Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-28
LOCAL ITEMS.


conception eau be mad of its magnitude and
beauty, and few are the regrets at this time
tina, what appeared to be great calamity has
turned out blessing in disguise. Although We
have frequently had occasion to notice with
pride the work Is 1t progressed, we are sure
fuller and more detailed description will not be
embarrassing to our readers.
After the old Market House Building was
destroyed, in which was located not only the
kct recommendations but all the city offices,
dr>poudeocy seemed TO Seize upon the COM
muDity, especially the TAX paying portion, and
much anxiety was expressed as TO how Council
would proceed in replacing the property de-
s,royeu, they having in hand but $4,000, in
insurance on Old building Various plans for
raising the Necessary means were suggested,
among them, Que looking to the sale OF certain
bonds OF the 0. l. A. f. f. held by the city.
The feasibility OF the latter proposition was the
subject OF much consideration, when it was
finally determined, after the legal difficulties
were removed, to authorize the Commissioners
of the Sinking Fund, Hugh Latham, Mayor;
III. l. Simpson, President Board of Aldermen;
Geo. r. Suiuu, President Common Council;
Il. S. Ashhy, Auditor, and W. D.Corse, Treas
urer, to dispose OF i portion OF SAID bonds and
invest the proceeds therefrom iu the erection
OF building on the site of the old one, in ac
Council The structure Is DOW nearly COM
pcted and stands monument to the wisdom
If those who devised the ways and means aud
to the energy OF those who executed IT,
The building eucioses the ground covered hy
the Market square, on the three sides formed
by Royal, Cameron aud Fairfax Streets leav
lug the fourth side fronting on Sharp Shin
alley uuoccupcd. This will be enclosed with
an open fence The fronts on Royal and Fair
! tax streets are each las feet long, and the
Cameron street front 1881 feet long. The
Royal street wing is 800 feet deep, and the
Cameron aud Fairfax street wings ~ feet
cach The buildings are mainly two stories 10
height, but the munotony OF these fronts are
relieved by projecting corner buildings, the ln-
terror arrangements of which have been SO de-
signed as 20 require Increased height tor
second story, uauely: Council chamber Alder
men, chamber, Court House aud hall Of the
Sun Engiuc House; aud this increased height
furnished the ground work Tor decorating the
fronts by their roofs predomlnating over those
Of the intermediate wings, where smalier offices
are mainly located. Besides, the centre OF
ROYAL street front is made more Impressive by
Incorporating the time houored steeplc. This
structure is a gift to the city from Que OF her
most respected and liberal ctizens. 1t is being
erected under the supervision OF W u. h. Lam.
bert, esq, aud by Is. f. Price, architect and
builder of this city, aud when completed, will
lie most impressive and beautiful structure,
rejecting great credit upon all parties concerned
10 Its erection.
The building Of Washington Lodge, Of 6O
feet IN length, serves to make the ceutre OF
Cameron street front more prominent. Inc
second story of the lodge matches 10 height
With that Of corner buildings. But besides,
it has third story with grouped circular VIII,
i ri
hauked by smaller mansard roofs. The "a
story Of this building will be occupied by Alex
audIia Washington Lodge, No. -, OF MaSons,
and the Sd story by Mount Vernon Royal
Arch CHAPTER and Old Dominion Coulman-
/ derry, OF Knights Templar, OF this city. A
chase and correct plaster architecture mas
! been introduced, the door and window open
Tags of the LIST story being segment,shaped,
aud those of the ID story seml-clrcular. lhe
J buildings are crowned with modern cornlces OF
gaivauized iron and slate roofs The chimney
tops are 50 arranged as to form organic contln-
uations of the pilasleIs with cast iron heads
The wall anchors are SO designed as to combine
beauty and strength. The building is con-
structed of hard burnt bricks, the three
fronts with stock bricks having pressed brick
Joints. The architecture has therefore been so
modelled as to bring the characteristics OF thlS
material out to best advantage. The south
end of the Fairfax street wing Is to
ne occupied by the Sun Fire Company,
whose house, it will be remembered, Was
situated on the coner Of Fairfax and Came
ron streets, and torn down to give room Tor
the New Market building. Adjoining the en-
CINE house on the Fairfax street wing Is the
City Police Headquarters and Station mousse
the lower floor OF which Will be divided INTO
n policr muster-room Mushroom ana cells Ior
the prisoners. fitted up with all the modern
improvements &c The second story contains
rooms for dodgers Captains office. room tor
,ulice, and Mayors Office. for the trial OF prl-
souers coutiucd III the station house; so, mere
Il after. persons attending market are not to be
b ANNOYED as formerly, by dragging watch house
II inmates to and trom the Mayors office Ad-
+ Joining the station house, in second story or
L Fairfax street wing, We have num0er OF
+ offices which will be rented most proDaOly u
3 lawyers, then the main entrance 10 court Iooll
+ through wide flight OF steps, to the slue %
which there is the room Tor the cerk ol lle
X court. and AT corner of Fairfax and COmeron
I streets the room for the archives OF the court,
50 arranged that it can be fitted up with gar
cries for book cases. This room Is made nre-
proof. having an non floor aud ceiling ana lroh
L shutters 10 windows, and communicating Win
Z he clerks office through an iron door, MS
( brings us over to Cameron street wing, where
h aijoning the clerks Office and archives to tins
II west, we find ourselves in the most spacious
\ court room, in the State, to be fitted up IN the
most improved style. This court ROOM Is also
4 approached from Comeron street py pllVate
stairs at its west end, next to the Masonic 6ulla
i ing--the convenience Of this stairway VIII DC De
uuch appreciated by lawyers in attendance on
tic court-at the head oil the stairs there IS !; q
private room for the judge, and II, 10 the nan ia
story, jury and witness rooms. west 0. .ne
/ Na>oulc Lodge, on Comeron street Mlos' LILLY
/ is course of stairs to corporation ot1ces winch
/ are in double rows fronting on Cameron street
!, ard the court separated by a spacious hall.
\ These offices will be rented, and ought to pay
| a handsome revenue The southern e9 T OF
| Royal street wing is to be occupied as Coun D.
/ eli Cha,nhnr ,pd tho northern end, at corner