DIVISION IV.

POLITICAL.

THE COURT HOUSE.

On Monday, August 23, 1852, the cornerstone of the present Court House was laid by S. Sloan, Architect, and James Crawford, Superintendent, in the presence of the Commissioners of the county, the Judges of the Court, the members of the Bar, and a large concourse of citizens from the city and county.

From an address delivered on the occasion by David G. Eshleman, Esq., we gather the following data for permanent record.

"Immediately after the erection of Lancaster county, (in 1729) a violent contention arose as to the most suitable place for the seat of justice. Wright's Ferry (now Columbia,) Lancaster and Postlethwaite's-an old settlement and the site of an Indian wigwam in Conestoga township, about 7 miles south of Lancaster were the three places most strongly recommended. Postlethwaite's was thought to possess superior advantages and was therefore selected. A log Court House, for which Postlethwaite was allowed the sum of seven shillings, and a log jail of equal pretensions were immediately erected, and the Courts held there till August term, 1730, when the increasing influence of the Lancaster party enabled them to procure the removal of the seat of justice to this place.

"A Court House was then erected in the centre of Lancaster, where the present old Court House stands (1852.) That was built of brick, but it was a small and uncomfortable structure. The floor was brick pavement, and the interior arrangements genrally were of proportionate grandeur. On the top of the house was a small spire with a clock of two faces, one for the south and the other for the north. In that house the ustice of Lancaster county was judicially administered until about 1781, when it took ire and was burnt down. The courts were then held in the house of Michael Hubley intil the present old Court House was finished.

"The existing Court House (in 1852) was commenced in 1783, and finished in 1785. That house, so far beneath the ideas of comfort and convenience of the present age, vas at that time considered a magnificent structure. It was sufficient in size and coneniences, not only to accommodate the County Court and the Supreme Court of the 'ommonwealth, but was for many years the Capitol of Pennsylvania, and the sessions f the Legislature were held therein from 1799 until 1812. But times change and we hange with them. Our wants keep pace with our means, and a Court House that was fficiently large and commodious in 1785, when the population of the county was less ian 25,000, and the whole assessed value of property was only a few hundred thousand llars, and which could even accommodate the Legislature of Pennsylvania to 1810, now found to be entirely deficient in size and comfort in 1852, when we exceed two the States of the Union in population, one State in assessed value of property, and qual the fourteenth part of the whole assessed valuation of Pennsylvania. A number Grand Juries, representing the honest and industrious farmers and mechanics, who e justly proud of the wealth and prosperity of their county, conscious of the total

unfitness of the old county buildings and of the necessity of a new Court House, made presentments to that effect to the Court, and the Commissioners of the county, appreciating the wants of the people, and imbued with a commendable spirit of enterprise, immediately made arrangements to carry out the views of their constituents as expressed by the grand juries. This day's ceremony indicates the progress of the design, and when this building shall have been finished, with the elegance which its own importance and the condition of the county seem to demand, it will stand for ages as a proud monument of the skill of the Architect who designed it, and of the public spirit of the Commissioners who caused it to be erected."

The present Court House stands on the northwest corner of East King and Duke streets. It is a massive, solid structure, 164 feet in length, 72 feet in breadth and two stories in height. The basement is built of plain sandstone and the super-structure of brick, the surface of which is covered with mastic. The building is strengthened and ornamented in the front, rear and middle portion of the east wall, and the roof partially supported by pillars resting upon buttresses. From the central portion of the roof rises a cupola, in which is a clock with four faces. A statue of Justice is placed upon the summit of the cupola.

The first

The building is entered from East King street by a flight of stone steps. floor is divided longitudinally and transversely by wide arched passages, paved with colored tiles, along which are arranged the various offices of the officers of the county. The second floor is occupied principally by the Court room-83 feet in length, 66 feet in breadth and 25 feet in height, with frescoed walls and ceiling. The Judges' bench is placed at the north end. In front of the bench, a portion of the room is raised and enclosed for the use of juries and officers of the court. The remainder of the room is filled with seats for witnesses and spectators. Adjoining the Court Room is the room occupied by the Law Library. The Library consists of a large collection of standard professional text-books and books of reports of cases determined by the superior courts of the different States, and is sustained by members of the bar, composing an association for that purpose.

The original cost of the Court House, in its completed condition, including furni ture and the price of the ground on which it is erected, was $166,000. It was fully occupied by the county officers with the records of their offices on September 7, 1854, and the first regular term of Court-being a Court of Quarter Sessions-was opened November 20, 1854.

The Prothonotary, Register, Treasurer, Sheriff, Recorder, Clerks of the Court of Quarter Sessions and Orphans' Court, and Commissioners are required, by law, to keep their respective offices at the seat of justice of the County. All the said officers are elected by the qualified voters of the County-the Treasurer biennially and the remainder of them triennially. With the exception of the Commissioners, they must give bonds to the Commonwealth, with adequate surety, for the faithful performance of the duties of their several offices. The Prothonotary, Register, Recorder, Sheriff and Clerks of the Quarter Sessions and Orphans' Court, are compensated by fees fixed by law. The Treasurer receives a salary. The Commissioners are allowed compensation for each day and mileage, while engaged in the performance of the duties of their office.

The Prothonotary is the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and has the custody of its records and seal. He keeps a docket for the entry of Judgments, records election returns and transmits copies of the same to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

The Register records and files all wills produced under the provisions of the Act of Assembly. He has jurisdiction of the probate of wills and testaments, of the granting of letters testamentary and administration, and of the passing and filing of the accounts of executors and administrators.

The Recorder provides books of record and records therein all deeds of conveyance

and release, mortgages, powers of attorney, and commissions and bonds of public officers and Justices of the Peace.

The Clerks of the Court of Quarter Sessions and Orphans' Court have the custody of the records and seal of their respective Courts.

The Treasurer receives all moneys due or accruing to the County, and pays the same on proper warrants.

The Sheriff is the executive officer of the Courts. His general duties are: To keep the peace within the County; he may apprehend and commit to prison all persons who break the peace or attempt to break it; he is required, by virtue of his office, to pursue and take all murderers, felons and rioters; he has the keeping of the County jail, and is bound to defend it against all attacks; he executes within the County, all process issuing from the Courts of the Commonwealth; and, in case of resistance, has authority to call upon any individual to assist in its execution. He also gives notice of the time and place of holding general elections.

The Commissioners exercise the corporate powers of the County, and have the custody of its seal.1

The account of the present Court House has been kindly furnished by William Leaman, Es1.