The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-19
THE OLD COURT HOUSE
AGITATION AS TO DIsPosTTIoN
 OF BUrLDINd.
It Has Been Suggested That the Dallas Board of Revenue Donate
 It for Hospital sor .
 Armory Purposes.
Advertiser Bureau.

Selma, March IS
 The question as to what the county of
 Dallas will do with the, old court house
 when the county oflcfals move into the
 new temple of justice down town, has
 been discussed from time to time since
 the new building has been under con-
 struction. Various propositions have
 been made as to the best use to put 1t to-.
 Some few have suggested the idea of giv-
 ing 1t to the military companies of Selma
 for a permanent armory. The court room on the third floor could be used as
 drill room. but in good weather the
 beautiful level lawn in the rear could be
 used for the purpose of drilling. It Is
 about 100 feet wide and two or three hum
 dred feet deep. and by placing several incandescent lights It proper places 1t
 would make capital place for drilling
 the infantry. and the artillery company could also be Quartered in the lower
 story. while the middle story could be fitted up for the social features of the military. A gymnasium could also be added and 1t would make one of the best armories in the State. s sN'
 The question of asking the Board of Revenue to give the old court house to
 the military companies has just begun to be agitated and it Is not known just yet how that body feels about disposing of the building. aAf,
 Colonel H. s, D. Mallory. one of the trustees of the Henry M. Vaughan estate,
 went before the Board of Revenue yester-
 day and asked the Board to donate 1t for hospital. MT. Vaughan died about
 twelve or fifteen years ago. He was brought to Selma in a precarious condi-
 tion. All of his relatives were absent from the city at the time and there was no place where he could be taken for medical treatment.
 The idea then occurred to Mir. Vaughan to leave his property as a nucleus for the establishment of a hospital, where men in his condition could receive medical atteu- ton. He drew up his will and left his property to his brother. Dr. Vaughan. for ten years, after which 1t was to be de- voted to the establishment and mainte- nance of a hospital in Selma. His property consisted of tract of land in Arkansas. containing about 800 acres. This land Is not very valuable. but his trustees, Colonel H. 6. D. Mallory and Judge P. c. Wood. have disposed of some ot the timber on it. and Colonel Mallory now thinks that the land can be sold for shout a dollar an acre, possibly little more. A-
 The other and the most valuable piece of property. which was left to his brother. Dr. Vaughan. for q period of ten years, consists of a farm of about 300 acres in Perry County. Colonel Mallory and Judge Wood have had control of this farm for three or four years and with the rents from it and the proceeds of the tim Der that they have sold from the Arkan- sas tract, have accumulated about 5000 in cash, which Is ready to be invested in the hospital, that MT. Vauhgan wished established.
 Colonel Mallory thinks that the Board of Revenue for Dallas County would be doing the right thing in denating the old court house for hospital purposes. The s3. GOO that he has in hand could be spent in refitting 1t for the purposes of hos pitaI and the rents from the Perry Coun- ty farm and the interest on what the Arkansas farm would sell for. could be used In maintaining the hospital.
 Colonel Mallory does not think that the sum left by MT. Vaughan Is near sufficient for the establishment of any, thing like a charity hospital. but he be- lieves if the Board of Revenue would give the old court house for a hospital. an institution could be established where those who are sick or who hay been injured in any way. could receive atten- ton at a moderate charge. so far as board and nursing is concerned.
 A good many of the physicians of Dal- las County are in favor of having the court house turned over to the Vaughan Trustees for a hospital. One man argued to your correspondent that the City In. drmary could be sold and the money that It brings could be used in the establish nent of the Court House Vaughan Hos- pital. It is in a very desirable part of the city. a much more eligible site for a hospital than the present City 1nfrmary. | The ladies of the United Charities could | assume charge of the new hospital just | IS they have had charge of the old one. | md an institution could be thus establish | d that would be of great benefit to the | people of Dallas County.
 Some persons are under the impression | hat the building reverts to tho original | leirs when the county ceases to use 1t as court house. Such is not the case. The Masonic fraternity built 1t originally for school for the education of the children f members of that order. It came into he possession of the city of Selma by lift. and the city gave 1t to the county f Dallas for court house when the ounty site was removed from Cahaba O this city in the sos or early 70s.. With a the past two or three years the city f Selma has made an absolute deed of he property to the county. so that it an do anything that 1t pleases with the Id court house.
 The building Is located at the head of fla abama Street. and the grand old colo ades, supporting the roof. can be seen rom Broad Street, when the leaves are fl the trees. It Is on the highest point n the city and commands magnificent few of the low lands on the South Side f the river. It is estimated that the can be sold at from 5000 to }, 900 and 1t remains to be seen whether he Board of Revenue will be willing to onate 1t for either armory or hospital purposes.