The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-22

tain convenences here, which are insufficient and
otherwise Objectionable; but as attention has re-
Gently been called to this subject in proper quar-
ter, 1.-THE NJ ayor in the Board of Healthy it Is pre-
sumed some measures will be taken to remedy The
defect.
TIE FIRST FLOOR
contains the room of the board Of Assessors, the
Mayors office, to which is attached private one;
the rooms of the Board of Education, the Street
Commissioner, City Clerk, Receiver Of Taxes and
Assessments, the Comptroller, the County Trea-
surer, the County Clerk, the Surrogate's office,
and
THE CITY COURT OF BROOKLYN.
AS the constitution and powers Of this court seem
to be but imperfectly understood by the general
public, summary of them may be acceptable,
II is q court Of mixed civil and criminal jurisdc-
ton, and by statute passed since its original nsti
tuton the terms devoted alternately to the trials
of the two classes of actions AS civil tribunal it is
the same footing the Superior Court of the city
actions the of which arises within the city of
Brooklyn, or where the defendant resides or can be
served with process within those limits. The
criminal jurisdiction is similar to that of the New
York Court of General Sessions, extending all
crimes, short Of those punishable by imprisonment
for ife and committed within the city, on the in
dictment being either originally found there, or
transmitted from the Court Of Oyer and Terminer,
or the Court OF Sessions of Kings county. And as
the court has the power of dispensing with the at
tendance of grand jury, the latter practice is
usually adopted, with view to save expense.
This court is presided over by I'll the Hon; =. John
years, and in civil cases exercises his judicial func
tons alone, but with whom in criminal cases, two
Aldermen Of the first class are associated, or the
court may be formed Qor the latter purpose) by
the Mayor and two Aldermen
The Judge has also very considerable powers be-
yond those enumerated. He may grant new trials;
and, sitting at chambers, has concurrent authority
with the Judges of the Supreme Court, within the
county of KINGS. and generally all the
which II single Judge, or all the Judges of the
Courts of Common Pleas had, in statutory cases,
under the former system
THE SECOND FLOOR
is reached by double set Of iron steps from the
floor below, one on each side of the main entrance,
and here the chambers of the County Judge,
the Offices of the District Attorney and Coroner, the
Supreme Court cham bers, the Supreme Court
room, which is a remarkably fine one, fifty four
feet square, and in which the Circuit Court and
Oyer and Termner hold their sittings, does also
the Kings County Court of Sessions. In the
centre of this floor is the "Governor's Room" a
spacious and handsome apartment, 65 feet by 40
feet, and decorated by portraits of all the past
Mayors of the city of Brooklyn from the date of
the charter in 1884, when George Hall, Esq. being
president of the village, became qndeg that statute
the first Mayor. Of. the city. full length one of
General Washington occupies the centre of the
west wall, over slightly raised platform or aas,
which is surrounded by balustrade, within which
the authorities nble to receive populations or
visters, and forth 1t is to this purpose that the
Governors room is now generally devoted, though
sometimes court assemblies here; it is, therefore,
generally associated with ideas of hospitality and
harmony, as the contiguous is with those of
discord, being the chamber in which the Board of
Common Council hold their he bdomadal discussions,
have done also that of Supervisors of the county
Of Kings since the charter came into operation.
The dimensions of this room are the same as
those of the Supreme Court no om-that is 81 feet
square; and its general arrangement being the
same, they form, as it were, two wings, the Gov
errors room being the centre of the rear side of the
lobby. On the opposite or front side, the rooms of
the Board Of Health. the Health Officers and the
Corporation Counsel, complete the contents Of this
floor.
THE THIRD FLOOR
was originally intended as a large drill room, and
was left entirely open for that purpose presenting
area of l56 feet by 40 feet; but that drill
room has been provided ut the city armory, in
Henry street, that purpose has been abandoned,
and partitions run up, dividing it into different
apartments, four Of which occupied by Mr..
Howard (the keeper Of the Hall) and his family,
as their residence, and one as store room. The
others are principally storerooms for city purposes
one for fuel for the Of the county coart, &C.,
that of the city being in vaul. below. There is
also room here, fitted up for the Grand Jury, but
they never use it, as, finding the Supreme Court
chamber more convenient, they always meet there.
Another is devoted to the use of petit jurors aud
witnesses, but this also is very little used.
Ascending wooden stair within the cupola,
next approach the befry, in which is very fine
ian yed to serve to sound the hour, we'll to
give the fire alarm. For this purpose hammer,
GS lbs weight, is fixed as to strike the bell on
the inside, producing a very loud, sonoreus tone,
and worked by sort of lever in the "look-o OUT
above; while the hammer in connection with the
clock is much smaller, and strikes the bell on the
outside, thereby causing much lighter and totally
dferen; sound. Above the bell is the clock, the
works of which are composed entirely of brass. 1t
was manufactured by Mr. Rogers, of Newly ork,
at a cost OF 8 100.
The top of the cupola, or the highest point that
can be reachednternay is the bell ringer sstaton,
from which most splendid view Of the surrounding
country can be obtained. there being windows
on each of the four sides; and, by means Of
glass, the most minute inspection made
Of almost any part Of the city. The neighbour
hood Of the ferries, by Of fall there is the
most indstinc, and 1T is by the intervention OF the
masts from the shipping alone that the two sides Of
the East river can be distinguished, Hence, an
alarm is frequently sounded for Brooklyn district,
when the fire is, in fact, in New York.
On the centre pinnacle of the portico is liberty
pole, from which, on gala days, is displayed the
federal banner, or stars and stripes, and from
smaller flag stats, on the western and e,stern ones,
the of the city and State respectively utter Ia
the breeze.
In 1896, the first projected City Hall was COM
menced on the present sito-that was designed TO
have been building of a triangular form, and
about half us large again the one just attempted
to be Described; and would very nearly have CO.
vered the whole park.
The absurdity appears to have become apparent,
for after it raised above the basement, and The
first floor commenced, it WAS abandoned, and the
by Mr.. Gamaliel King, architect, under whose
auspices it was completed, as before stated, in
Slaughter Of the Innocents.
July IT, ISL.