Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-06-20
The County Court House i.


matter OF interest to all our citizens
aud especially concerns those who
have county business and those tax
payers whose money is to be used
III making the proposed changes. 1t
is therefore proper that the money
should be expended to their best
advantage and for the proper accom-
mediation OF the people. Three
requisites are demanded in Court
house room for the people who
assemble, convenient and spacious
offices for the court, and secure
depository for the records. These
included in building of which the
appearance and surroundings will
be no discredit to the county but as
a permanent monument OF the re-
fnement and intelligence OF the
people may be regarded with some
measure of pride by those who pay
for il and their defendants.
We have building already which
although it has become too limited
in it's accommodations is u substan-
tial ediiiee and well proportional
and evidently the work OF no un-
skilled designer, yet simple and SOL
i'll as a court house should be.
The good taste and intelligence
Of our predecessors was shown in
putting the building back from the
street, not only that .heir county
house could be seen of all men and
set OFT by the surrounding green,
but also that some space was allow
cd for the people and that the coun
ty clerks could pursue their work
somewhat removed from the noise
and dust Of the street. Beside the
space in front of the court house
they allowed twenty-four feet on
either side and near twenty feet at
the back to secure isolation. 1t is
TO be remembered that any building
tp be really seen to advantage, needs
at least three times it's width as the
distance from which to see it. This
is an accepted law of optics.
1t is, we understand, now propos-
cd to reverse the judgment of the
court house builders and as first
step in Improvement" to destroy
the very advantages they made the
starting-point of their work. Not
withstanding there is large space
at the back and on either side of.
the court house, it is planned to be.
gin work by building ever the front
yard and advancing the clerks Of
fees, etc, TO close proximity with
the noise Of the crowd pushed to
the curbs and of the carts in the
street, the only advantages being
that convenient showers of dust will
tho sooner give covering of anti
guilty TO our documents and records
We ask for an arrest of judgment
on the part of the legal gentlemen
who have been chosen as an art
commission and the consideration
of some plan which will at least
save the front yard and keep the
building front in its present posi-.
ton. Whatever mistakes may be
made in building on the present
lines may be repaired, but to ad-
vance the line of the front would
be an irreparable injury to the
county aud destroy one of the few
remaining attractive spaces We have
in the city. The space between the
Court House and St. Anne's
Church makes pleasant impress
sion on the eye and allows both
buildings to be seen. Advance the
Court house to the sidewalk and
You give contracted and mean
character TO the neighborhood be-
side the great inconvenience to the
people who must throng more and
more the court meetings.
We would suggest that the back
and side of the rot could be built
over, occupying the spaces on eth
er side of the present court rooms
with open arches accessible from
both side streets the twenty feet at
the back OF the lot to be used for the
stairways and two large rooms.
This would allow the preservation
of the present court room, to be us
ed either entirely or partially as
record room, and the whole space
above, extending over the enlre lot
exclusive of the front yard would