River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-11-22
From the Peoples Champion.
The New County Offices.


presents pleasing and satisfactory con-
trast when compared with the old stone
building whose place it supplies Though
many readily admitted the absolute need
of better facilities for the transaction OF
of county business and greater security
for the public records, we believe that
Hon. III. B. Warner was the first to give
this sentiment effectual expression by
moving for the initiatory steps toward the
improvement. Warmly seconded in his
efforts by his fellow members of the
Board of County Supervisors he steadily
remained the leading spirit in the enter
terprise until he saw the work completed
At the last meeting of the County
Board plans and specifications for the
building were adopted committee con-
sisting of Hon. H. b. Warner, Cold. j,
Dill, and A. S. Otis, appointed to prose
cute the work, and an appropriation OF
twelve thousand dollars made to meet its
cost. Sealed proposals for the erection
of the building were advertised for and
received, and the contract for putting it
up complete was awarded to Mr.. John
Green, of Saltwater, Minnesota, an expe-
rienced builder who has an established
reputation for doing good work, for the
sum of $l2050.
The building stands one hundred and
one feet west of the Court House, is
42x56 feet in size and rests upon founda-
ton walls six feet in depth and two feet
thick, with footing course of stone four
feet wide and one foot thick for base.
The building is of brick with 16-inch sol
id walls, and is two stories high, the first
story being twelve feet and the second
eleven. The distance from the grade to
peak of roof is forty feet At the center
of the building in front is brick portico
eight feet square, passing through which
we enter hall or corridor six feet in
width leading to the rear of the building.
Entering the hall from the vestibule, at
the right hand will be found the Regis
ter of Deeds, to whose use two rooms
have been assigned, one for the Register
as a general office, and the other for his
clerks; these two rooms occupying the
entire lower floor on the east side of the
hall. At the left will be found the Coun-
ty Clerk, who occupies the southwest
room, and next the County Treasurer
who occupies the northwest. For great
er convenience an inside door connects
the offices of the County Clerk and Treas
urer, that either office may be entered
from the other without passing out into
the hall The north end of the hall is
ten feet wide for a sufficient distance to
make ample room for easy flight of stairs
leading to the second story. Ascending
the stairs we find a hall which is dupli-
cate of the one below, the first door at
the right opening into the office of the
Clerk of the Circuit Court which is direct
" over the Treasurer's office, and the
same size. The second door to the right
opens into the office of the County Judge,
which is over the Office of the County
Clerk, and also the same size as the room
beneath. The first door at the left as yor
reach the second floor is designed for the
use of District Attorney, and will also bt
used as a committee room. The seconc
door at the left opens into room l6x3-
feet, in which the Board of County Super
visors holds its meetings.
For the safety of records the buildin
contains vaults as follows: The Register
office single vault 10x12 feet; for the
| four offices on the west side of the build
ing double vault of the same size, two
stories high, making in reality four vaults
besides that in the Registers office, Oh
five in all. These vaults are made Of
brick walls with air spaces, their floors
being of stone tagging six inches thick
they are provided with heavy combina-
ton lock bank vault doors costing Sl5(
each and made by Halls Safe and Lock
Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio; these
vaults are provided with fues for ventila
ton and are absolutely fire-proof.
Each office and the halls are finished
in wainscoting three and one-half feet
high, crowned with moulding and ovel
each door is transom, giving excellent
ventilation throughout. The machine
work. in wood was turned out by the
prison Ring" at Saltwater, which evil
IDENTITY knows as well how to do good work
as it does to drive good bargain with
the tax payers of Minnesota. Mr.. Green
laid the foundation and did the carpenter
work, sub-letting the brick-work and
plastering which were done by Messrs.
Stephens & Spindle, who performed theil
work in the most satisfactory manner
Mr.. Albert Low, of this village did the
painting, and it is well done.
The windows are provided with inside
shutters, the door trimmings are solid
and durable, and the work and material
throughout appear to be what the ''oId
man" agreed to furnish for the money,
and he asks for no extra" allowances.
In the front of the building are stone tab.
lets showing the year in which it was
built, the name of the builder and the
names of the members of the committee
under whose supervision it was built.
While the building is not a palace, it is a
neat and substantial structure admirably
adapted to the purpose for which it was
designed and its cost is, in our opinion,
money judiciously invested by the tax
payers of Pierce County.