Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-24


; THE CITY HALL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ENT-
WHSLE FAVORS A SEPARATE BUILDING FOR
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. Webb, president of the board of District
commissioners, has sent to Representative
DlDble, chairman of the House committee on
>pubhc buildings and grounds, a letter enclos-
ing report made to the Commissioners by
Builaing Inspector Entwisle with regard to
Inc conversion of the present courthouse
lknoWn as the City HalD into a building to
accommodate the offices of the District OF
Columbia
Mr.. Webb says in his letter: "Allow me to
mittee on public buildings and grounds. to the
whole matter. Whatever plan commends
Itself to the committee trust will be put in
such position as to be made at once available
Every consideration of public order and con-
venlence, the welfare Of the District of Colum.
pla the proper conduct of its affairs and the
heaitn ana comfort OF its officials demand that
something should be accomplished toward the
erection cree pa Of proper Recommendations for the of
at the earliest possible day. Such is our condi-
ton That II nothing else can be done we must
ASK congress for an appropriation sufficient to
pay the rent OF proper building. This seems
poor economy, but our case Is most urgent as
can De demonstrated to any one who will call
anu inspect our present quarters. l shall be
lAost nappy 10 afford your committee all In
Connection IN the possession of this ONCE at any
time illustrative Of our needs"
INSPECTOR ENTwIsLE's REPORT.
The report by Inspector Entwisle is as fol.
lows: I'm answer to your inquiry as to whether
additions can be made to the present court
known as the City HalD building to sufficiently
accommodate the District offices, L have the
honor to report that to make sufficient apart
iments, and at the same time to make
1t a creditable building, it will be
necessary to remove all that portion of
the building that was originally erected, Ieav-
ing standing the portion recently constructed.
there ha
large court rooms, and nearly all the office
rooms connected with the court, and for which
additions should be made adjacent TO the por-
l.on leit standing, which would cost about the
sum OF $4,000.
The Old building being removed, a sufficient
building can then be erected by advancing
about 40 feet into the front parking, which is
Oh such width that it can be done with
out injury to the frontage 1t can be SO de-
signed that the projections in front of
the present structure will be equal or
project past it only on the east,
leaving the west portion as suggested for the
city post office, and which should be under
stood before making the plans, that it NAV be
symmetrical. To construct the norton neces.
sary Tor the District offices of proper material.
ana the architecture in keeping with the char.
acter of the public buildings, it will require the
amount asked for in the bill now presented nv
you-$4OO, OOO-independent of the amount
necessary for the post office portion. While
TINS would make, with the post office included,
convenient and imposing structure, 1 am still
OF the opinion that it would be best to place the
District building separate from either the
courts or the post office, and for the reason that
as the city expands and there is every reason
10 believe that it will to a great extent the
building should be SO planned that it can be q X
tenoeQ without detrlment to the original Dor
tlon 1t was for this reason that designed he
building for the 9th street front of Judiciary
square, and also because it is central and ada
cent to the COnFfS