The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-14
THE NEW CITY HALL.
Plans for q Permanent Build
ing on Yesler Avenue.
ESTIMATED COST or $500. 600.
Ostlins 81 the Proposition - Ne Laid
Before the City Counefl-KesseR
Property Selected.

built, the council committees on public
buildings are not idle. They have been in
communication with the benefciaries
under the Osborne will. and have at the
same time been considering not only the
ways and means of raising the city's pro-
portion of the required fund, but have
been devising plans. Since November last
they have had the plans of new city hall
in view. and yesterday held meeting at
which it was resolved to lay the result
before the city council There were pres
ent Aldermen Brewer, Ingram and Cram
and Delegate Drew.
Their idea is to abandon the present
city hall site. retaining it only until the
new hall is built. and then dispose of it
or hold 1t for an advance in price. They
prefer using the Keezer property. two
blocks further up Yesler avenue, because
it is larger. is already excavated and offers
four froLtages. It is a triangular piece of
ground with the apex at Terrace street
and Yesler avenue. It has frontage of
279 feet on Yesler avenue, 23S feet on
Terrace street and 147 feet on Fifth street.
II the present plan is adopted the new
municipal building will be of stone and
brick, four stories high and either of
Gothic or old English architecture. The
main entrance will be by q semicircular
flight of five or six steps at Terrace aud
Yesler. between columns which will sus-
tain.a Gothic tower. thirty feet in dame
ter. In the arrangement of the offices the
chief consideration will be easy access for
the public to those departments most ire
quently sought. The entrance will lead
into lobby with Offices on each side. In
the middle of the block, toward the eastern
end will be an open space walled in, but
with windows so as to give ample light.
The first door on the left will open into
the private Office of the superintendent of
water works, the next for the bookkeeper,
and the third and largest for the cashiers,
etc. There will be vault here for the de-
partment books. These will afford
superficial area of 2,946 feet. equal to
room 0x14z. At the end of this series
will be a driveway from Jefferson street.
On the right Of the entrance will be the
city clerks Office with vault for the ordi-
nances and other public records. On the
Fifth street front, but reached from
the driveway on Terrace street, will
be built the city Jail. At the
northeast corner will be the INSIDE
meanants' department: then one for
juveniles, third for women and smaller
one for special purposes At the south
east corner will be the strong cell. contain.
ing steel cage to hold fifty prisoners. On
Yesler avenue will be the stables, etc.
This part, though forming portion of the
whole structure, will be entirely cut off
from the departments by thick, substan-
tial wall.
The second floor will be reached from
Yesler avenue and Jefferson street. Over
the main entrance will be the treasurer's
Office, with 40 feet of counter room, some.
thing like the present county treasurer's,
but owing to the conformation of the
building the counters will not be square.
but curved. On the Terrace street side
will be the comptrolier's. reached from
that side. so that on pay days people can
enter at Terrace street. get their warrants
at the comptroller's, pass on to the treas
urer's, and so out on Yesler avenue. To
the east Of the comptroller's will be the
driveway already mentioned, through
which the patrol wagon can drive in, de.
post prisoners at the police office door.
and either pass on to the stables at the
south side OF the court or turn and go out
again. The first Office to the east, 'front.'
ing on Fifth street. will be the chiefs
office, then the headquarters room.
and captains room. Next will be the en-
trance from Fifth street, which being
higher than at Fourth and Yesler will
bring that entrance on q level with the
street. West OF that. in the corner formed
by Fifth and Terrace. will. be the munich.
pal court, with judges and jury rooms.
On the Yesler avenue side will be police
drill room. with lockers, and room enough
to accommodate 100 men. 1t will cover
1900 feet, or give a room equivalent to
90 by IS feet. Next to this will be a room
for the meetings of police and fire COM
missioners.
On the third floor, over the treasurer's.
will be the board of public works offices:
then one for the superintendent of build
ings, and next to 1t a drafting room. Ad.
joining these will be three or four rooms
for the law department. accommodating a
reception room and one each or more for
the corporation counsel and city attorney.
The health department will have three
rooms on the Fifth street side. In the
corner rooms over Fifth and Yesler will
be large, well-lighted drafting room for
the city engineer. with q vault for storing
charts, plans, protles. etc. Then will
come a public room. and one for the citv
engineer. Next will be two rooms for the
park department overlooking Yesler ave.
nue..
On the fourth floor the plan is to have a
chamber for the board of aldermen over
the front entrance, with a gallery for the
public. This room will. with the gallery.
seat about 30 and easily Accommodate
about 80. On the corner of Fifth and
iesler will be another chamber for the
house of delegates, each of these cham.
bers being provided with one or two com.
naittee rooms This latter chamber can
also have gallery. The aldermen's room
will be amply large enough for Joint con-
ventions. On the Terrace street side will
be room for the mayor, and several
spare rooms To re used as the ci,y's hns;.
hess grows.
On the attic floor will be apartments for
the lanitor. II the city sees lit it can sun
PIGMENT these by large roof hail, suita-
be for public assemblies. The plan ia
drafted wiki a view TO having such a
building as will serve a growing ponula.
ton ana save the wastefu! expense of con.
slant additions and extensions.
The present city hall is rot large enon,h
for the TRANSACTION of business. The board
of public works, the city engineer. CITY
comptroller. city clerk. water office and
department of buildings are all cramnes
Rents have to ne paid for the park Csepar,-
ment, health office and law DEPARTMENT
The cost OF the proposed hall Will be from
sisi. oeo TO 500 40
The Joint committee. at its nee,ipy ves.