New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-21
.s,~'~r" NEW ORLEANS THURSDAY MAY q 1874
The New Court Building.

Judge Atocha opened court yesterday
morning in the new court room which has
been especially prepared for the Superior
Criminal Court. Although the work has not
been completed, none of the offices having
been finished, enough has been done to
show the excellent administration of Mr..
Fitzenreiter.
The great hall which was SO lately echo
ing the sounds of a cheap concert hall,
and whose dingy and dilapidated walls,
broken windows. uncarpeted and uneven
floor, beer stained tables and rickety furni-
ture betrayed such evident signs of decay,
has been transformed by his touch. The
broken plastering and the defective stucco
work have been repaired and the walls are
beautiful in their clear pearl gray tint.
The gallery railing is finished in black
walnut, and the doors and openings in
grained oak. The floor has been relaid, and
inside the bar is covered with Brussels Ear
pet, the rest of the room being laid with
mating. The judges, clerks and sheritfs'
desks face Royal street. and are of black
walnut, as are all the ratings. The canopy
over the Judge is of black walnut, gilded
with crimson hangings. The other furni
ture of black walnut and oak is equally
appropriate. On the Royal street side are
the seats for spectators and witness, divided
into two portions by the entrance, and will
accommodate two hundred and fifty per-
sons.
Looking from the gallery which runs
around the whole room, which is forty feet
six inches high, the effect of the taste which
has governed the decorating and furnishing,
one is struck by the harmony of colors
exhibited. Standing there, at first the room
appears too large for a courtroom and too
high, but the low voices of the Attorney
General and counsel and tones of the Judge
reach the ear distinctly and without an
echo, which shows that the builders we'll
knew the laws of acoustics. The trans
formation from the concert hall to the
courtroom is complete.
On the right of the Judge will be his pri-
vate office, and on the same side that, of the
clerk. On his left, in place of the old bank
vaults. which have been dug out with great
labor, will be the sheriff's ante-room, in
| which will be placed the cage out of sight
| of the court, his private Office and that Of
| the jury commissioners, and the private
| offices of the Attorney General and dis
trict attorney. Around the gallery are
rooms which will bs used as jury rooms
one large one to be fitted up with new iror
! beds and bed furniture, etc. The grand
Jury room will be fitted up like that of New
York city, with horss shoe table for con
| venience in examining witnesses. Thes,
offices will be ready in about ten days, ant
then the outside of the building will be re
| paired, painted rich brown, and tie worl
| will be done.
All this work has been done with grea
speed, Mr.. Fitzenreiter only having been a
work since Thursday, the seventh instant
but the whole of it is of the very best class
The dullness of the times, there bein g yer,
little building, repairing or painting goin:
on, has enabled him to secure the bes
workmen. And yet the expense has beel
no more than has been paid for inferio
work. When it is finished the building viii
be as good as new. 1t was built fifty year
ago, and in those days the builders buildet
we'll. Its first cost to the city was onl,
81, 800, and when this work is done
would be worth 500, 900 if the times wer
good, the only additional cost having bee
for labor and material
Taken altogether, it is a monument t
the wisdom Of the city in making the pul
chase and devoting it to it's future use, an
the skill, taste and economy of Administrs
tor Fitzenreiter in placing it in its presen
condition.