Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-04

BUILDING INSPECTOR ENTwIsLE'S VIEWS.
Building Inspector Entwisle, in conversation
win STAR reporter as to the proper location
OF the proposed District buildings said: 81 have
not changed my views about that matter and
oelleve the place should be on Judiciary square,
on the west side, between and streets, 'front.'
Ing on oth street. or on E street. Here is room
enough TO expand for the next hundred or
more years, AZ necessity requires, and. besides.
CONGRESS gave this square to us atone time for
tne special purpose of erecting city hall, which
was done. The citizens of the District lost it
through the board Of public works, who sold
United States for 5000 for nse as a court
house, with the understanding that the pur-
chase money was to be paid when the District
District building and commenced its erection.
A site was subsequently decided on-the ground
between the Center market and Pennsylvania
aVcnue-anu the work was commenced, as all
Will remember. OfcOurse, the purchase money
tor the oid city hall was paid by the United
States, but the work of the new building was
never proceeded with, and no one knows what
ever became OF the purchase money. At any
eminent buildings"
for the erection Of a new building on Judiciary
square, asked THE STAR reporter.
Nv ny, Congress, of course; no one else and
don MINK; II the whole story were sqnarely
told in a bill, there would be an objection on
the part OF the members"
How much money will it take to make a
suitable building for District PURPOSES"
swernd Hefemds upon CIRCUMSTANCES" an
ing with the surroundings in that neighborhood
would not cost less than $3.50, 200, or $500 900
Woulu ne nearer the ngures. This city is bound
10 expand no one can foresee where it will
stop, and of course the public business increases
correspondingly. There should be no niggardly
outlay for this improvement. The advantage
of this spot is that it would cost nothing for the
ground, and where is there within the District
limits q more central spot than Judiciary
square: Ihere can be no two opinions aboutit."
THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDING OFFICIALLY
DESCRIBED
The building inspectors annual reports have
Tor several years urged that "a better, safer and
more convenient building should be speedily
provided" In the report made by Mr. Entwisle
IN iss2 the the condition OF offices was fully de-
scrfbed. 1.-The Morrison buildings" the report
said, 'are used for the Commissioners office
engineer department, assessors and tax collect
ors office, water registers Office auditor prop
erty clerk, special assessment, liquor license,
mre department. and inspector OF buildings
There are twenty-four rooms, four of which are
OF nre-proof construction and used for storage of
records; seven of the rooms are located in the
center of the building, having no light, except
of no use for offices, leaving but fourteen to be
occupied The number OF persons employed in
those fourteen rooms are 81; all rooms, except
two on the first floor originally intended for
stores, are of ordinary size average 16x2O feet)
In these fourteen rooms are stored all books,
maps, charts, drawings, measurements, receipts
and acquisitions, special and general assess
ment books; in fact, nearly all the records
since the board Of public works was
count OF the vaults being Ger crowded. ~ This his
building was originally Intended for
two dwellings, and is built Throughout of
stairways are too narrow to let two persons
pass each other conveniently. Several of the
more important offices are located on the third
and tOurth stories, and there being no elevator
they are constantly being complained of by the
great number OF persons having business to
transact There is little or ventilation pro-
vided, and the air at times becomes SO foul that
It Is necessary to open the windows. The only
heating apparatus are two small-size portable
furnaces in the cellar, heating only the hall and
the two larger rooms on the first floor all other
rooms being heated by stoves or CRATES, which
makes the heating expensive compared with
q general heating apparatus run with one or
two fires.
The building with its two small well holes, one
in each section, exten ling from second floor up,
and OF very cOmbustible construction, would in
case of fire, in an instant be enveloped in
flames, and in such an event the loss to the Dis
trict would be irreparable, and all records
being lost would eventually lead to endless
litigation"
In last years report the building inspector
referring to this subject said: 'The necessity is
now still greater than when reported in 1882,
on account Of the steady increase of business
In every department. occupying It, and the only
proper accommodations that can be provided
will be by erecting a suitable building, ample
and safe for the entire offices connected with
the District government, and on q site which
will afford room for extending, as the city and
its business will from time to time require. The
most central and best adapted position, in my
opinion, is that portion Of Judiciary square, on
the west side, between E and + streets. 1t is
ample in dimensions to allow the building to
be extended when found necessary, and will
not in the least interfere with the Pension
street, or the courthouse, which is south of E
street. And as portion of this square was
originally given for q city hall, think it but a
Just request that the portion named be given