Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-03-12
NEW COURT HOUSE.

Its Commanding Appearance and Situation
A monument to Architectural and
Mechanical Skill ana to tho Enter
prise and Thrift OF Stevens County
The Arrangement of Offices: TIKI
Jail; Sheriff's Residence; Minor
P0iAts.
For years it has been known tina
the county buildings now in use are
wholly inadequate to the needs OF tht
county and that new and more spa
cious buildings are necessity. Dur
ing the winter of one year ago it was
decided to erect new building and Tho
preliminary steps we're at once taken
Now the new building is an accom-
plished fact and ina short time The
county officials will be CONT rtahly
located in their new and pleasant
offices. Plans were secured and il
March, one year ago, the contract was
let to A "A. Whittemore and soon after
active constructive work was com
menced.
The location is the best that coult
possibly have been obtained. Situat
ed in the southeast corner of the parF
upon as high ground as there is in the
village it has g commanding location
and can be seen for miles in any
direction. The block upon which II
stands is we'll supplied with trees
which adds very materially to the
appearance of the imposing structure
1t will be impossible in the brie1
space which we can devote to the sub
ject to speak of all of the many parts
and superior qualities of this building
and we will therefore be compelled to
confine our remarks to principal feat
ures only. The court house proper is
60 #. wide and 60 fit. long. The Jail
and Sheriff's residence portion is ~
by 40 #. The foundation is made OF
native stone and is a perfect synonym
for soidity. For the main building
the foundation is #. thick at the base
and 81 it. at the top, The foundation
to the Jail and residence has q uniform
thickness of 4 it. The center of the
building is supported by the bases of
the vaults which are brick walls #.
in thickness and upon heavy girdles
and cobbles which are supported by
ten brick piers standing upon large
fiat stones. There is a cellar under
all of the main building and under the
sheriff's residence. This is drained by
10 inch. earthen tiles. In the cellar
are two furnaces furnished by Good d
Brisbine which are of such excellent
and quality that they
heat the entire structure. The cellar
also affords ample storage room for
fuel. There is also cistern having q
of $50 bis, bricked up and
cemented with the best of Portland
cement, which is an item of worth
and convenience of no small import
ance. Forty feet in the rear OF the
building is cess pool, 20 #. deep con-
nected with the Jail by cast iron pipes.
The brick work upon the building is
in the extreme. The
columns and ornaments are in such
shape that it was impossible, upon the
main part, to lay by line and the ma
sons were compelled to lay by plum
entirely. The tediousness Of such
work will be understood by mocha
MICS, at least. The walls for the first
story are II inches thick and for the
second story Is inches. There are
eighteen columns extending from the
foundation to the cornice and brick
projections around all windows and
doors. There are also heavy projec-
tons in the cornice, pediments and
gables. The center partitions of the
first story of the Jail are also made of
brick. All exterior trimmings are OF
brown stone from Superior, the
quality of which is well indicated by
the name of the place from which the
stone was brought. The contrast be-
tween these brown stone and our,
cream colored bricks is q pleasant
one. There are eight solidly built
chimneys, each one of which contains
a smoke f1ue. Now, when it is known
that these brick walls are 35 it. from
the foundation to tbs base of the roof
and that from the top of these walls it
is Sc TT. to the top Of the tower, one can
readily form q correct opinion of the
and slightly appearance of this
new structure.
The vaults are worthy Of special
mention. There are two of these 8 by
20 #. each Of which is divided into
two parts and are SO situated as to ac-
commodate the Auditor, Clerk of The
Court. Treasurer and Register of
Deeds. They rest upon solid brick
walls two feet thick which are built
from the bottom of the cellar. Upon
these walls is supported a double arch,
the top Of WHICH is leveled with &C.
ment and constitutes the floor of the
vaults. The walls Of the vaults pro-
per are also 2 fl, thick with air
spaces, and are held together 10y iron
rods to resist the pressure of the arches
over head. The walls of the vaults
extend To and help support the floor OF
the court room ahoyes Between these
walls and over the top arches ID 4 #
of gravel which will prevent falling
timbers in case of fire from crushing
through and running the vaults
After the county records arc taken tt
the new court house, the people may
he assured that they will be III a place
of absolute safety. The air spaces
around the vaults are connected will
the chimneys and as fire has beer
made under them everything is per
fectIy dry md there is no danger thai
dampness will ever dcstFay any Of tht
hooks or paDerS Of the county.