The morning call., 1893-08-04
NONE TOO SOON.
Removal of the Police
Headquarters.
A DATE DEFINITELY FIXED.
Chief Crowley Believes the Old City
Hall Building to Be Unsafe
for Occupation.
DATE DEFINITELY FIXED.

when will the Police Department be
transferred to the new quarters in the new
Citv Hall?" is IA question that has been
propounded frequently during the past
eighteen months without any satisfactory
answer A few weeks ago it was semi
officially announced that the Jew quarters
would be ready for occupation on August
Is. but that is impossible. There is now,
however, strong indication that the re-
msval will take place before the end of
next month.
Chief of Police Crowley called at the
new City Hall yesterday, and interviewed
Mayor Ebert and Auditor Broderick, TWO
of the City Hall Commissioners. on the
subject. 1t seems the Chief is now anxious
to move into the new quarters, which were
provided for his department When Ques-
toned about the matter he said:
r Il am anxious now to move into the new
City Hall as soon as possible. If | stay
much longer in the old place 1t will kill
me. 1t is only recently | discovered this,
but it is fact which has forced itself
upon ME. The reason why delayed NOV
ing out so long was on account of The
central location of the old building, its
proximity to the business center and the
crime center greatly facilitating our work.
out nave concluded we must now move
as soon as possible"
At Architect Shea's Office it was stated
that the quarters for the Police Commits
sioners and' Police Department would be
ready for occupancy IN about month
During the last few days large force Of
workmen have been engaged in putting
into the various rooms the permanent
fixtures for the different offices.
The offices of Chief Crowley and Cap
7 in 70 orfh vyp
wing, anG will be very handsomely fitted
up. Electric bells and speaking tubes will
enable the chief to communicate with all
the subordinates under his control. Near
him are the police courts. There is also
communication by stairs with the prison
in the basement, which extends along the
entire length OF the building N the Larkin-
street side.
The detectives under Captain Lees will
have two rooms at their disposal. One
will be provided with desks and pigeon
holes where they can keep their data, and
the other will be used as consultation
room.
The Police Commissioners will occupy
quarters in the County Clerks old office.
All the fittings in the various offices will
be in white oak.
Il is said the Police Department will
have handsomer quarters than any in the
country when the Chief moves out to the
new City Hall.
1t is no wonder that Chief Crowley is
anxious TO remove from the old City Hall.
Il think the place is unsafe he said
yesterday. 1T was built about forty-one
years ago and in recent years it has been
decaying rapidly. The foundations are
all rotten and different portions of the
building have been propped up to keep
them from collapsing entirely. just come
with me and | will show you"
A visit was first made to the Property
Clerks room. The south wall. or
crack in it which has the appearance of
getting longer and wider every day.
Some day in the near future it will give
way entirely with possible dire conse-
quenees. In the small room off the main
room there is another large crack. This
particular wall had settled so dangerously
about four years ago that it was found ab-
solutely necessary to dig down fifteen feet
and strengthen the foundation and also TO
brace it thoroughly up. Now It is in a
worse condition than it was then.
The wall at the stairway leading from
where No. l Court is located 10 the upper
floor is several inches out of plumb and has
a strong leaning to the southwark. 1t has
forced itself two or three inches away
from the wainscotting, with the result
that the stairs are more or less warped.
The floors in nearly all the rooms have
sagged down. In the room formerly used
by the Sheriff several boxes containing lot
terry tickets that had been seized at var-
ous times were stored. but the floor gave
such palpable evidence of its incapacity
to bear the weight that the boxes had all
TO be removed, and are now stored In the
yard In the basement.
About two years ago Stanchon had to
be put up to prevent the western portion
OF the balcony of the second floor from
giving away and probably killing num-
Der of people. Now that No. Court has
been started there are more people at
tracted to this portion of the balcony. and
when both it and No. Court are in ses-
sion it is no unusual thing for thirty or
forty people to be standing there-some-
times more. The fact is. the whole of thi 8
balcony is dangerous. The thin iron sup
ports are thick with rust and the tim Der 9
and joists are rotten.
The unoccupied rooms on this floor and
the floor above are in horrible condition.
The plaster has fallen from the walls and
roof and In winter the rain comes pouring
in. The room over Police Court is in a
particularly wretched condition. No eff
fort has been made to stay the ravages Of
time and the elements.
Zone of the greatest reasons" said the
Chief, for getting away from this place
is the rOtton condition of the plum bling
throughout the entire building. 1t could
not be worse than it is. and there is nc
wonder that people who are compelled to
be on duty here are troubled with sick
ness"
will the building be entirely vacated p"
No; the City Prison will be kept as a
branch, like the Southern police station
and other stations"