The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-02-06
NEW COURT HOUSE.

Abbevile is one of the oldest as we'll as one Of the proudest counties
in the State. This county is fnll of college nsn. In the history Of the
past our great men have made AbbevIle ilu,triouS, no matter whether
in learning or in arms, and now isn't it pitiful TO think that our people
have been bniding tobacco barns, or shacks in which to hold court?
Even now, it is said that we have a few men In this EQUITY who want TO
build a cheap court house.
If cheap court house is wanted the one which ". have is cheap
enough.
If they wanta court house of which self.re'pecting citizens should be
ashamed, we are sure that we have it now.
A good and proud farmer would be ashamed to put the old plank win
dow shutters Of our conrt house on the back doors of his barn OF horse
If we have men who wish a public building that would disgrace al
Indian community in Mexico, we have it already.
five want a court house that sits in the middle ofthe public square
of little one-horse towns like Anderson and Hodges depot, we ar already
supplied.
If we want a court house Of decent build and situated on a large and
suitable ld, we haven't got it.
If We would put our court house OIL a n eligible lot on a side street, and
off of the public square, we must move III old tobacco barn, plank shut
tiers and all.
'Abbevile onght to have a 5000, 900 court house, but in Difference to
the feelings and sentiments of those who do not see as we do, we would be
willing to build a 100000 court house n a lot so large that there wonld
be no possibility of fire from the neighboring house.
We lost one court house, and nearly all of our valuable papers of
records because it caught fire from a neighboring building.
The Gary lot is the best and most suitable lot which we have in
mind. A street faces it on three sides. 1t is large enough and near
Any idea that the jail ought to be next door to the court house
is fallacions and clean out of date. The further the Jail is from the court
house the better. A long distance would exercise the prisoners, and give
them a needed airing. Besides such exercise and airing would give the
court coustabes a chance to earn their pay. .
A lot back of Hon. W. P. areene's home would mako a n elegant lot.
Klugh's park would be most splendip place 1T.
But why enumerate. The town is full ofvacantlots.
There is no good reason for tearing down any house.
There lis no wisdom in crowding the court house next to either a ne"
gro restaurant or the town calaboose.
There is no need for building on a small lot, when broad acres cal be
had for a song.
1t is ntedeluvious to think that a town Of any size should make an
exhibit of lis court house. The trying Of negroes for petty crimes is not
the chief business of this city.
The court house is one house that ought not ito b 70 held Ut as
place Of our chief industry.
But it ought to be a magnificent temple whose proportions, whose
architecture. and whose mechanical execution should be an example or a
specimen Of the best that the earth produces. Why should a great and q
proud people, build or occupy a pnbic building of which selfrespecdng
people should be ashamed?