Daily Republican., 1879-06-10
THE NEW COURT HO Use.

THE NEW COURT HOUSE
The Plan Proposed BY Architect L.
L. Rico Accepted, and Mr.. Rice
Becomes the Supsrintend dent Of
the Erection OF the Building.
It 10 with real pleasure that We an.
nounce that the specifications and plans
for the erection of the new court house
in Wilmington have been accepted by
the building committee of the Levy
Court and Mr.. Rice has been officially
notified of such acceptan ce. There
were six plans proposed by as many
different architects, five of them are
amongst the best in Philadelphia, but
from them Mr.. Rice's plan has been ac-
cepted as the best.
The following are the architects who
presented plans and specifications for
the building: Theodore Chandler, Jas.
p. Simms. Frank Fairness, Williamson
& Jones and Mr.. Pierson of Philadel-
phia, and Il. L. Rice Jr., Of this city.
The citizens of Wilmington will no
doubt be gralified to know that super
intendence of the work will be in the
hands of live active Wilmingtonian.
The Building Committee of the Levy
Court will meet in Mr.. Ricc's Office to-
day to confer with him in regard to the
futherance Of the work, which is to be
pushed on Immediately. The following
is Mr.. Rice's descriptive letter to the
Building Committee which will
be read with interest by our citizens:
The design is comprised in 6 draw
ings of one eighth inch scale, viz
No. l. Foundation, or basement
plan.
No. 2. lst, or ground floor plan.
No. 3. I'd, or court floor plan.
No. 4. Front, or Market street ele-
vation.
No. 5. Side Ito either Tenth or Elev-
enth street) elevation.
No. s. Perspective view from the
north west.
No. 7. Alternate front elevation in
Gothic, applicable to floor plans, in
Nos. !, 2 and 3.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION NO. l.
BASEMENT PLAN.
This story, propose at feet in
clear hight, and to be constructed of
stone Of large size to contain prison of
ten cells. boiler room, fuel and engi-
neer's room, and four storage cellars.
The cells in the prison are arranged on
the south side of the building, upon a
large and fully lighted and ventilated
corridor, and backing against the solid
base to fire proof vaults (aboveD the
whole system of cells being under the
eye of a single keeper or warden at the
same time. They are placed far enough
from the street to allow OF air-light, and
ventilation, and at the same time pre-
vent any outside communication with
tn prisoners therein by any outside
party.
Each cell is supplied with water ar
rangements and water closets also
water closets at end of corridor for use
of tailor. The stairs lead directly to
the court room, and are strictly pri.
vate from the prison to the court floor.
The driveway for teams to enter with
fuel and other materials, is of much
Importance in saving labor and cost to
the county. The boiler room is finely
situated for steam heating, as the flow
is about equal to all parts of the build
| sta !,
easy returnway.
The masonary is particularly strong,
and fully adapted to carrying the
weight of superstructure, etc. The
arches are thrown in as additional bra
ces to walls.
PLAN NO, , FRS T FLOOR PLAN.
This floor is Is feet clear height, and
is feet above the paving, or ground
line at building, the approach being by
broad, easy, stone steps into the respec-
tive vestibules, these again. opening
into the various corridors. The offices,
situated at convenient and regular
positions, are most fully lighted and
ventilated. Each Office is provided with
a large fir proof vault (besides being
itself e-proof) and each contains
washstands. The water closets and
toilet rooms are at either end of the
north and south corridor, and open
from the vestibules. They are outside
of the corridors proper, and are less
likely to he discovered by their odor
should anything go wrong with them
than if they were in the corridors. Each
is provided Gone for ladies and one for
gentlemen) with water closets, urinals,
and washstands.
From three of the corridors the main
stairs ascend to the court floor. These
stairways are to be broken flights, and
artistically finished in hard wood or
iron, so much so az to make feature
of the building. They are of easy and
rapid tread. The ceilings of offices and
corridors to be appropriately and hand
somely panelled and adorned with
cast cornices of rich design. A VAIN
scot of hard wood of handsome design
to band the entire floor. The floors to
by laid in tile with handsome and con-
sistent borders. The floor connects
with the basement by large stairways.
PLAN NO. 3, COURT FLOOR PLAN.
This story is Is feet in clear height,
with court room % feet high, and is
approached by the three before men,
toned stairways, all meeting upon a
large and commodieus landing, giving
the greatest possible chance for ingress
and egress to the court room, as also to
other public rooms on this floor. The
court room is situated in the northern
hall of the building, with judicial bench
in the east epd OF room. 1t has fine
and large audience room, with raised
seats, capable Of seating 49s persons