The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-03
HUEy SAYS BOARD
 ACTION |S RESULT .OF CAREFUL STUDY
New Court House Site Pur- chased Only After Many
 Others Considered

who was absent from Birmingham Tuesday when the board purchased the new court house site, made formal statement Thursday in de- fense of his attitude and that of the other members of the board regard ing the purchase. He states that the boards action is the result of three years of careful and painstaking in vestigation. His statement reads:
 Being necessarily absent from the city and from the meeting of the board of revenue on the day official action was taken in reference to the purchase of the block abutting the east side of Capitol park, l should like to make statement in reference to this very important matter Be ing a member of the board, I nat urally feel very keen interest in any action which may mark an epochal day In the historical records of Jefferson county.
 The decision of the board of rev enue to purchase the site to be con sidered as a location for new court house was not the result of a pass ing fancy, but the continuation of plans which have been forming shape for more than three years. l am quite aware of the fact that an offi- cial should be prompted by the most serious and patriotic motives to even consider the removal of community landmark; the replacing of a temple where the laws affecting 300,000 peo- pie have for years been admins tered; the relocation of a clearing house where the multitudinous busi- ness affairs of a great county are conducted. But the action was made with proper thought for these facts and after long and deliberate reflec- tion.
 Necessity No Secret.
 The necessity for a new court house has not been a secret. This necessity has been clearly apparent for years. and the fact that 1t exists makes It obvious that the chosen representatives of the people of the county have duty to make some provision for the condition that con fronts them. An official who would be indifferent to such condition, having ample opportunity to see and study the situation day after day, would be recreant to his trust. He should certainly attempt to lay or derly plans for the improvement of such unWarranted surroundings. The easy way would be to proceed in the old routine, cautiously tolerating ex- isting conditions so as not to invite a community controversy.
 T, personally, think the logical place for court house is in the center Of Capitol park. overlooking W LII street ana the Clly, Legal and sentimental reasons, however, after considerable investigation, seemed to preclude any possibility of acquiring this site for this purpose. Next the board of revenue consid cred right seriously for a. time the block between, Eighteenth and Nine teenth streets and Sixth and Seventh avenues. As an assurance that there was no inordinate amount of secrecy fnC tnr in ha L,in of hA transactions 1 will state that the of ficers of the Masonic bodies. the di iectors Of the Chamber of Commerce, the authorities of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian chlrch, all of whom owned portions of such block. knew that the board had the purchase of the property under consideration. Difficulties InsurmountabIe.
 "Insurmountab ble difficulties made it necessary for the board of revenue to abandon the idea Of acquiring this property. Much other property was considered. The Catholic church of fered to sell lot 200X100 on the cor ner of Fourth avenue and Twenty second street for a consideration of S300,000 This offer was subsequent- iy withdrawn. After a careful sur. vey of all available sites contiguous to the business center was made, in cluding long discussions as the pos sibility of economically utilizing the present jail and court house site, a decision was reached to purchase the block between Park avenue and Eighth avenue. on the east side of Capitol park, being d rectangle 150N 610 feet ill dimension. The reason &bleness of the value of the prop erty was approved by several disin- terested expert real estate ap- praisers. The writer has had consid- erable experience in acquiring prop erty both by purchase and by con demnation for q great public utility, and he recalls few instances, if any, where the right of eminent domain was exercised that the expenses at tendiug/ condemnation proceedings and the awards made by court ap- prdisers was rot Tn excess ot the amount the property could be puf- chased fer by buying directly on market value basis. The county's experience is TO exception to this rule. Even now should a majority of the people express disappI oval or the action in an election, the prop erty could be sold and the proceeds replaced ip the bridge and public building fund.
 But here we have q site which oyerlooks Il permanent park and IT
 that could not be purchased. Ample room is on the plot to prepare :loping lawn doWr to Eighth avenue. On this block thrre will be no neceS- s!ty for noisy alleyways or rear en- frances No street cars traverse any street on which the block abuts eN- cept on Eli shth avenue. and as Eighth avenue is 610 feet from Park avenue, it is cutie probable should the court house ever be erected on this ground that the buildinS would not extend entirely to Eighth avenue.
 "Taking into account all the ele- ments involved in this transaction' analyzing all conditions from graphic standpoint, I am of the epinion that the board of revenue cuold not at this time have pro ceeded more wisely. There are in al proba pility other plots of ground just as we'll if not better. adapted to the 1oca tion of a court house, put in all instances permanent structures occupy such locations and the values would probihit the county from pur- chasing the m in it's present financial status.
 Regrets TO Find Objection.
 This statement is prompted by the fact that there appears to be opJec- tions of the course of action taken by the county DOaru, anu HpPC 9O'!AN helpful light may be thrown on the matter by this necessarily brief dis cussion.
 Some of our newspapers, I deeply regret. have not concurred' edl- i, -SEED- -
 FALL