Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-24
The City Hall Extension.

ihAH VI tdS ihcfOSSD IMPROVEMENT.
congress AZ lis recent session made ah ap-
Preparation Ct sli7, GOO TO extend the govern
neLt building III this city known as the city
Hall" ara tie plans Tor The improvement have
been prepared By the architect OF the Capitol,
NJ. E1'E aId Clark, aid approved by the Sacre-
taIy ~; Tie Interior.
HISTORY OF TIE BUILDING.
TIE building was erected about lS2? tn a.,
cCTmodaie the courts OF the District of On
iUIn pia. (Which prior To that perird had mem
he'd Id the old Capitol tuii dtng). and also TO
Accommodate the officers OF the cornorare oay-
eminent OF the city OF Washington Fer a
numter OF years 1t not only accommodated the
courts ana he mayor and other city officers
b9t me officials OF the Patent Office. the land
ounce. DC, besides. A few OF the rooms were
alSo rented Tor lawyers Offices and to roiittary
companies. The old Columbian Artillery had
rs a!inory In the rooms In the northwest part
the city the lawyers were crowded oYt.
ana hna1y, about the tine the change 10
the form Of the District government
was Mace IL mad become apparent That as com-
IhUGiouS as ire Old Building bad been conSid-
efeG In fofuer years, il was not then even large
el ough 10 accommodate the courts. This beng
tIe case Chief Justice Cartier ard the other
G.0geS haoe Efforts foT the enlargement or
the completion Of tie hall-the plans OF the
original archttect, Mr.. George Hadley, never
hating been fully carried out. The original
7 Ian included an addition Ia the rear or the
p,c ent hGilGIr s. ana dome somewhat similar
10 TIE GA Capitol dome.
THE ri.aNs TOE FyTFNsIOS
I csc plans have. however, been moiEfiel by
AfChi.cct Clark, There Will be q large hail 40
by so fe't. CirTctly behind the coIonnade be
tween the present Criminal and Circuit Court
looms, ala halls IS by a. feer At the end OF the
east AID vest wings. The plans for the addi-
t'ch CchteiHpiaie simply extending the Dutld-
lIG 10 lie forth, the height and general char
lrf OK the architecture conforming with the
hFleht and sly le ot the present structure. Tue
ekteI sion vii be OF the same length as the
present buil5irg-247 fest fncheS-snd It's
width SO feet inches making the entire depth
OF the recot structed building north aud south
20 feet. The Improvement VIII add three
audience chambers on the main floor. be sides
seven large rooms for flies and the Officers
OF the court. There viii be tHelve rooms
10 the baSeme Mt, and the same number of
rooms in the upper story OF the new par(.
all avaiaCiG and adapted for business Dur.
poses. The rooms IN the basement and the
maln foor viii be Of fre-proot constru cLIOn.
owing 10 the limitations or the SUN to be ex-
pended the exterior ABOVE the basement will
Dc Dllit OF Click covered With stUcco ike the
o!G paIt. The basement Will be Constructor
Oh compact sandstone or granite. TIE nDrfh
'front.', locking cut upon Judiciary SQUARE VIII
De comparatively plain, but TO carry out the
general architectural plan OF the old bu!idln,
provision mas been mace for a portlco In the
center, v ith six Ionic columns AMI pedimenC
similar TO the p0rtico5 at the south front.
lie E9 colGmns and pedlment. with the corners.
VIII be OF stone The corridors now ex-
De continued through the extension. each
turning al right angle and carried east AMI
vest I'LL they meet. so that one corridor will
extend through the whole building. The CORR
ger ID Ire ntW part will open into courr.
yard This court Will be fourteen feet wide,
aud the windows OF the present Circuit and
Criminal Court looms viii look out upon r..
By means OF This court light and ventilation
VIII De secured. AS stated above Two stories
or this extension viii be practically fire-pro0f.
oltns constructed OF brick walls. the hoor's and
csflngs being composed Of iron beams and
Srick arches. The necessity OF n nre-nro1r
depository for the valuable records stored
away in tie City Hall has often been Urged.
and IL IS Thought that the want will De Ta,,
supple by the extension