The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-24
Court House, Jail and Sheriff S HOUSE,

f- s.rf Il II
Court House, Jail and sherifs Houssssii
AS these fine buildings have but just been
completed, it will not, be improper to place
them among the improvements Of the year, at
least so far as to give strangers an idea of their
composition. We have in previous articles
entered more into details of their description
| than we shall do now, as our only object is to
make a passing note of these improvements
These buildings are superior to any county
Fedifices of the kind probably, in Indiana
They have been built with an eye to beauty,
durability and comfort The Court House
stands out boldly on one of the, most public
blocks in the city, and at once arrests the eye
of the stranger from its beauty and dimen-
sions The Sheriff IS house is along side, and
looks like the dwelling of some well to do
citizen, while the Jail, under the same roof in
a manner, is concealed from public view, as a
public prison should be when in the heart of a
city. These buildings ornament the part OF
city in which they are located. r
The Court House is Sc feet front by 60 feet
deep, with front and side entrances At the
/
front entrance on Main street, are four mas
I've columns of the Dorc order, with wide
fight of stone steps, leading to a hall which
connects with the main or long hail. which
has entrances at the north and south sides of
the building. Along this hall are arranged the
county offices--Clerk's, Auditors, Sheriff s.
i Recorders and Treasurer's. These are on the
first floor, and are large, airy and well lighted
rooms, and each office except the SherifF's, has
a capacious and fire proof vault for the preser-
i yation Of records, &c. The Clerks Office is
Ia by 80 feet. Along one side of it is a large
lglass casing in which are filed away county
documents properly labeled, so that they may
noticed without removing, and kept in perfect
order. The Auditors Office is % by 25 feet
ll-and the other offices are in proportion
They are convenient to the public, and conve.
| nient to those who occupy them. Two broad
flights of stairs lead to the second story, where
, the court room is located. This room is 40 by
] 20 feet, and Fl feet high. There is a declining
a floor from the door to the rear Of the room
where the Judges Bench and Bar are placed
The room IS well seated, and very comfortable
t Connected with it are Grand Jury, Petit III
a ~, and Lady Witness rooms, Of the same
height as the court room, and of good dimen
} sions. The house is brick, succeed on tbs
out side, and surmounted by dome of over 81
feet in diameter, and proportionate in height
The court house is surrounded by very hand
L some iron fence which extends to the Sheriff
n house and Jail, embracing them both - -
: The Jail is model of sece;rity and strength
S 1t is 20 by SO feet, with cells below and ;
above, entirely disconnected. from each other
t The upper cells are reached by two flights o
G iron steps leading each to an iron balcony run
e ming the length of the Jail, and both balconie
s entirely disconnected. Each cell is 8 by /
r feet, with massive or very strong door o
,, atticed iron secured by the latest patent pris
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