The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1883-11-22
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.

The New court House WHICH Is
nearing completion will long stand as
fitting memorial Of the public spirit
III which it was conceived, land the in
tegrity of purpose and proper econo.
my With which it's construction has
been pursued. After a pains-taking
deliheration the board of County
Commissioners decided to accept the
plan submitted by e. p. Bassford
Esq, of St. Paul, u gentleman whose
standing rs an architect in the North
west is unquestioned by his profess
sional brethren, aud the contract
which Ala. Whittamore Esq, late
IF Montevideo, was willing to make
with the county for the proper carry
ing out Of this plan according t. the
letter and the spirit of the specitica-
tions. That he has succeeded, in a
manner upon which the taxpayers of
the county are to be congratulated,
Emo one who will take the trouble to
examine for himself, will deny.
Standing rs it does on the COM
manding eminence of the town, the
imposing structure has already be.
come an important feature OF the
landscape, and from its breezy tower
the eye wanders rapturously over a
country alive with evidences Of it's
prosperity.
The structure is of brick, Of good
0uallty-none the less acceptable to
our local pride. f.om having been
manufactured within hearing almost
of the site--resting on a foundation
wall of an average thickness of more
than four feet.
Besides the wall for support there
are nine brick piers thirteen inches by
seventeen, each, with corbel or hori-
zontal projecting timber which as
siss in supporting the auxiliary stills,
which, together with the pler-llke
vaults, aid materially in the safe and
UNIFORM distribution ef pressure.
The main building is sixty feet by
sixty. to which the building to be
used for a Jail and sheriff's quarters
is attached in the rear, covering
forty feet square of ground. Upon
entering the main doorway to the
left we find the stairway leading to
the courtroom above, then, in order
on the same side of the building, the
Off ces to be occupied by the Auditor
Clerk of Court and Sheriff respective
ly. On the right, in order, are the
offices Of the Treasurer, Register OF
Deeds and Judge of Probate. All are
commodious, we'll lighted, ventilated
and furni he'd with strong vaults fol
the safe keeping Of the county rec
ords.
The annex is furnished with two
chrome steel cells of the Pau1y 4 Sor
pattern, with corridor, a cell for the
confinement of those deranged, be
sides ample accommodations for the
Sheriff AMI his family. A large els
tern in The rear, to which the water
is conducted from the roof in -four
inch galyanze pipe, which, when il
reaches The ground is laid In cement
will afford copious water supply.
Upon ascending to the courtroom
we find it to be a large and well-lght
ed room, fifty feet by sixty, with al
inclined floor over one half its length
and at the extremity Of the othel
half rises graceful arch which de
fines tie precinct where the blint
goddess will abide. Retiring room:
for the judges, lawyers and jury, be
sides Il convenient mode of egresS IL
case Of necessity complete the ar
ranccmcnts of this floor of the mail
building.
The roof which should cover ;
building of such proportions rs thi
must needs be well supported, AM
for this purpose several trusses. o
the straining-beam variety, each o
sixty feet span, are used, upon which
two similar trusses, but of smalle
dimensions, rest, and upon which tn
tower is sustained, nearly one hun
dred feet ubove the foundations. Th
: chords. or tie-beams of the mai
: trusses are twelve inches square
with braces in proportion and tie
rods of one and one quarter inch lro
thoroughly held by nuts and cast iro
washers. The posts Of the tower ar
thoroughly locked by bolts to the tw
! small trasses referred to above; thes
1 by the same means, to the mai
trusses on which they are supported
and the tie-beams of the latter to tn
wall, forming rigid framework owe
/ which the integument-as we shal
call it-of the roof is drawn.
/. In every particular, from cellar
:. peak Of tower, there is no evidence
i sighting of any portion Of this worl
and the citizens of Stevens count
NAV feel assured that when the CO.
!, tractor hands over to them the Cou
House it Will be in every particul;
in keeping with the specifications I
his contract, For this, honor is dt
the officers and commissioners of I'll
county who have been very zeaio'
in their forts, and conscientious
i their direction of expenditures.
d Cheap transportation.
G The plea Of Capt. Blakely, of Sail