The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1907-08-28
A Communication.
Mr.. Editor:

L wish to express through
your columns more fully the ideas and
plans, expressed last Thursday before
the Chamber of Commerce at Laurens
C.. II. with reference to some public
1t is only question of time when
the county of Laurens will be compelled
to build new Court House. The pres
ent building is badly in need of exten-
sive repairs, but why go to this expense
| if in the near future, the people
decide to build new one? There is
not sufficient room in the offices for
the records and they are poorly con-
structed with reference to light and
ventilation. The vaults for the records
are now well nigh filled up and it will
not be long before new vaults will be
needed.
Besides the noise on the public
square often dsturbs the proceedings
IL Court. The needs of the city of
Laurens require more room on the pub
lie square in order to beautify it-make
it attractive and inviting to the out
side world. a new location is desirable
for the building of the new Court House
and site ought TO be procured before
it is too late as the price of real estate
is advancing every year in the city of
Laurens.
suggest this plan that the city Of
Laurens sell their present City Hall
property say for $500 and buy the
old Court House and ground for $685.
600. The old Court House could be
improved and repaired, the grounds
could be beautified, the floors lowered,
the rock steps removed and broad steps
erected, making public library out of
the grand jury room and the City Hall
out of the Court room. The city would
than be out about $4,000. in the ar
rangement. The county could then take
the $25, O00 it gets for the old Court
House and issue bonds for $40, 900. and
buy land and erect splendid new Court
House that would be ornament to our
city and county. suggestthat the land
Immediately around the county Jail be
bought and that the new Court House
be built on the Jail lot near Main street
The land necessary will cost about
So, 600. and that will leave $57, 900. for
the new Court House. Newberry is
building a $50, 900. new Court House
and so is Sumter and Abbeville. An
derson and Spartanburg have already
built theirs. In the city building there
ought to be a nice room to be called
the ladies' room where the ladies from
distance could go and rest before leaV-
ing for their homes in the country,
and the new Court House ought to have
large room well fitted up and heated
called the farmers room where the wit
nesses and jurors could have some COM
Portable place to wait during Court or
at any time. | would like to see the
grand jury take the matter under con
sidcration and make some recon-
mendations OF the next term Of Court.
The next Legislature ought to pass an
Act authorizing a vote Of the people
upon the question of issuing bonds 70
the amount of $50, 600. at the next gen
eral election, and if the people voted
for the issue Of bonds, the way would
be clcar,
hope these matters will receive in
dividual as well as public consideration
and action.
AS to the public water supply of the
city, hope the Chamber Qc Commerce
and Civic League will give that great
public utility some painstaking consd-
Grafton. What is a greater recommcn-
dation for any town than the reputation
of hayinG pure drinking water? The
reputation of the city of Greenvillc for
pure water drawn from springs in Par
ris Mountain is of incalculablc benefit
to the growth OF that CITY,
The wafer OF Laurens may be pure
after filtration, but if we could throw
into our water mains and sptandpipe
an abundance Of pure spring water
then we would know that the water
was pure AMI free from the injurious
effects of mud and alumn. In the fall
and spring, the small streams are
oblidge to contain great deal of col
oring matter and acid that cannot
be filtered out. Again, the city au-
thorlties ought to extend their water
mains and pipes and give all Of the in
habitants of the city a reasonable
chance 70 yet city water. The petition
for extension of water mains ought to
be disregarded.