Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-01-05
A Seer Sneaks,

A Seer Speaks.
Washington county is now moving
with spirit in the interest of a new
Court House.
In the near future we will have in
(certain) central, in every way suit
able locality of general style and ap-
pearanee, so rFodern, so commanding,
and at the same time so notably appro-
atasasstaepleass. its owners, the peo-
pie, 3SBeF q lasting credit to their
goodSkaste and judgment.
The various iopinions of the people
are gradually reaching unanimity.
This VIII give the Commissioners and
Committee assurance of support and
approval. The building will not be de-
signed as fancifu display of archi-
lecture; 1T must be composite in struc-
ty and comfort, while at the same time
it will be demanded of the builders to
give us an architectural effect worthy
of the times and the ability of our peo-
pie. 1t will be noble but not magniti-
cent--it will he our Court House. 1t
marks for us the beginning of the
Twentieth Century, and be the possess
sion OF three or four generations of
our people.
Steel and granite, with our own
county stone, with brick, terra Gotta
and cement, will give safe and elegant
keeping for our courts-subjectiv
and objectively-our ofIicialssand our
invaluable records, so long in danger
from the four elements, earth. air fire
and water" A proper construction
will insure the building and its con-
tents from harm from aour highest
foods AS to fire, the skillful builder
will reduce its dangers to a minimum.
Architectural skill and experience of
the first class will be demanded by lib
eral-mfHded Commissioners and cri-
tical public to insure the complete sue
cess of this favorite enterprise of our
cosmopolitan Marietta apd our sturdy
NNJtH . - ~ 2
1t is Unnecessary to be driven from
the common city level to the too-dis-
tant plain for location for our bufld-
ing. Our city is rich and fortunate as
TO locations. The Old Court House has
formed landmark from early times,
and is held in friendly remembrance
far and near 1t Isl centrai-particu-
larly so-looking to the south and.
west without possibility of obstructed
view or interference. 1t is of historic
interest, our temple of Justice; our ref
uge from the lesser floods; our treas
ure house for valuable things. In its
keeping is the citys and county's geo
graphic base for all surveys. Its
ownership and title are indisputably
held instrust and may not in fact be
subject to sale or barter.
Your writer believes the great ma
jority of people-voters and 'non-vOt-
ers-of- our county prefer the present
Court House site as decidedly the best
preferable for the new building. Al
though the Jail lot may have advant
ages and would be our second choice.
Suggestion has been made of several
attractive places on the plain. Neither
of these. places is for a Court House,
neither are they for briek-yards or
weed-culture, or for stores or for ordl-
nary business uses. They are wanted
by the people, tof0 the people to be
beautIfed by soaa%fepPeauctions of
the classic and historical architectural
designs, or approved original work
(of limited proportions) to suit our
times and circumstances; to make OBJ
ject lessons in art and aesthetics for
our increasing army of children as
well as for Marietta to do more than
plant the trees. In order to perpetuate
the memory of our distinguished and
revered early settlers,a modern Christ
tian temple may stand on the selected
ground of the Mound Builders. A
mausoleumy heroic statues and re-
produced "Stockade" will suitably be
located on others; but our Court House
'1r the coming century will be upon
own well-chosen ground as of
ore. THE SEER.