Telegram-herald., 1891-08-07
ITS ONE DEFECT.

The Couaty Supsrvisors. and par
tieularly that portion of the board
known as the building committee, are
in peek OF trouble. The new Coun-
~ building Is a stately structure. sub
stantial in ensemble, dignifled and
graceful In detail. In fact Architect
Osgood has done himself proud and
the building viii be a lasting monu-
ment TO his skill. IL would be almost
impossible 10 construct 50 large u
building without a flaw and il must
Dc admit red that the County build
ing has one, and serious one. The
one thing needful is remodeling and
reconstruction OF the north porch Oh
main entrances 10 the building. The
porch has projection OF about five
ioet and Is OF massive construction,
but instead OF large. free entrance
as aay public building should have. it
"a cut up ihto a number OF arches.
The design would be eminently prop
or for an aqueduct, and 1t bears IA
slight resemblance to some notable
ones in the neighborhood OF Rome,
but for the purpose intended II Is en-
tirciy out OF place. The porch mars
the beauty Of the north facade and
were this the only objection il should
come out and be replaced by some
thing more fitting to the purpose.
There are other and serious objections
however: The arches are SO narrow
that they obstruct the light, some of
The piers being directly in front OF
the main doors and the windows
alanking the entrance. Ii allowed TO
10 remain they will make the inside
hall as darl. as the dungeon OF Otran-
10. A person standing inside the
building would need three elbows in
his neck 10 enable him TO see into
the street. and the wayfaring
man with a jag would furnish a job
for the coroner should he attempt n
sudden exit. The supervisors admit
that the fault Is a serious one, but
they did not discover it until the
plans had been adopted and the work
well advanced. For this reason they
are in quandary as 20 what to do.
They dislike TO ask Ma. Osgood 10 fur
nish new design after accepting the
original one, and then the change |
would cost something. The building |
committee Il cognizant OF those semi |
annual, economic qualms which char |
acterlze the county legislative board |
and they shrink from suggesting any |
thing that will cause additional ex-
pense. one OF the oldest members |
The board said: Il can't say that |
we are satisfied with the main
entrance. but I don't know what we
are going TO do about It. II we had
known Just how it was going tc be
we should have altered il. undoubt-
edly. We may do SO yet, but there is
nothing certain about IT,. l wouldn't
say anything about IL at present ii |
were you" Another one said, Yes,
know it's not what we want. but
we've got IL and what are we going
TO do? II you can stir up sentiment
enough 20 bring about change you
viii do a good thing. We have n
building that IL well arranged and one
that will stand for ages. That porch
win " an oycsOre as long as Il exists.
and now Is the time 20 make n change.
1
don't you quote me, tor | don't want
TO father the Job"
The architect doubtless desired to
design something entirely different
from the city hall. but there IL moth
ing new under the sun and the man
who attempts 10 be original some
times succeeds In making himself ri
iicuious.
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