The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-07-05
THE NEW COURT HOUSE.
A Glance 1T it's Exterior and In
terror.
A Magnificent and Costly arrnot-

Inc last nnlSnlng OucneS are now D0lng put
upon the largest, finest and most costly build
ing in Montana We refer to the new court
house in this county. Without entering into or
opening up the discussion rs to the propriety of
building such magnificent structure we may
be permitted to say that 1t is an ornament to
the city. an evidence of the refined tastes of our
people and reflects credit upon the architect,
Mr.. Roberts and the building contractors,
Messrs. McDevitt & Mcconnell.
The main building is in the form Of a Greek
cross 1O6x9s with Jail at the north end 46x4.
granite masonry four feet in thickness. extend
ing to the water table or first floor. On
this solid wall of stone the huge building rests
The first story walls are of
brick 20 inches thick. All the
cornices facing the front are embellished with
cut white sandstone pilasters surmounted with
iron caps. A double belt course Of galvanized
iron runs all around the building between the
first and second story. The roofngis of tin with
a cornice of galvanized iron Of elaborate pat
tern. From the ground to the top of the flag
staff is 1876 feet, and from the ground to the top
of the electric lights in the tower 10 feet. The
the Corinthian and Florentine modernized to
meet certain requirements. The exterior pre-.
sents an imposing appearance, and does not fail
to arrest the attention Of strangers who are from
the land of fine buildings.
In the basement are three furnace rooms Is
g, enclosed in solid masonry. The rooms will
be used for heating both the main building and
the jail with hot air or steam. Fire plugs etc.
are conveniently located for use in case of fire
inside or outside. The structure faces south
and is entered by flight of stone steps Or stair
way 20 feet in width which lands one in hall
way of the same width extending the length of
the main building.
The first room to the left, as one enters the
hallway, is the treasurers room, 24x1S, with
vault in solid masonry 7x7. This room is
lighted by three windows This room, as well
as all the others on the first floor is 16 feet high
in the clear.
Across the hall from the treasurer's apartment
is the county commissioners Office, the same In
size and lighting as the treasurer's room.. Next
on the left is the sherif's Office, 30x27, lighted
by large windows, and provided with a vault
7x7. Opposite this room is the clerk and re-
the same number of windows as the sherif's
apartment. This room has vault 12xl4.
Next to the sherif's Office is the room of the
probate Judge, same dimensions as the clerks
with vault 5xlO and provided with
large windows. Opposite the probate
Judges, is the room of the assessor and clerk of
the district court the duplicate in every respect
Of the probate judges room. Next to the room
of the probate judge on the left is the office of
the superintendent of common schools IA p,
lighted by two large windows. Across the hall
from the latter room is the room of the county
surveyor-of the same dimensions as the super
intendent's. Then comes the janitor's room,
bath rooms, commodes, etc., which complete
into the hallway.
We have now come to the main stairway,
nine feet wide, raised to a landing on level
with the second story floor. On each side Of the
main stairway, next to the wall, are sub-stair-
ways each four and half feet wide, the whole
enclosed and guarded by finely carved walnut
balustrade In the center of the upstairs hall
way is an elliptical rotunda II K 8, guarded by
q black walnut balustrade or railing.
At the head of the stairway and on either side
of it are two ro0ms designed as ante
rooms for the two large apartments
the court room and the other
The town hall. These latter rooms ara each
55x54 with 20 feet ceiling. end each lighted by
10 large windows. AL the rooms in this story
are 20 feet to the ceiling. These apartments are
ornamented BY q beautiful cornice at each
angie, and each chandelier hook by plaster Of
paris centers.
At the south end of the court room Is the
grand jury room 24xl8. Across the hall II the
district attorneys Office of the same dse a. the
attorneys room. The law library, 1sx2o, h =
the extreme south end Of the hallway.