putnam $50 by $50 feet-from the
Baptist church to J. w. Nye's; the east
corner of Fifth and Putnam Campus
Martius; Camp Tupper.
From what we could gather, the
consensus of opinion seemed to be that
the country people want the Court
House on the tract where it now
stands, or on the Jail lot. One speak
er said that SO per cent. of the people
from bic nort Of tba nDupfr1y ,uara IN
favor of the present location. We sus-
pect his statement is a little strong, but
there is no doubt but what the per
cent of the country people wanting
the present site to be continued is very
high-higher by far than for any other
location.
The town people seem to be about
equally divided between the Ice Har-
Dor lot and the present site. There are
arguments for both places, and good
ones, too. To redeem the Unlocking
and foul-smelling Ice Harbor lot would
be ideal, indeed; and to erect fine
and imposing mass of masonry on
well-terraced piece of ground would be
a most slightly and telling piece of
architectural and landscape accomp-
lishment. This could not be done,
however, without great cost for both
filling and for underground masonry,
so that it cannot be said that this
ground will be free. 1t would take the
proceeds from one of the two county
lots to pay the bill.
That the present site has in it all the
elements of convenience of acess by
all the people cannot be contradicted.
It stands at a fair elevation, and has
goou ground beneath it, The tract is
possibly trine small, but if the build
ing is put on the back lines there will
Je room for green sward and adorn-
ment to give the premises grace.
THEIR PREFERENCES:
The speakers who appeared before
the Commissioners, and their ideas of
choice were as follews
Mr.. George w. Richards, the Infrm-
airy Director looked upon Camp Tup-
per as the proper and desirable spot
for the building.
Mr.. R. Merydith seemed to prefer
Campus Martius or Camp Tupper as
the best pieces of ground for Court
House use.
Attorney Ralph Startling, of Coal
Run, rather favored Campus Martlus.
He thought the present location nee
essarily noisy one, and thought the
Court House should be in a place
where quiet might be possible.
The east corner of Fifth street, back
of the College, was advocated by Jo-
seph Dyar as a spot way out of water,
and most desirable.
Attorney Ellenwood expressed as his
leaning for Campus Mart1us, and he
uldn't think that he wanted the Jail
lot or the Ice Harbor lot.
The west corner of Fourth and Put
nam streets found a warm advocate in
Postmaster M. NJ. Rose.
Judge Cutter was in favor of the
tract at Fourth and Putnam as out
lined, 1S0 by 1870 feet on each street.
A good many stones had been
thrown at the Ice Harbor lot, and Col.
r. L. Nye asked to see that that spot
and its supporters had "a show for
their whiteally," merely asking for
fair play and earnest consideration of
every site proposed.
Mr.. w. W. MIns exhibited a petition
signed by 220 men, good and true who
want the Court House on the Ice Har-
Dor lot and so expressed themselves
over their names.
Col. joan II. Riley expressed a pref
erenee to the Jail lot.
Mr.. e. r. Alderman Thought, and so
said, in his estimation that the Ice
Harbor lot was the particular spot ia
gorable 10 the proposed building.
Mr.. j, j, Holrister, of Dunham,
stated his choice to be the present site,
~ all means.
Ex-Commissioner John Gage said
hat his sentiments, likewise the SEN
iment of the people in his nelghbor- |
ood, were for the present location.
Thus the matter stands-but we
ope not for long; for time is flying,
nd hope the honorable body of
len with whom the choosing lies will
lake up their minds at an early day,
nd ease up the anxious interest OF the
-nnIa LhrnmehnmL the cnmnLu