Macoupin County, Illinois - Chapter 6: Geology, 1879 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 6: Geology

GEOLOGY. R the following article, we are indebted to the state geological report of A. H. Worthen, its editor. We have selected such portions as we deem of most interest to our readers. Drift Deposits - The Quatenary beds of this county consist mainly of drift clays, with-some interstratified beds of sand and gravel, and some local deposits of loess along the bluffs of the Macoupin. They range in thickness from forty to two hundred feet or more, their greatest development being restricted to the ancient valleys, excavated anterior to, or during the drift epoch, and subsequently filled with drift accumulations.

Three miles south of Carlinville, a shaft was sunk by T. L. Loomis, Esq., to the depth of one hundred and sixty feet, without reaching bed rock, all but a few feet at the top being through a blue hard-pan. At this point a stream of water broke through, probably from an underlying bed of quicksand, and filled the shaft in a few hours to the depth of about eighty feet, and the work was consequently abandoned.

At a coal shaft, one mile south-east of Bunker Hill, the superficial deposits were only twenty-eight feet thick, while at a shaft east of Staunton, they were one hundred and ten feet ; at the Virden shaft twenty, and at Girard about seventy feet. These figures illustrate the variable thickness of the drift deposits in the county, and indicate the irregularity of the original surface of the bed rock, which seems to have been intersected by valleys of erosion quite as deep, if not as numerous as those which characterize the surface at the present time.

Stratified Rock. - All the stratified rocks of this county belong to the coal measures, and include all the strata from the horizon of coal No. 4, which outerops on Hodge's creek, just.on the Greene county line, to coal No. 10, inclusive, embracing an aggregate thickness of about three hundred and fifty feet. The following section of the coal shaft at Virden, will give a general idea of the relative thickness and position of the strata, and includes nearly all the different beds that outcrop in the county.

Virden Shaft Scwofrwomk Noh Agdorancon

A shaft was also sunk at Girard down to this main coal, but as no record was kept of the thickness and character of the beds passed through, we are unable te designate the changes which mark the various strata between these ints. oat the central portions of the county its thickness ranges from six to eight feet, but on Apple creek, in the north-west corner of the county, a coal out- 'crops that seems to be the equivalent of this, but is much thinner, ranging only from two to three feet, and at the shaft one mile and a half north of Bunker Hill, its average thickness is about four feet.

At the Virden shaft the main coal (No. 36 of this section) averages about seven feet and a half in thickness, sometimes running up to eight feet, and seldom falling below seven. Itis a moderately soft, and free-burning coal. The coal has a tendency to break into cubic blocks like the Belleville coal, though the partings which separate the coal into several distinct layers are not as decided here, as at the mines in St. Clair and Randolph counties. Salt water in small quantities percolates through some of the sandstones above the coal, especially Nos. 19 and 33. Immediately on the coal is an argillaceous shale. Fossils are comparatively rare, even where it becomes hard and slaty, but we obtained a few of the common species here, among which were Discina nitida, Productus muricatus, Hemepronites crassa, Chonetes mesoloba, some fragments of a Nautilus, and teeth of Petrodus occidentalis. These fossils were generally poorly preserved, and the shells mostly replaced with yellowish pyrite.

The coal here is similar in quantity to that obtained from the shafts at Virden and Girard, and the mine is entirely free from water, and its gangways as dry as though they possessed a water-proof covering.

The shaft in the creek valley south of town was commenced at a much lower level, and coal was reached at a depth of about 210 feet. The eoal in this shaft ranges from six to eight feet in thickness, and has a good roof, composed of five feet of bituminous shale, and five feet of limestone. :

The sandstone is partially exposed on the lower courses of Macoupia and Hodge's creeks, and also on some branches of Apple creek, in the northwestern portion of the county.

The limestone No. 11 of the Virden shaft section is a very hard gray limestone, and outcrops at several points in the vicinity of Carlinville, and is therefore locally called the Carlinville limestone. It ranges in thickness from six to twelve feet or more, is a compact, brownish-gray rock, weathering to a rusty-brown color on exposure, the lower portion of the bed being usually in regular layers, while the upper portion becomes concretionary or pebbly, in structure. This limestone forms the bed-rock over a considerable portion of the county, especially in the region of Carlinville, and extending south-eastwardly to Bunker Hill and Staunton. On the head waters of Cahokia creek, this limestone is partially exposed, and is here overlaid by about fifteen feet of greenish shale, with a band of impure earthy iron ore intercalated in it about two feet above the limestone.

At a coal shaft one mile west of Staunton this limestone is six feet thick, and lies in regular beds, and is quarried for foundation walls and other purposes. The coal at this point lies 210 feet below this limestone, and the seam averages about six feet in thickness.

At the coal shaft on the railroad a half mile east of town, there was no record kept of the character and thickness of the strata passed through, but we give a table furnished from recollection by the man in charge of the work in sinking the shaft, which is approximately correct. Beginning at the level of the limestone we have as follows:

The shaft one and a half miles south-east of Bunker Hill is two hundred and fifty-three feet in depth, and, although no record was kept of the beds passed through, the following, given by one of the proprietors, from recollection, is approximately correct :

The coal at this mine varies in thickness from five to seven feet, and is divided below the middle by a shale parting. The coal above the parting is of a better quality than below it, and having a tendency to the black character.

In the vicinity of Plainview, the Carlinville limestone is found outcropping on one of the small tributaries of the Macoupin, and following down the

No. 1. Compact brownish-gray lime-stone. .............-. 6 feet. " 2, Caleareous shale with chonetes, etc. .. . .. 2... 22 e- ses ab ys '35 Dark blue clay 'shale; with ferns.) <5.U-P ns tis) cas . Sis "4, Sandy shale and shaly micaceous sandstones, extending below the

Silver ore was reported to have been discovered in this sandstone, in a quarry on the south-west quarter of section 20, town 10, range 8 west, a few years since, and an attempt was made to organize a joint stock company for its development. The silver scales of mica which the rock contained were mistaken by some ignorant persons for silver, and hence the reported discovery of a rich mine of metallic ore at this locality. The only material of economic value this rock contains is building stone of a fair quality, which may be obtained here in abundance.

The chocolate-colored limestone (No. 6) is a coarsely granular rock made up in good part of the joints and plates of crinoidea, but it also contains Pinna per-wcuta, Productus, Prattenianus, P. Nebrascensis, and the teeth of several species of fossil-fishes, among which we recognize Petalodus destructor and Cladodus mortifer.

This choealate-colored limestone seems to be identical with that of Sugar creek in Sangamon county, where the rock for the old State House was obtained.

are exposed between Carlin's cannel coal seam, on the north-east quarter of section 3, township 12 north, range 9 west, and the west line of the county, following along the bluffs of the main creek and its tributaries:

On a branch of Apple creek, two miles north of Scottsville, the beds of the foregoing section, from 7 to 16 inclusive, are well exposed, and the lower coal seam has been opened at several points by tunnels driven into the hillsides. It ranges in thickness from two to four feet, and is divided near the middle by a parting of shale from one to two inches. The coal is overlaid by two or three feet of clay shale and a bed of argillaceous limestone, which sometimes passes into calcareous shales three or four feet in thickness. The limestone weathers to a rusty-brown color on exposure, though its color is a light-gray on a freshly broken surface. Where this rock is shaly, it afforded some good fossils, among which the Caumarophoria Osagensis and Productus longispinus were the most common.

The cannel coal, No. 2 of the foregoing section, was opened at an early day on land owned by Matthew Newkirk, on section 11, township 12 north, range 9 west, and was worked for several years by Mr. John Carlin, to supply the local demand of the neighborhood. The seam varies in thickness from eighteen inches to two feet, the upper being the true cannel coal, and the lower a common bituminous coal. It has proved to be quite local in the development, and has not as yet been met with at any other locality in the county of sufficient thickness to be of any economical value. The sand-stone below the coarse-grained limestone at the locality two miles north of Scottsville is quite massive, and affords a very good building-stone. This is also true of the sand-stone below the Newkirk coal, No. 5 of the foregoing section, and the upper twenty feet of the bed is a micaceous sand-stone impregnated with the oxyde of iron, which hardens on exposure, and affords a reliable building stone.

Coal. - As may be presumed from the perusal of the preceding statements coal is by far the most valuable mineral product of this county. Its entire area is underlaid by coal, and the supply from coal seam No. 5 alone is practically inexhaustible ; and its resources from this seam, reckoning its average thickness at six feet, which is believed to be a fair estimate, is not less than 5,184,000,000 tons, and will admit of an annual consumption of one million of tons per annum for 5,184 years, before the coal from this seam alone would be exhausted. The underlying beds which have never yet been penetrated in this county may be safely set down as capable of affording an amount equally as great as that of No. 5, and hence the entire coal resources of this county may be estimated in round numbers at more than ten billions of tons.

Coal No. 5 may be found anywhere in the county that it may be desirable to inaugurate a coal mining enterprise, as it outcrops at the surface on the principal streams that intersect the western border of the county, and in the central and eastern portions it may be reached in shafts varying from three to four hundred feet in depth.

Coal No. 4 usually lies from thirty to forty feet below No. 5, and the three lower seams, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, will all be found, if developed at all, within . one hundred and fifty feet below. No. 4, so that a boring or shaft carried two hundred feet below the main coal in this county, would penetrate all the coals to be found here, and determine positively the amount of coal accessible at any given point where the experiment may be made.

Coal No. 5 affords a coal of good average quality, tolerably hard, bright, compact and usually free from pyrite; it has a rather uneven fracture, but inclines to break into cubic forms, the layers rather thick and separated by partings of carbonaceous clod or mineral charcoal, and contains vertical seams of white carbonate of lime. An analysis of this coal from the Hodge's creek mines, made by the late Mr. Henry Pratten, former chemist of the geological survey, and published in Dr. Norwod's " Abstract of a Report on Illinois Coals," gave the following result :

Analysis

In quality this coal will compare favorably with the average of our western bituminous coals, It-is a good steam-producing coal, hard enough to bear transportation, and when. carefully selected this seam will afford a good smith's coal.

Building Stone. - The coal measure strata seldom afford a good building stone, except for foundation walls, culverts and the more ordinary uses to which a coarse and homely material may be used. The Carlinville limestone is the most valuable rock of its kind to be found in this county, and it has been freely used for the ordinary uses above named. In the vicinity of Carlinville, the beds range from five to six feet in thickness, and occur in quite regular layers from four inches to a foot or more in thickness. When burned, it slacks freely, and makes a tolerably good but dark-colored quick-lime. It appears to stand exposure well,and has proved to be a durable stone where used for foundation walls, bridge abutments, etc., and is the most valuable limestone in the county for economical purposes.

The coarse brownish-gray limestone above the Carlinville bed, which is found in the bluffs of the Macoupin, east of Carlinville, is also a durable stone, and has been used for abutments and foundation walls in the vicinity of its outcrop, but as the bed is only from two to three feet in thickness the supply from this source is necessarily limited.

Among the sandstones of this county there are at least three distinct beds, that will furnish building-stone of fair quality if carefully selected. Two of these beds outcrop on Apple creek and its tributaries, in the north-western corner of the county. These beds are twenty-four and thirty feet thick respectively, and are in part composed of a massive brown sand-stone that stands exposure well, has an even texture, and can be easily quarried in blocks suitable for ordinary building purposes. There is also a softer micaceous sand-stone outcropping on the Macoupin, below the bridge, on the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Railroad, which affords a tolerably good building stone if carefully selected. These sand-stones may probably be found outcropping at other points in the western portion of the county, and, as a general rule, wherever a sand-stone is found to present a solid cliff or rock at its outcrop, it may be safely used for all ordinary building purposes.

Tron Ore. - A band of very pure carbonate of iron was observed at two or three points on the Macoupin east of Carlinville, intercalated in the shales overlying the Carlinville limestone, but nowhere in sufficient abundance to be of any economic importance at the present time.

Sand and Clay for Brick Making. - These materials are abundant in all parts of the county, and may usually be obtained from the beds immediately beneath the soil on the uplands, and where there seems to be a deficiency of sand in the subsoil clays it may be easily supplied from the beds of the streams, or from the sand-beds interstratified with the drift-clays.

Weer's Shaft, Carlinville - - Thickness of coal six feet, average depth below the surface 260 feet, wrought by shaft, number of men employed in mine 30, circumference of shaft twelve by six feet, aggregate yearly production 370,028 bushels, amount of capital employed $24,000. Owners Weer Bros., leased by T. L. Loomis.

Bartel's Shaft, Carlinville - Thickness of coal six feet, average depth below the surface 210 feet, wrought by shaft (horse-power), number of men employed eight, aggregate yearly production about 32,000 bushels, amount of capital employed about $8,000. Owner H. Bartel, Sr.

Union Coal Shaft, Carlinville - - Thickness of coal six feet, average depth 286 feet, wrought by shaft. number of men employed 20. Circumference of

Nilwood Shaft - Thickness of coal six feet, average depth below the surface 330 feet, wrought by shaft, number of men employed 10. Circumference of shaft ten by six feet, aggregate yearly production 100,000 bushels, amount of capital employed $10,000. Hy. Cooper owner.

Girard Shaft - Thickness of coal six feet, average depth 350 feet, wrought by shaft, number of men employed 14, aggregate yearly production 220,000 bushels, amount of capital employed $10,000. B. Bogus owner. Cireumference twelve by six feet.

Staunton Shaft- - Thickness of coal seven feet, average depth 325 feet, wrought by shaft, with escapement, number of men employed 100, aggregate yearly production 1,000,000 bushels, capital employed $25,000. Owner Henry Voge. Circumference of shaft fourteen by six feet.

Virden Shaft. - Thickness of coal seven feet six inches, average depth 320 feet, wrought by shaft, with escapement, number of men employed 47, aggregate yearly production 750,000 bushels, capital employed $50,000, Owner John Utt. Circumference of shaft fourteen by six feet.

Bielby Slope, Chesterfield - Twelve feet to coal, thickness six feet, two feet left for top, bushels of coal 6,000, one man, capital $100. Owned by T. Bielby.

Thos. Carr, Chesterfield Slope - Twelve feet to coal, thickness five feet, two feet left for top, bushels of coal 500, two men, capital $300. Owned by Thos. Carr.

Davis, Gin Pit, Chesterfield - Thickness of coal five feet, two feet left for top, depth below surface thirty feet, shaft, four men employed, aggregate number of bushels 10,000, capital employed $500. Owned by W. K. Davis.

Wm. Carlin, Scottville, Cannel Coal - Thickness of coal three feet, drift, two men employed, production 3,000 bushels, capita) employed $200. Owner Wm. Cariin.

Staunton, Gin Pit - Thickness of coal six feet, average depth 220 feet, (horse-power), number of men employed three, aggregate yearly production 13,000, capital employed $2,000. Owner's name :

Mount Olive Shaft (Staunton Tp.) - Thickness of coal eight feet, average depth 400 feet, wrought by shaft, with eseapement, number of men employed 100, aggregate yearly production 1,000,000 bushels, capital employed $35,000. . Owned by Comp'y, Superintendent H. J. Keiser.

Bunker Hill Shaft - Thickness of coal five feet, average depth 250 feet, wrought by shaft, number of men employed nine, aggregate yearly production 125,000 bushels, capital employed $10,000; leased by Wm. Niel & Co.

Bunker Hill, Gin Pit. - Thickness of coal five feet, average depth 149 feet, (wrought by horse-power), number of men employed ten, aggregate yearly production 40,000 bushels, capital employed $2,000. Owned by A. Duffey.

N presenting a list. of the animals of the county that existed here prior to and after the advent of the white man, while the list may not be complete, it will, however, be of interest to the student and scientist. Of the ruminating animals that were the American Buffalo (Bos Americanus) must have found pastures near the alluvial and shaded banks of the Macoupin and plains and prairies of this portion of the state. The heads, horns and bones of the slain animals were still numerous in 1830. The Black Bear (Ursus Americanus) were quite numergus even in the memory of the "older settlers." Bears have been seen in the county within the last thirty-five years. The Gray Wolf its superior cunning. The panther (Felis concolor) was occasionally met with in the earlier times, and still later and more common, the Wild Cat, (Lynx rufus.) The Weasel, one or more species; the Mink (Putorius Vison) ; part of the county, (Lutra Canadensis) ; the Skunk, (Mephitis Mephitica) ; the Badger, (Taxidea Americana; the Raccoon, (Procyon Lotor); The Opossum, (Didelphys Virginiana). The two latter species of animals are met with in every portion of the United States and the greater part of North America. The coon-skin among the earlier settlers was regarded as a legal tender.,- The Bear and Otter are probably now extinct in the county, and were valuable for their furs. Of the Squirrel family we have the Fox, Gray, Flying, Ground and Prairie Squirrel, (Scirus Ludovicanus, Carolinensis, Volucella, Striatus and Spermaphilus.) The Woodchuck, (Arctomys Monax) and the Beaver, was common prior to the settlement, (Castor Canadensis) ; the common Musk Rat, (Fiber Zibethicus.) The Bats, Shrews and Moles are common. Of the Murids we have the introduced species of Rats and Mice, as also the native Meadow Mouse, and the Long-tailed Jumping Mouse, (Meriones Labradorus) frequently met with in the clearings. Of the Hares, the (Lupus Sylvaticus) the so-called Rabbit, is very plentiful. Several species of the native animals have perished, being unable to endure the presence of civilivation, or finding the food congenial to their tastes appropriated by stronger races. Many of the pleasures, dangers and excitements of the chase are only known and enjoyed by most of us at the present day through the talk and traditions of the past. The Buffalo and the Elk have passed the borders of the Mississippi to the westward, never more to return.

Of the Fish, the most common are the Cat, Bass and the Sun-fish. The Perch, Pike and Buffalo are also occasionally met with. The common Carp Chub are numerous; the Bass is a game fish, and affords fine sport.

We give the following classification of birds into three divisions, as found in the "Transactions of the Illinois State Horticultural Society."

1st. Those of the greatest value to the fruit-growers, in destroying noxious insects, and which should be encouraged and fostered in every way.

Blue Birds, Tit-mice or Chicadees, Warblers, (small summer birds with pleasant notes, seen in trees and gardens), Swallows, Vuros (small birds called green necks). All birds known as woodpeckers except sap-suckers (Picus varius). This bird is entirely injurious, as is it is not insectivorous, but feeds on the inner bark, cambium, (and the elaborated sap) of many species of tree, and may be known from other Woodpeckers, by its belly being yellowish, a large black patch on its breast, and the top of its head a dark bright red. The males have also a patch of the same on their throats and with the minor margins of the two central tail feathers white. should not be mistaken for the two other most valuable birds which it nearly resembles, to wit: the Hairy Woodpecker, (Picus villiosii et vars); and the Downy Woodpecker, (Picus pubescens et vars). These two species have the outer tail feathers white (or barred with black), and have only a small patch of red on the back of the head of the males. The Yellow-Hammer or Flecker, (Colaptus auratus) is somewhat colored with yellow, and should not be mistaken for the sap-sucker, It is a much larger bird. The Red-headed Woodpecker, (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), sometimes pecks into apples and' devours cherries, and should be placed in the next division, (2). The Wren, Ground Robin, (known as Cherwick), Meadow Lark, all the flycatchers, the King Bird or bee-catcher, Whip-poor-will. Night Hawk or Goat Sucker, Nut-hatcher, Pewee or Pewit. All the Blackbirds, Bobolinks, Finches, (Fringillide), Quails, Song Sparrows, Scarlet Tanager, Black, White and Brown Creepers, Maryland Warblers, Indigo Birds, Chirping Sparrow, Black-throated Bunting, Thrushes, except those named in the next class, and all domestic fowls except geese.

Which include those which have beneficial qualities, but which have also noxious or destructive qualities in the way of destroying fruits, and whose habits are not fully determined. (Thus the Robin, Brown Thrush and Cat Bird are very valuable as cut-worm eaters, but also very obnoxious to the small fruit growers. The Jay (Blue Jay) not only destructive to grain and fruits, but very noxious in the way of destroying the nest eggs, and young of smaller and better birds, Robin, Brown Thrush and Cat Bird, Shrike or Butcher Bird, Red-headed Woodpecker, Jay Bird or Blue Jay, Crow and the small Owls (screech owls), Pigeons and Mocking Bird.)

Sap-sucker, or Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, (see above), Baltimore Oriole, or Hanging Bird, Cedar Bird, or Wax-wings (Ampelis cedrorum), Hawks, and the larger Owls.

Flora

"' Where opening roses breathing sweets diffuse, And soft carnations shower their balmy dews, Where lilies smile in virgin robes of white, The thin undress of superficial light ;

HEN we gaze out over a landscape, the eye is pleased with its chequered beauty and loveliness; here and there are bright flowers, clinging vines, green verdured hill and dale; majestic storms of many winters, - these were created not only to please the eye and beautify the world, but the cereals and grasses were made to furnish food for man and beasts. . Our article will particularly treat of the more valuable woods utilized in the mechanic arts, and the grasses, plants, vegetables, and flowers most beneficial to man, and particularly those which are natives of the county. Many species of the native vegetable kingdom have fled; the Buffalo grass, which only grew on parts of the prairies, and almost wholly the large pampas grass, have become extinct, and given place to blue grass, which, in places where domestic cattle feed, is rapidly and quietly displacing all others. The plants are many and rare, some for beauty and some for medicine. The pink-root, the columbo, the ginseng, the bone-set, pennyroyal, and others are used as herbs for medicine. Plants of beauty are the phlox, the lily, the asclepias, the mints, golden rod, the eye-bright gerardia, and hundreds more which adorn the meadows and brook-sides; besides, are climbing vines, the trumpet creeper, the bitter sweet, the woodbine, the clematis, and the grape, which fill the woods with gay festoons, and add grace to many a decaying monarch of the forest. The trees and grasses, one so lordly and permanent, the other so humble and transient, are the true glories of the county. The oak, with at least its twenty varieties; the hickory, with as many more species; the thirty kinds of elm, from the sort which bear leaves as large as a man's hand, to the kind which bear a leaf scarcely larger than a man's thumb-nail; the black walnut, so tall and straight; the hackberry ; gum tree black and sweet; the tulip; the giant cotton-woods, and hundreds more attest the fertility of the soil and mildness of the climate, while the blue grass, in its ten varieties, the timothy and red top, with clover so abundant in succulence, affords excellent pasturage, and opens a fine field for the dairyman or stock raiser.

Quercus rubra - red oak ; Quercus palustris - water oak, common; Quercus tinctoria - black oak; Quercus nigra - black-jack; Quercus imbricaria - laurel oak; Quercus prinus - chestnut white oak ; Quercus castanea - yellow oak, not common; Quercus alba - white oak, common; Quercus obtusiloba - post oak, abundant.

Carya glabra - pig-nut hickory ; Quercus macrocarpa - overcup oak, common; Carya tomentosa - white-heart hickory ; Carya alba - shell-bark hickory; Carya oliveeformis - pecan.

Arisema triphyllum - Indian turnip; Tyhlatifolia - cat-tail; Sagittaria variabilis - arrow-head; Cypripedium pubescens - yellow lady's slipper ; Cypripedium candidum - white lady's slipper, common.

Datura stramonium - Jamestown weed; Asclepias cornuti - milk weed ; Fraxinus Americana - white ash; Fraxinus sambucifolia - black ash; Phytolacca decandra - poke weed; Amarantus hybridus - pig weed; Rumex crispus - sour dock; Sassafras officinale - sassafras; Benzoin odoriferous - feyer bush; Marrubium vulgare - hoarhound; Solanum nigrum - nightshade; Physalis viscosa - ground cherry; Monarda didyma - horsemint ; Nepeta cataria - catnip ; Hedeoma pulegioides - pennyroyal ; Diospyros virginiana - persimmon ; Plantago major - plantain; Verbascum thapsus - mullein, common; Cirsium lanceolatum - common thistle; Lappa major - Burdock; Taraxacum densleonis - dandelion, common, introduced during the last forty years.

Erecthites hieracifolia - fire weed; Ambrosia artemisizfolia - rag weed ; Xanthium. strumarium - cockle bur; Bidens bipinnata - Spanish needle ; Bidens chrysanthemoides - beggar ticks; Manta cotula - May weed; Leucanthemum vulgare - ox-eye daisy, common.

Eupatorium perfoliatum - thoroughwort, not common; Cornus Florida - dogwood ; Sambucus Canadensis - elder, very common; Ribes cynosbati - wild gooseberry ; Pyrus coronana - wild crab, abundant.

Sanguinaria Canadensis, or blood-root ; Lepidium Virginicum - wild pepper-grass; Portulaca Oleracea, or purslane; Tilia Americana, or linden, not abundant; Zanthoxylum Americanum - prickly ash, scarce; Rhus typhina - sumach; Rhus toxicodendron - poison oak; Vitis sstivalis - summer grape, common; Vitis cordifolia - frost grape; Ampelopsis quinquefolia - Virginia creeper; Alsculus pavia - buckeye, scarce; Acer saccharinum - sugar maple; Acer dasycarpum - white maple; Negundo aceroides - box elder; Baptisia tinctoria - indigo weed, not abundant; Cercis Canadensis - red-bud ; Gymnocladus Canadensis- - Kentucky coffee-tree ; Gleditschia triacanthos - honey locust; Prunus Americana - red plum; Prunus chicasa - Chickasaw plum ; Prunus ecrotina - wild cherry ; Fragaria Virginiana - wild strawberry ; Rubus occidentalis - black cap raspberry ; Rubus Canadensis - dewberry, common.

In the above list we have given the scientific as well as the English names, believing such a course to pursue in the study of plants more beneficial to the student or general reader. There may be some plants omitted, yet we think the list quite complete.

Civil History

HE portion of Illinois now comprised within the limits of Macoupin county was originally a part of the county of Madison, but on the creation of Greene county, it became a part of the new county, and was known as the "Attached part of Greene county." an act entitled "an act creating the county of Macoupin" five commissioners to select a seat of justice, whose names appear in the bill which signiwhich is appended. The county was named Macoupin in the act. word is of Indian origin and is abbreviated from "' Macoupina," fies in their tongue "white potato," for that is the name they gaye to the wild artichoke which grew abundantly along the water courses. The name was given to the principal stream of the county long before its organization, and when the new county was created was conferred upon it.

Thomas Carlin, afterwards governor of the state, was at that time a senator from this district, and it was largely through his instrumentality that the passage of the bill was secured. The celebrated and eccentric pioneer preacher, Peter Cartwright, was also a member of the general assembly, and opposed the bill, saying among other things that "God had set apart this region as a reservation for the geese and ducks." But the demands of the citizens of the " Attached part of Greene county were acceded to, and the legislature passed the following bill, entitled

" Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois represented in the general assembly, That all that tract of country within the boundaries, to-wit : - beginning at the southwest corner of township seven, north of range nine, west of the west principal meridian; thence east on the line dividing townships six and seven, to the southwest corner of Montgomery county ; thence due north to the southern boundary of Sangamon county; thence west on the southern line of Sangamon and Morgan counties, to the range line dividing ranges nine and ten; thence south on said range line to the place of beginning; shall form and constitute a county to be called Macoupin.

Sec. 2. For the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of Justice of said county, the following persons are appoinded commissioners, to-wit: Seth Hodges, Joseph Borough, John Harris, Shadrack Riddick, and Ephraim Powers, who, or a majority of them, being first sworn before some Justice of the Peace of this state, faithfully to take into consideration the convenience of the people with an eye to the future population, and eligibility of the place, shall meet at the house of Joseph Borough, in said county of Macoupin, on the third day of March next, or within six days thereafter, and proceed to examine and determine on a place for the permanent seat of Justice of said county; Provided the commissioners aforesaid shall locate the seat of Justice on public land, they shall designate the same, and certify to the county commissioners of said county, as soon as they shall be qualified to office, the half quarter or quarter section of land so selected for said county seat; and it shall be the duty of said county commissioners as soon thereafter as they may be enabled, to enter the same in the land office of the district in which the same may be situated, and they shall immediately thereafter lay off the same, or any part thereof, into town lots, and sell the same on such terms and conditions as_may be most advantageous to the interests of said county ; and the proceeds of the sale shall be appropriated to the erection of a sufficient court-house and jail. But if the said commissioners, appointed to locate said seat of Justice, should locate the same on the lands of any person, or persons, and such proprietor, or proprietors, should refuse or neglect to give to the county, for the purpose of erecting public buildings for the use of said county, a quantity of land not less than twenty acres, situated and lying in a square form, to be selected by said commissioners, then, and in that case, the said commissioners shall proceed to select some other situation, as convenient as may be to the place first selected ; Provided, the like quantity, and for the purpose above mentioned. And the said commissioners, after having made such location, shall designate the same, and certify as aforesaid, to the next county commissioners' court, to be held in and for said county; and it shall be the duty of said county commissioners to demand and receive a title in fee simple, for the usé of said county, for the donation of land as above stated, and to lay out the same into town lots, and sell the same, and appropriate the proceeds thereof as before mentioned: which place, when so fixed upon, shall be the permanent seat of Justice of said county ; all of which proceedings shall be entered of record on the books of the county court.

See. 3. Until public buildings shall be erected for the purpose, the courts shall be held at the house of Joseph Borough, in said county, or at such other places as the county commissioners may appoint.

Sec. 4. An election shall be held at the house of Joseph Borough, in said county, on the second Monday of April next, for one sheriff, one coroner, and three county commissioners, for said county, who shall hold their offices until the next general election, and until their successors are qualified ; which said election shall be conducted in all respects, agreeably to the provisions of the law regulating elections, Provided that the qualified voters present may select among themselves three qualified voters to act as Judges of said election, who shall appoint two qualified voters to act as clerks.

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit court of said county, to give notice, in writing, at least ten days previous to said election, to be held on the second Monday of April next, and in case there shall be no clerk in said county, it shall be the duty of any Justice of Peace, residing in said county, and commissioned a Justice of the Peace, for the county of Greene, to give notice of the time and place of holding said election.

See. 6. The citizens of the said county of Macoupin are entitled, in all respects, to the same rights and privileges as are allowed to other citizens of other counties of this state.

Sec. 7. The commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice of said county, shall receive one dollar and fifty cents per day, for each day necessarily spent in discharging the duties imposed on them by this act, to be paid out of the county treasury of said county, and the said commissioners: shall give to the said seat of justice some appropriate name.

Sec. 8. The inhabitants of said county shall vote in all elections for members of the General Assembly, in the same manner as they were authorized to do, before the passage of this act."

County Officers

The law establishing the county, it will be observed, provided for the election of a county commissioners' court, a sheriff and coroner ; the election was held at the house of Joseph Borough; the vote resulted in the choice of Theodorus Davis, William Wilcox, and Seth Hodge for commissioners ; Tristram P. Hoxsey was appointed county clerk, in addition to which, he performed the duties of county recorder and circuit clerk. Joseph Borough was appointed surveyor in 1829, by the Governor, and laid out the county seat. The number of votes cast at the first election was seventy-eight.

Record Of The Meeting Of The First Board Of Commissioners

At a special term of court held on the 12th April, 1829, " Ordered," that until public buildings shall be.erected for the purpose, the courts in future shall be held at the house of John L. Davis, in Macoupin county.

April 18, 1829. - Ordered, that Macoupin county be divided into three election precincts, for the election of justices of the peace and constables for county.

April 18, 1829. - Ordered, that all that tract of country lying within the following boundaries, to wit, beginning at the south-west corner of Macoupin county, and running thence east with the line of said county, to the Bond county line, thence north with said line twelve miles, thence due west to the line of Greene county, thence due south with said line to the place of beginning, shall constitute an election district for justices of the peace, and constables, and be called Cahokia district.

April 18, 1829. - Ordered, that all that tract of country lying within the following boundaries, fo wit. : beginning at the south-west corner of township nine north in range nine west, thence due east to the Bond county line, thence due north with said line twelve miles to the south-east corner of township eleven north, range six west, thence due west to Greene county line, thence south with said line to the place of beginning, shall constitute an election district for justices of the peace and constables, and be called Macoupin district.

April 18, 1829. - Ordered, that all that tract of country lying within the following boundaries, fo wit: beginning at the south-west corner of township eleven north, range nine west, thence east to the line of Montgomery county, thence due north with said line to the line of Sangamon county, thence due west with the said lines of Sangamon and Morgan counties to Greene county line, thence due south with said line of Greene county to the place of beginning, shall constitute an election district for justices of the peace and constables, and be called Apple Creek district.

April 18, 1829. - Ordered, that elections shall be held in each of the districts in this county for the election of two justices of the peace and two constables for each district, except the district in which the county seat is, in which district there shall be three justices of the peace and three constables elected, on Saturday, the sixteenth day of May next.

It is ordered, that Ephraim Powers, John Chapman and Lewis Cormack be appointed judges of elections, for justices of the peace and constables in Cahokia district.

Also, that Theodorus Davis, Samuel M. Harris and Samuel Lear be appointed judges of election, for justice of the peace and constables in Macoupin district.

Also, that Hugh Gipson, John Nevin and James Mabry be appointed judges of election for justices of peace and constables in Apple Creek district.

Second Session

At a County Commissioners' Court, begun and held at the house of John L. Davis, in and for said county of Macoupin, on Thursday, the seventh day of May, 1829.

On. motion of several citizens of Apple Creek district, the line dividing said Apple Creek district and Macoupin district, is changed thus fourteen miles directly east from the western line of said county, the line shall commence and run diagonally across the townships, so as to strike the eastern line of said county, two miles south of the north-east corner of the county aforesaid.

"The Court received the report of the commissioners, appointed by law for fixing the seat of Justice for this county, which said report read as follows, to wit :"

"The commissioners appointed by the General Assembly of the State of Tllinois, in the year 1829, to locate the seat of Justice for the County of Macoupin, having met at the house of Joseph Borough in said county, and having fixed upon the following site for the seat of Justice of said county, &c., being and lying on S. W. qr. of Sec. 28, Township 10 N. Range 7 W. Donation 30 acres, to be situated in an oblong square, 80 poles in front on the north side, to run 60 poles south. Stake drove on the north side of the public square, equi-distant from E. and W. corners on N. side, facing Main St., to run due East and West.

The Court received a title in fee simple for the above described lot, or donation of ground, which said bond is ordered to be filed in the clerk's office of this Court. The site for the county seat was named Carlinville, in honor of Thomas Carlin, who afterwards became Governor of Illinois, and who, as has been seen, secured the passage of the creating act.

" Know all men by these presents that we, Seth Hodges and Ezekiel Good, are held and firmly bound unto William Wilcox, Theodorus Davis and Seth Hodges, county commissioners for Macoupin county, and their successors in office, in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, for the true payment whereof we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators jointly, severally and firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this 1st day of June, 1829.

"The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the abovenamed Sei: Hodges and Ezekiel Good have agreed to make a good and lawful deed to the above-named county commissioners and their successors in office to thirty acres of land situate, and lying and being on the southwest quarter of section of No. 28, 10 N. in W. R. 7, to wit, situated in an oblong square, 80 poles in front, on the north side to run 60 poles south. Stake drove on the north side of the public square equi-distant from E. and W. on N. side facing Main street, Main street to run due east and west. Now if the said Good and Hodges shall make a good and sufficient deed to the abovedescribed lot or parcel of ground as soon as the patent for said ground shall come to their hands, then this obligation to be void, else to remain in full

June 1

"Tt is ordered by the court that the surveyor of this county proceed to lay off the town of Carlinville into town lots, under the direction of the Commissioners of this county, and that he return a plot of the same to the office of this court, previous to the 27th day of August next, and it is further ordered by the court that twenty lots of the aforesaid town of Carlinville be offered for sale on the 27th day of August next on the premises, on a credit of six, twelve and eighteen months, the purchaser giving bond with approved security for the purchase money, and that the clerk of this court furnish an advertisement conveying the intent and meaning of this order, to be published in the Illinois Intelligencer, and also advertise the same in such public places in this.county as may be deemed expedient.

"On this day persanally appeared before me Ezekiel Good and Seth Hodges, who are persustally known to me to be the identical persons who executed thirty acres, as 2 donation, to Seth Hodges, Theodorus Davis and William Wilcox, county commissioners of said county, and also said county commissioners, all of whom acknowledged the within to be their act and plat to all intents and purposes: Given under my hand and seal this 27th day of August, A. D. 1829. Lewis SoLomon, J. P."

Assessment Of Property Amount Paid Commissioners For Locating Seat Of Justice

"Tt was ordered by the commissioners of the county court that Joseph Borough be allowed four dollars and fifty cents for three days' services as a commissioner in locating the county seat; also that John Harris and Shadrack Reddick each be allowed the sum of three dollars for two days' services as commissioners to locate the seat of justice."

Laying Off The Town

To the surveyor, Joseph Borough, for surveying and platting fifty lots in the town of Carlinville, the sum of seventeen dollars and fifty cents was allowed by the court, and the same ordered to be paid.

The First Grand Jurors

"At a county commissioners' court begun and held at the house of John L. Davis, in and for the county of Macoupin, on Monday, the first day of June, 1829.

"Tt is ordered by the court that the following named persons be certified to the sheriff to serve as grand jurors at the first circuit court held in this county, to wit:

Second Venire Of Grand Jurors. April Term, 1830

Ata term of the Macoupin Circuit Court, begun and held in the town of Carlinville, at the court-house thereof, on the first Friday after the second Monday in the month of April, A. D. 1830. Present the Hon. Samuel D. Lockwood, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and presiding judge of the first judicial circuit. John Harris, sheriff of Macoupin county aforesaid, returned into court the following venire of grand jurors, to wit:

The First Petit Jurors

"Ordered, that the following persons be selected to serve as petit jurors at the next term of the circuit court for the county of Macoupin: Joseph Best, John Snell, Joseph Vincent, William Cormack, Peyton Seamonds, Alexander B. Miller, Howard Findley, James Braden, James Hall, Shadrack Reddick, George Nettles, Richard Smith, John Wright, David Cooper, Reuben Harris, Jones Denton, John Blainey, John Record, Russel Taber, James Howard, Jones Thompson, Isaac Masse, Maxey M. Mabry and Elijah Bristow."

"This indenture made and entered into this 6th day of November, A. D. 1829, between Theodorus Davis, Sen., of the county of Macoupin in the state of Illinois, for and in behalf of said county of the one part, and Rowland Shepherd in the county and state aforesaid of the other part, witnesseth : That the said Theodorus Davis, Sen., commissioner for and in behalf of the county aforesaid, for the sum of eight dollars to him paid in hand, doth hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargained, sold, conveyed and confirmed, and by these presents doth give, grant, bargain, release, convey and confirm unto the said Rowland Shepherd and to his heirs and assigns forever a certain lot, piece or parcel of ground situate, lying and being in the town of Carlinville on Main street, and known and designated on the plan of map of said town by lot number seventy-one with the appurtenances. To have and to hold the afore-named and described lot, piece or parcel of ground seventy-one in the town of Carlinville aforesaid, together with all and singular the appurtenances, privileges, advantages, profits and emoluments belonging to it, or in anywise or degree appertaining to the same, to the said Rowland Shepherd, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said Theodorus Davis, Sen., commissioner for and in behalf of said county, doth covenant, promise and agree to and with the said Rowland Shepherd, his heirs, &c., that he the said Theodorus Davis, Sen., commissioner as aforesaid for and in behalf of the county aforesaid, will forever warrant and defend the right and title of said above-named and described lot, piece and parcel of ground te the said Rowland Shepherd and to his heirs and assigns forever, to his sole and only proper use, benefit and behoof, free and clear of and from the claim or claims of all and every person or persons claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. In testimony whereof he the said Theodorus Davis, Sen., commissioner aforesaid for and in behalf of said county, hereunto sets his

First Divorce Case, August Term, 1881

This day came the complainant, by James Semple, her attorney, and the defendant not appearing according to the order of this Court, the complainant's bill is taken for confessed, and the Court having heard the evidence on the part of the complainant, and being satisfied that the allegation of two years' absence of the said complainant's bill was true, and the Court being now sufficiently advised of and concerning the premises, do order, adjudge, and decree that the bands of matrimony heretofore existing between the said parties be, and the same are hereby dissolved.

"At the April term of Court, A. D. 1834, Thomas 8. Gelder makes his written application to be naturalized, files his declaration, and takes the oath prescribed by law, in open Court, which is ordered to be filed."

"T, John Murphy, of the county of Macoupin, in the State of Illinois, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following: that is to say: First. It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid. Second. I give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Sally Murphy, in lieu of her dower, the plantation on which we now live, containing about thirty acres, which is bounded as follows: that is to say, beginning on the north-west corner of the north quarter of section No. twenty-nine, in township eleven, north of range eight, west, running east eighty poles, thence north sixty poles to the beginning, and the north-east quarter of the south-east quarter of section No. thirty, township No. seven, north range eight, west of the third principal meridian, and the sguth-east quarter of the north-east quarter of section No. thirty, township No. seven, forty acres each, during her natural life, and all the live stock, horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, by me now owned, or which I may own at the time of my death. And, also, the household. furniture and other items not particularly named in this will, during her natural life as aforesaid, she, however, first disposing of a sufficiency thereof to pay my just debts as aforesaid, and at the death of my said wife all the property hereby devised or bequeathed to her aforesaid, or so much thereof as may then remain unexpended, to my grandson, Levi Murphy, and to his heirs and assigns forever. Provided, however, that if my grandson, Levi Murphy, should die without any heirs, then it is my will that so much of the above named property as is not expended of by the said Levi Murphy at his death to go to my adopted son, Henry Anderson,.and to his, heirs and assigns forever. And, lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife, Sally Murphy, and James Breden, to be the executors of this my last will and testament.

"In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and

"Signed, published and delivered by the above named John Murphy, as and for his last will and testament, in our presence, who, at his request, signed as witnesses to the same.

Aaron Todd and William Todd were citizens of Indiana. On the 26th day of January, 1840, they were traveling towards Indiana from the west, and in their company was their cousin, Larkin Scott. Near Elm Groye, in this county, Larkin Scott was murdered by the brothers for a small sum of money he had with him - some $26. He was killed by repeated blows from a bludgeon, dealt by Aaron Todd. The corpse of the victim was, a few days thereafter, found upon the prairie, and the officers of the law set themselves to work to discover and apprehend the murderers. James C. Clack, a constable of Elm Grove, was especially active in ferreting out the perpetrators of this heinous crime, and the brothers, Todd, were apprehended in Indiana, and brought hither for trial. They were tried and convicted. Wm. Thomas presided on the bench. The defendants being too poor to employ counsel, the court assigned as their attorneys Francis H. Hereford, Josiah Fish, John A. Chestnut and John M. Palmer. The jurors were: Amos Snook, Archellis Tungate, Joseph Huddleston, Jeremiah Suiter, Fountain Land, Moses True, Thomas Hughes, Travis Moore, Thos. J. McReynolds, Jacob Kinder, Joseph Phillips and Aquilla P. Pepperdine.

The State's Attorney being absent, the court appointed David A. Smith as attorney for the people during that term of court. The trial began on the 5th of May. The verdict of the jury was that Aaron Todd was guilty of murder in the first degree, and on the 8th Judge Brown sentenced him to be hung on the "2d day of June next, and that on that day, between the hours of twelve o'clock M. and four o'clock P. M., the said Aaron Todd be taken and conveyed to some convenient place within one mile of the court-house in Carlinville, and then and there be hung by the neck until he be dead, for the offence of murder whereof he stands convicted by the jury aforesaid; and the court doth further order that the sheriff, by himself or deputy, execute the order."

The verdict fixed the punishment of Wm. Todd at two years in the penitentiary. On thé 8th, an arrest of judgment was entered in the case of William Todd. He finally came clear.

The news that a man was to be hung on the 2d of June spread far and wide, and when the day arrived that the sentence of the court. was to be executed, not less than 8,000 people had gathered in the county seat. The scaffold was erected south of West Main street, below-the depot. Major Burke officiated in person. Dr. John Logan, Colonel of the 44th regiment of militia, had five hundred of his men in line for the preservation of order. The execution was witnessed by an immense concourse of people. Todd met his fate bravely, and with resignation. Two weeks before, he made a profession of religion, and died in the hope of a better life.

He was buried on the west side of the burying ground, at some distance from the other graves. Some days after his remains were interred, they were exhumed, and his head and one arm were severed from the body, and taken away.

First Tavern

- "Qn motion of Wm: 8. Holton he is allowed to keep a tavern at his own house in the county of Macoupin, for the term of one year from this date, he having executed bond with Tristram P. Hoxey, as required by law, in the sum of one hundred dollars, and the said William 8. Holton haying also -

Copy Of First Tavern Bond

Know all men by these presents that we, William 8. Holton and T. P. Hoxey, are held and firmly bound unto Ninian Edwards, Governor of the State of Illinois, and to his successor in office, in the penal sum of one hundred dollars, lawful money of the United States of America, for the payment of which said sum of money well and truly to be made, we, and each of us, bind ourselves and heirs, executors and administrators jointly, severally and firmly, by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this first day of March, A. D., 1830.

The conditions of the above obligations are such that whereas the above bound William P. Holton hath obtained license and permission from the county commissioners' court of the county of Macoupin, State of Ilinois, to keep a tavern or inn, at his own house in the county aforesaid, for the term of one year, from this date: Now if the said William S. Holton shall at all times be of good behaviour, and observe all the laws and ordinances, which are or shall be made, or be in force relating to innkeepers or tavernkeepers within the state, and further that he will at all times keep meat and lodging for at least four persons, over and above his common family, and stabling and provender for their horses. Then this obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and effect.

The value of good roads to a nation and country can hardly be overestimated. They are evidences of a high civilization. Savages make no roads and build no bridges, and it is only at the bidding of civilized man that the beautiful arch springs across the.stream. A great people are roadbuilders, and Rome retained sway over her conquered and remote provinces by means of the magnificent highways that radiated from her gates.

When the first settlers came, it is not necessary to say, that no roads existed. The wily Indian pursued his journey along the trail that had first been marked over the waste by the footsteps of the buffalo.

Since that distant day much has been done to provide roads along which products travel to the place of shipment, but the condition of our roads, even now, is far from being satisfactory. Business languishes during a portion of the year, owing to the execrable state of the roads. Let the roads be improved and our farm interests - the really important ones of a nation or community - will grow apace. Our soil is so deep and the surface so level, and the consequent difficulty of making good roads so great, that the people seem-to think they are not possible unless macadamized. But this is -not true. What is wanted is an improved system of road supervision and drainage. The following extract from the records shows that the importance of good roads was appreciated by the early settlers.

At a special meeting of the commissioners' court held at the house of Ezekiel Good in August 1829, sundry voters petitioned' that a road should be Jaid out from Carlinville towards Jacksonville, as far as the county extended; at the same time other voters petitioned a road should be made from Carlinville towards Carrolton. Both petitions, it will appear, were successful, from the following:

" At a commissioners' court, begun and held at the house of Ezekiel Good, in and for the county of Macoupin, on Monday, the seventh day of December, A.D. 1829.

a road from Carlinville (as far as this county extends) in a direction to Jacksonville on the nearest and best rout, made return of their proceedings, to wit. That said road as viewed by them, begins at the north end of Broad street, thence in a north-western direction through the head timbers of Hurricane creek, thence to the north fork of Macoupin, and crossing the same near Reuben Clevenger's farm, thence pretty much in the same direction to Lewis Solomon's farm, running on the north-east side of the same, and thence to the rock ford on Apple creek in Morgan county, which said report is approved and accepted by the court, and said road is ordered to be opened and kept in repair, and when opened to be a public highway and subject to all the laws and regulations of other highways."

"The viewers appointed by the last term of this court to view and lay out a road from Carlinville to this county line, to pass by Bear Creek Point, thence to Daniel Dedrick's house, thence north of Norris Hayes's in a direction to Carrolton, made return of their proceeding, to wit: that said road after being viewed by them, was deemed necessary and proper, and that the same begins at the west end of Main street, and is designated by staking the prairies and blazing the timbered land through which it passes agreeably to the order of said court, which said report is approved and accepted by the court and said road ordered to be opened, to be a public highway and subject to all the laws and regulations of other highways.

County Buildings The First Court-House

" At a County Commissioners' Court begun and held at the house of Ezekiel Good, in and for the county of Macoupin, on Monday, the seventh day of September, A. D. 1829."

"Tt is ordered by the Court that the building of a Court-house for said county of the following description, viz.: to be built of hewn logs, 18 feet by 24. The logs to face one foot on an average; the house to be two stories high. The lower story to be eight feet between floors and the second story to be six feet below the roof; to have one door below, with one window below and one above; door to be cased and to havea good strong plank shutter; the windows to contain twelve lights or panes of glass, eight by ten; two good plank floors, to be jointed and laid down rough; roof to be double covered with boards; weight poles to be shaven; cracks to be lined on the inside with shaven boards and crammed on the outside with mud and straw or grass, well mixed together; all to be completed in a strong manner by the first Friday after the second Monday in April next, will be let on a credit of six, twelve, and eighteen months, to the lowest bidder on the 19th inst; the undertaker to give bond with approved security for the performance of his contract, and that the clerk of this Court advertise the same."

Seth Hodges received the contract for the building of the Court-house, and filed the necessary bond required by the commissioners. The building was duly completed according to contract, and the commissioners held their first court in the new Court-house on the 17th day of July, 1830.

The court-house was accepted by the commissioners, and at the September term, 1830, Seth Hodges was allowed the sum of forty-eight dollars and thirty-three and one-third cents, ($48.334) and at a subsequent term of the Court he was allowed fifty-seven dollars, thirty-three and a third cents ($57.- 333). Among the items included in the building and furnishing the courthouse were benches and bar $23, which furnishes an interesting comparison with the furniture of the court-room and judges' chair of the present magnificent structure.

The commissioners on the 25th of March, 1835, appointed James C. Anderson, Isaac Greathouse, Steth M. Otwell, John R. Lewis, John Wilson, agents for the county of Macoupin, to borrow a sum of money not under five nor exceeding seven thousand dollars, at a rate of interest not exceeding eight per cent. per annum, for a term of years not under six nor over ten -

Second-Court House. Special Term Of Court 1836

The Court adopted the following as the plan of a court-house in the town of Carlinville and county of Macoupin: The square of the house fifty. feet ; wall to be of stone, four feet, two feet under ground, of rough stone, and the other of two feet hewn stone, all to be laid with good lime mortar, two feet six inches thick ; the balance of good hard burnt stock brick, laid with good lime mortar, in workmanlike manner, two and a half bricks thick first story, and two the second, each story to be fourteen feet in the clear; the lower floor to be even with the top of the stone wall, to have four posts with a door, and two windows in the lower story and three windows in each front in the upper story, each window to be 24 light 10x14, and the door to be made in accordance with a plan given by Doctor J. R. Lewis; the first door in the east to be made permanent and the judge's seat to be placed against the same, The lower part to be divided into a court-room and lobby, separated by a banister four feet high, passing through the house from north to south, parallel or nearly so with the near side of north and south doors, to the judge's seat, two flights of stairs running from the court-room over each door to the center space of upper story, and to be one chimney.

December term, 1836. It is ordered by the Court that Harbird Weatherford and Jefferson Weatherford, two of the undertakers to build the Courthouse for this county be allowed the sum of fifteen hundred dollars to be due and payable on the 1st of March, 1839, and if not punctually paid when due to draw interest at the rate of eight per centum per annum from the time the same becomes due and payable until paid.

June term, 1837. It is ordered by the Court that in the plan of the Courthouse in this county that the stone-caps be dispensed with and that brick arches be turned, and also that the sills for the windows of stone be dispensed with and walnut sills be received in their place, and also that one hundred and seventy-five dollars be deducted from the price of building said house Two of the undertakers of the house being present and giving their consent to this order by J. Greathouse and J. Weatherford.

1838. A fence costing two hundred and thirty dollars, built round the Court-house to each corner, and each chimney to haye two fire-places, one above and one below, the upper part to be laid off with a passage in the centre, corresponding with the centre windows, ten feet wide; the east side of said passage to be entry room and the west to be laid off in three rooms of equal size. The roof and cupola to be built in accordance with the said plan of Doctor J. R. Lewis ; the cupola to be supported by four large pillars from the basement floor up, the bottoms to be placed on stone pillars. The sills and caps of doors and windows to be of hewn stone, and the Court appoints Doctor J. R. Lewis, James C. Anderson and Thos. Carr as commissioners to let out the said building to the lowest bidder, payable out of the county in the following payments: two thousand dollars payable the 1st of March, 1839; four thousand payable 1st of March, 1840, four thousand payable 1st of March, 1841, and the balance provided the amount does not exceed the sum of two thousand dollars, payable the 1st of March, 1842. County orders to be issued to the order of said Commissioners, and said orders to bear eight per cent. interest per annum, from the time due until paid, if not punctually paid, and said Court-house to be built in the centre of the public square, of the said town of Carlinville, and the same to be finished according to the said plan, against the first of January, 1838. Ordered publication of said building be published in the Alton Telegraph four weeks.

Present Court House

Perhaps it is not possible to write an article on the court-house that will be satisfactory to all. As impartial historians, we simply give facts, which are matters of record, and let them speak for themselves

An act had been passed by the Legislature in February, 1867, authorizing an expenditure by the county court of fifty thousand dollars, and no more, for the purpose of erecting a new court-house. This act was passed on application of the county court. The old court-house, which was built in 1836, was inconvenient and insufficient for the county's needs. It was a relic of the past. True, around it clustered many pleasant memories. In it had "littered the intellectual steel of men born to be great." Back from its walls, through the long years came the faint reverberations of oratory and forensic eloquence of men whose names are written high up on the roll of honor and fame. But progress, in whose wake follows the arts, science and modern civilization, pulled down the walls, and erected in its stead the magnificent temple whose dome rises high, and whose spire points heayenward, reminding those who enter its portals, that here as there, should dwell eternal truth and justice.

If the members of the court who erected the court-house, had built such a house as would have supplied room and sufficient conveniences for the transactions of the county's business all would have been well, and the people would have submitted with good grace, and paid for it without compulsion.

Following the first step towards building a court-house, which was the act of Feb. 18th, above referred to, came the action of the county court at the March term, 1867, from the records of which we quote:

"That A. McKim Dubois, and George H. Holliday be associated with T. L. Loomis, county Judge, and Isham J. Peebles, associate Justice, as commissioners to erect a new court-house in the city of Carlinville The foundations of the new court-house to be laid this year, and the building to be completed before the term of office of the present court.' It was further ordered, "That a levy of fifty cents on each one hundred dollars valuation of property in Macoupin county for the year 1867, real, personal and mixed, be made for the purpose of erecting said court-house, and that the clerk extend the same tax on the collectors' books for the year 1867, and that it be collected as other taxes for county purposes; Judge Yowell dissenting." The work was then inaugurated. At the June term following it was ordered, " That the commissioners be instructed to proceed immediately to the procuring of suitable plans, adopt same, and contract for the erection of the court-house." It was not expected at this time that the cost of the proposed building would exceed two hundred thousand dollars. It was further

It was ordered that Hon. T. L. Loomis be appointed agent for the county, to close and sign all contracts made by the said commissioners in behalf of the county, and that all contracts so executed by him, and with the adyice and consent of the commissioners aforesaid, shall be binding upon the county of Macoupin, and that he be authorized to use any funds of the county at his disposal in payment on contracts made by him." The great power conferred on the agent by this order can be readily seen.

"In order to defray the expenses of the work so constructed, and paying for the lots purchased by the county for court-house purposes, and other purposes necessarily connected with the prosecution of the work, county orders be issued to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars, in sums of one hundred dollars each, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent., payable semi-annually at the banking house of Chestnut & Dubois, on the first days of January and July of each year, said orders to run not exceeding ten years." At the same term, Messrs. Chestnut & Dubois were appointed agents of the county for the sale of the county bonds, and were instructed to pay out the proceeds arising therefrom on the order of T. L. Loomis, county agent. It was also ordered " That the county agent make a report of his acts, contracting and making payments for the construction to the court for the next three months preceding - that as much of the order made at the last term of this court respecting the building of a court-house as is conditional and is otherwise inconsistent with this order, be revoked." At the special term of the county court, held August second, 1867, it was ordered "that bonds to the amount of fifty thousand dollars be issued for the purpose of raising money to build a court-house, as provided by the act of the Legislature, approved February 18th, 1867." The bonds to draw ten per cent. interest, payable semi-annually, and were to mature as follows: One-fifth in two years, one-fifth in three years, one-fifth in five years, one-fifth in seven years, and one-fifth in ten years.. The building now began to assume grander proportions than had been expected, and the opposition to its erection grew fierce and determined. An injunction was applied for, and notice served upon the commissioners a short time after the passage of the act of the Legislature of Feb. 18th, 1867, in which they were sought to be enjoined from continuing the work, and calling into question the authority of the county court to build a court-house. The trial was held before his honor, H. 8. Baker, Judge of the city court of Alton. The complainants appeared by Henry W. Billings, and the Court by John M. Palmer. The injunction was denied, and the commissioners proceeded with the work. At the September term of the county court, the county agent made his report, showing, " That there had been expended for lots, laying foundations, issuing bonds, &c., the sum of $13,534.39 ;" he also reported that he had let the following contracts. (For the purpose of giving the uninformed reader information as to the cost in detail of various parts of the work, we subjoin contracts which were let for the constructing of different parts of the building.) "To Henry Watson, of Madison county, the concrete for foundations, at 274 cents per square foot. The range work at 65 cents per square foot, and the footing stone at 55 cents per foot. F. Johnson & Brother, Springfield, for-the sill work course, $3.90 per superficial foot; for the rustic work on the pilasters, $2.75 per superficial foot ; for the pitch-faced work, $1.90 per superficial foot ; for moulded courses under the water table, $5.00 per lineal foot; for plain water table, $6.00 per superficial foot; for stone steps, $1.50 per superficial foot; and all door sills required, at $1.50 per superficial foot. To R. D. Laurence, of Springfield, brick work at $15.20 per thousand."

At the December term of the county court the agent made a report of money expended and paid to contractors amounting to $49,942.53, and also reported the failure of the brick contractor to comply with the terms and specifications as required by the commissioners and the re-letting of the contract to William D. Richardson, at $16.20 per thousand. He further reported the "letting of the contract for the rock work above the basement to Messrs. Deakman & Massinger, of Chicago, upon the following terms, to wit: For the ashlar work, $2.40 per superficial foot ; for pilasters, $3.40 per foot; for pilasters plinth, $6.00 per foot; for mouldings to plinth and columns, $8.00 per foot ; for window sills, $2.00 per foot, and cubits, $3.00 each."

At the special term held January 11th, 1868, it was ordered "that A. Johnson & Brother be allowed $3,000 on account of stone work on basement." The orders were issued in amounts of $1,000 each, payable ten years from the 1st of January, 1868, with interest, at the rate of ten per cent. per annum. The same order was made for $25,000 to Henry Watson for stone work, $5,500 to Deakman & Massinger, and $4,000 to Richardson, payable as the work progressed. At the March term of the court, $35,156.85 was reported by the county agent and allowed upon different contracts. From this date there was no report made by the county agent to the court until at the special term held January Ist, 1869, when he reported amounts paid on contracts aggregating $313,044.25. At the special term held February Ist, the month following, he reported $471,600.00 of orders which were granted. The opposition at this time to the building of the court-house grew more intense and outspoken. Indignation meetings were held in all parts of the county. Resolutions were passed, condemning the action of the commissioners, and calling upon them to make statements as to the amount of money already expended, and the probable cost of the structure when completed. Prominent citizens were delegated to call on the commissioners, and ask them to give information that would satisfy the people. Threats were made, protests entered and such was the furor and excitement that it had the effect of calling into question the legality of the county court to issue interest bearing orders, and the validity of the same. A legal opinion had been obtained from John M. Palmer, which stated that the interest bearing orders were properly issued and were binding on the county. The commissioners asked for special legislation. The building was up to the cornice and no means attainable to finish it beyond. Confidence had to be restored in financial circles so that money could be obtained to finish the building. The Legislature was in session, and the commissioners sent agents to Springfield, who were familiar with the intricacies of special legislation. From the time it was understood by the people that the commissioners would endeavor to secure the passage of an act that would fasten the court-house debt upon them more securely and give the builders further lease of power and ability to issue bonds they commenced organizing to defeat their designs. The following bill was introduced in the Senate:

Section 1. "That all bonds or other evidences of indebtedness heretofore issued, in good faith, by the court of Macoupin county, to raise money or discharge contracts in reference to the building of the court-house in said county, are hereby legalized; and said county court is hereby authorized to borrow money and issued bonds therefore - bearing, not exceeding ten per cent., principal and interest payable at such time and place as may be indicated in said bonds - to raise whatever sum may be necessary to complete said court-house and improvements connected therewith."

Section 2. "Tt shall be the duty of the county court or other proper authorities of said county to levy a sufficient tax from year to year, not exceeding one per cent. in addition to the taxes now authorized by law, to pay the interest on said bonds and other evidences of indebtedness heretofore issued or hereafter to be issued in good faith, and the principal when due."

To resist the passage of the bill which had been referred to the judiciary committee, a mass convention of the citizens of Macoupin county assembled at Carlinville in February, 1869. The following resolutions were adopted, T. M. Metcalf presiding :

" WHEREAS the people of the county of Macoupin in mass meeting assembled, being informed that there is an attempt on the part of the county court and the court-house commissioners appointed by said court, to induce the Legislature, now in session at Springfield, by an act of their body, to legalize all the acts of said court and commissioners in the building of a court-house; said house haying been commenced and the work prosecuted thus far without their 'consent, and in direct violation of their expressed wishes; therefore be it -

" Resolved, That we are opposed to any act or measure that in effect or by express provisions, legalizes any illegal act or acts of said court or commissioners, the effect of which will be to saddle upon the people of tiis county a large indebtedness without their being consulted in regard thereto; and be it further -

" Resolved, That we look upon the acts of the counfy court in the building of the new court-house with alarm, they having taken it upon themselves, in violation of the express wish and will of the people, to involve them in a debt that we feel and know will be ruinous to the best interests of the county ; and be it further -

" Resolved, That this meeting, composed of tax-payers of the county, request the legislature not to legalize the wanton waste and squandering of the people's money as would be effected by the passage of the Senate bill upon this subject now before the house judiciary committee, but to save and protect them from what they believe to be a wholesale fraud.

" Resolved, As the sense and wishes of this meeting, that no legislation of right ought to be had by the present or future legislatures to legalize any of the illegal acts of the present county court of Macoupin county or the courthouse commissioners.

" Resolved, That the county court of Macoupin county, in building a new court-house, has disregarded the almost unanimous and often-repeated protest of the people of this county; that it has utterly disregarded the best interests of the people, and has imposed a debt that the present generation may not hope to be able to cancel; that they have transcended the laws of the land and trampled under foot the bulwarks of our liberties; that such open and shameful violations of law and utter disregard of the people, is the worst form of tyranny and despotism, and that this convention regard and condemn as enemies to free government the authors and perpetrators of these evils."

A committee was appointed by that meeting to appear before the judiciary committee at Springfield to represent the people of the county and protest against the passage of the act.

Petitions signed by thousands of the citizens of the county poured in upon the legislature praying their non-interference, and asking them to preveut any legislation that would make the illegal acts of the county court and commissioners of the court-house binding upon the people. The commissioners were summoned before the committee, and made statement under oath that the building would not cost over five hundred thousand dollars.

During the pendency of the fight before the judiciary committee at Springfield, it was discovered that the record pertaining to the issuance of bonds and county orders and contracts made had not been written up by the county clerk, except that of the ($50,000) fifty thousand dollars. It became neces- sary in order to secure such legislation, to produce the records. The county clerk was dispatched to write up the records, which he proceeded to do.

" Wuereas by an act of the legislature of the state of Illinois approved March 9th, 1869, the county court of Macoupin was authorized to issue bonds for the purpose of raising moneys to complete the new court-house, and the improvements thereunto," ete. Bonds aggregating $272,000 were accordingly issued, placed upon the market by the financial agent, A. McKim Dubois, and sold. Of these bonds there were different classes, some maturing in five years, others in ten, fifteen and twenty years; all bearing date of issue April 1st, 1869, with ten per cent. interest from date.

At the September term in the same year, it was ordered that bonds to the amount of $408,000 be issued. They were similar to the bonds above mentioned. At the October term, it was resolved, among other things, that, "Whereas, by an Act of the Legislature, approved March 9th, 1869, it is provided that all bonds and other evidences of indebtedness heretofore issued in good faith by the county court to raise money to discharge contracts in reference to building of said court-house in said county, are legalized." (See Act).

At the November term of the court, $212,000 in bonds were ordered issued, and placed in the hands of the financial agent. The county agent also reported the letting of the contract for the iron roof and dome of the courthouse, in. accordance with the plans submitted by the architect, to J. P. Steadman & Co, of Philadelphia, for the sum of $125,115.

At the general election held in November, 1869, new members of the county court, who were anti-Court-house, were elected: P.C. Huggins, A. A. Atkins and M. Olmstead. They qualified, took the oath of office, and entered upon their duties on the first Monday in December of the same year. At a special term held January 12th, 1870, by the new county court, it was ordered "that all orders made heretofore by the county court appointing general or special agents to act in any matters wherein the people of said county haye any interest, the same are hereby rescinded; that all agents heretofore appointed by order of said court make a full and final report of all their acts to this court, at a special term of this court, to be held Wednesday, first day of February, 1870."

At the special term held on the day above named, and in pursuance of the order of the court, "A. McKim Dubois came into court, and reported that he had received at divers times of T. L. Loomis bonds, interest bearing orders of said county, representing on their face an aggregate value of $1,- 466,900, and have realized out of the same $1,462,275.83; that Loomis deposited to that account himself $121.25, making $1,462.397.08; that they have paid out on the checks of Loomis $1,342,308.32, leaving a balance of $120,188.64; that this has been reduced $48,600, leaving outstanding indebtedness $1,418.800; that the report be received and made a part of the record." The report was received.

It may be here stated that the $120,188.64 balance still remaining in the hand of Messrs. Chestnut & Dubois at the time of their report, was afterwards absorbed in the payment of interest and other orders of the building commissioners. This does not appear of record, but there is filed in the office of the county clerk checks and orders paid after the report was made by Chestnut & Dubois, aggregating that amount, and paid by them.

At the July term of the county court, 1870, it was ordered "that so much of the proceedings of the court had heretofore in relation to the acceptance of the report of Chestnut & Dubois, and making such report a part of the record, the same is hereby rescinded." There appeared duplicate numbers ot bonds, and therefore it was ordered "That no bonds of Macoupin county or coupons there attached be paid until they were presented to this court for approval and registry ; that the order be published in the county papers and in two papers in New York, and a copy be furnished Chestnut & Dubois, and Howe & Macy, New York." (Of these duplicate bonds it is claimed that they were issued fraudulently. Of this we can have no positive certainty).

This concludes the information from the records that is pertinent to this branch of the subject. We introduce the excerpts from the proceedings to show and give the general reader-some knowledge that perhaps had not heretofore been made public, although the records are the property of the common public. There has been expended in interest bearing orders and bonds for buildings, grounds, iron fence, jail, labor, interest paid, commissions paid architect and commissioners, costs of issuing bonds and securing favorable legislation, the sum of $1,342,308.32, judging from the report of the financial agent made to the county court February 12th, 1870. From the same report it appears there were issued in interest bearing orders and bonds, representing on their face an aggregate value of $1,466,900, from which was realized the sum of $1,462,275.83. The final report of T. L. Loomis, county agent to the new county court, was made February 7th, 1870. In this report he shows previous reports made to the county court, and items. of expenditures allowed, aggregating the following amounts:

The report was not approved. The court-house was completed in 1870, with the exception of those parts which still remain unfinished. The commissioners resigned February 11th, 1870, after recommending an iron stairway in the dome, to cost $1,200, which would complete the building.

During the Huggin's court, they employed an architect (Chas. H. Pond, of St. Louis), to make measurements of the building, and estimate the cost, as per the terms of the written contracts on file, for the respective parts of the work. He made 4 new plan of the building, and from it figured his estimates, making the amounts aggregate as follows: $643,867, which amount Pond stated under oath should have been the cost of the building, as estimated by the contracts on file. This, however, does not include building ~ commissioners' fees, architect's fees, or per cent. on sale of bonds, etc., which were several thousand dollars more. We subjoin Pond's estimates, as follows:

J. P. Steadman & Co.,; contract for' Court-roOm.........0-<ccscscccocssscecsoccescsses $65,935.00 Howard & Co., contract for door, window frame and doors........cseseceeeeeeees 27,000.00 Howard & Co., contract for extras - window frame and sash........sececeseseeeee 3,465.00 Howard & Co:,. contract: for extra: doors...<..cscscscssecessestacncesesterenenareecereete 3,245.00 Philip Onings, contract for grading yard)... .ccccs-secn«sescdessoseectonscrencasaanents 900.00 Gehlman & Tainter, seats for Court-roOM...........ccsereccccsscescosceecessecsossusnse 3,300.00 J.P: Steadman: roofand Come: ci vcsisccedecascavscscceesseesnnceeesetes caeestaanmen ier 125,115.00 Dieckman & Messenger, remainder of stone WOrk...........scsssscsosceeceeceeeseee 125,000.00 Measures and calculations according to contract on following work:

Wuereas, There is doubt in the minds of the people of the county, in respect to the legal liability of the people of the county to pay a large portion of the nominal amount of the new Court-house debt; and

Wuereas, A large amount of the taxes levied by the late County Court, for the purpose of paying said debt,.are believed by us to be levied without authority of law; and

Now, for the purpose of settling the above questions, and of affording the people such relief as the law will afford, we recommend that the taxpayers who desire so to do, decline and refuse to pay so much of the taxes now being demanded of' them as is known and called "Special Tax," "Court- House Tax" and "Bond Tax, until the Court shall decide that the levy ot said taxes is legal and binding; and that in order to test that question, when the Sheriff applies to the County Court for a judgment against the lands for, such taxes, we will appear in behalf of all such tax-payers as shall desire us so to do, who for that purpose will furnish their names, free of charge, to resist the recovery of such judgment, and therein and thereby test the validity of such tax. The only expense attending this proceeding to the tax-payers, would be blanks, and the Democrat office proposes to furnish these free of charge.

C. A. Walker

At the March term of the County Court, 1870, in accordance with the above proposition, a motion was made by John I. Rinaker and C. A. Walker, for themselves and other tax-payers, that the Court declare illegal, and direct the Sheriff and collector not to collect the tax mentioned and described on the tax-book as "Special Tax," "Court-house Tax" and "Bond Tax." Motion sustained as to the so-called "Court -house Tax," and the Sheriff and collector was ordered not to collect the said tax. The motion as to "Special Tax" and " Bond Tax" was:overruled. The clerk was ordered to prepare a complete copy of the above motion and serve upon the Sheriff and collector. Suits were brought, judgments obtained against the county, a mandamus issued to compel the levy and collection of taxes, supervisors fined for contempt of court, but no positive permanent action was taken upon the question until 1877, when the supervisors made a proposition for funding the Court-house indebtedness, and on the 5th of January, 1878, it was submitted to the legal voters of the county for their adoption or rejection. It was adopted by a majority vote. The substance of the proposition was: "To fund, take up, and cancel all of the said outstanding bonds, notes, orders, coupons and judgments, at the rate of seventy-five cents to the dollar of the principal of said outstanding bonds, notes and orders, and no more of the original indebtedness, and the criterion was to be the registry of the bonds kept by the financial agents of the county, and to issue in lieu thereof to holders of the aforesaid bonds, orders and coupons, &ec., bonds issued by the county of Macoupin, which when issued shall run twenty years from their date, and bear interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum, payable annually. And the aggregate amount of bonds authorized to be issued shall not exceed the sum of one million thirty-six thousand dollars, ($1,036,000). All bonds to be issued and registered in conformity to the provisions of an act entitled "An act to amend an act, entitled an act relating to county and city debts, and to provide for the payment of the same by taxation, &c."

1st. Bonds issued under Act of the Legislature of February, 1867. Of this class the amount issued was $94,000, of which $49,500 was sealed and the balance not. (The act authorized them to issue only $50,000).

4th. Bonds under the Act of the Legislature appeared March 9th, 1869. Of this class there were issued $950,500. Of the first class $49,000 were paid by the county as fast as they became due, leaving $45,000 out-standing to be funded.

An attempt was made by the financial agents of the county to register these several classes of paper, but not until all, or almost all, had been sold; there are perhaps $10,000 worth of bonds of the issue of 1867 that from the want of proper dates, do not agree with the register in the name of the payee.

The second class, or ten per cent. orders, agree with the register except perhaps four or five bonds or orders, in which there is a discrepancy in name of page. This class are all funded except five or six bonds. Of the third class (Macoupin county interest bearing orders) none agree with the register as to date of maturity. None of this class are funded except one or two bonds. They are all $1,000 bonds. Of the fourth class or bonds of 1869, $112,000 do not agree with the register, as to date of maturity, $70,000 maturing October 1881, and 42,000 maturing October 1882, the register showing them to mature in April of the above named years. The balance agree with the register. There were however twenty thousand dollars of bonds issued and taken by Chestnut and Dubois, not included in the amount given below. The same were paid before the "Huggins" court, as it was called, came into power.

Recapitulation Conclusion

The court-house as it now stands is a beautiful structure. It is built of brick, magnesian limestone and iron of choice and elegant design. It is thoroughly fire-proof throughout.

For the purpose of giving the reader a better and more correct idea of the structure we give a brief statement of its dimensions and a description of the material that entered into its construction.

The building is a rectangle, 181 feet in extreme length by eighty feet in extreme breadth, crossed at an equal distance from the north and south, ends by a transverse rectangle of smaller dimensions, the plan resembling an elongated Swiss cross, or a cross of St. George, cf double width. It is built after the Corinthian order of architecture, and this classical model is strictly adhered to throughout the entire building. It is divided into three floors: basement, twelve feet in height, main floor, sixteen feet in height, and upper floor, occupied mostly by the court-room, thirty-two feet in height. The height of the building from the top of the cornice to the ground, is sixty-nine and a half feet. Four iron columns resting on the foundations and running up within the walls, to the plumb of the roof, support its circular iron band, from which spring ribs of the dome. From the apex of the dome to the foundation it is one hundred and eighty-six feet, giving the dome an altitude of almost one hundred feet. Each story of the building is anchored not only to its own walls but the walls of the other stories.

The main entrance is on the north, and the portal is reached by twenty-two stone steps, flanked on each side by a low wall of masonry, capped with cut stone, leading up to the portico. The roof of the portico is supported by four Corinthian columns forty feet in height, four feet in diameter at the base, and three and one-half feet at the capital. These columns are composed of seven whole blocks of dressed stone, and half of another. The ceiling of the portico is all of stone, forty-seven by sixteen feet, laid off in three panels.