The morning times., 1895-08-11


ton by Fire.
Since The Times last called attention to
the need of new building for the Dis
trict government offices and the supreme
court of the District, the swallows have
nested again in the old brick, stucco- be-
daubed structure that dsgraces Judicial
square.
The site, excepting Capitol Hill AMI the
White Lot, is the finest in the city for
superb building. 1t is practically the last
chance in the center of the city for archi-
tectural magnificence to be displayed. The
slight eminence looks down upon the broad,
open way of Fuur-and-a. half street to the
Arsenal and the Potomac. A structure
there of noble dimensions would mark the
heart of the city with grandeur which it
now lacks and which every public'spirIted
citizen, not only of Washington, but Of the
whole United States, viii say it deserves.
The present apology for an edifice on
these grounds is one of the first objects
that catch the eye OF a visitor as lie passes
along PENNSYLVANIA avenue. He asks what
building it is, and the patriotic WASHING
tonian who has him in charge mumbles
some reply and tries to draw his attention
in some other direction. If he should
not succeed, the sight-seer is left TO the
disgusts of closer inspection.
He observes as he draws nearer that
the structure, Ike Joseph's coat, is of
many colors; that the columns, which ap-
pear to be splendid Ionic monoliths, are
crumbling and broken; that the building
is of two dates of construction, and the
parts lack uniformity of material and fin
ish, and, singularly enough, what is best
is almost completely hidden by what is
shabbiest and meanest.
Emphaucally the worst foot is put fore
most The stucco peeled away from the
face beside the portico at the south center
shows that it is not a stone building, but
sham, brick muddied over with stucco, re-
calling the adobe palaces of the Mexican In
dams.
CLOAK OF MORTAR.
1t is not even so good as an honest brick
structure, well built and carefully finished.
This bare patch at once calls attention,
too, to the crumbling and peeling stucco at
every point The visitor rarely cares to
explore the uncertainties with such an un-
promising exterior He escapes the foul air,
the ill-iighted passages, like dungeon ways,
the uasanitary plumbing and lighting and
the musty old rooms with which bailiffs,
clerks, attorneys and judges are familiar
and which present themselves unwelcome
to the private citizen every time he has
business in the building to congressman
only on rare occasions, as when sent as
committeeman to investigate the demands
for new municipal building. What some
of them have thought of the place after
such an inquiry into the facts Will presently
be seen from a report made by Congress srnan
Abbott to the last Congress.
1t is now twenty-five years since the agi-
tation first began in favor of the erection
of home for the municipal offices and the
District courts in keeping with their dignity.
A number of favorable reports have been
made. All have SO far been doomed to COM
plete failure.
Last winter the Commissioners started
iu with plan for splendid building on
judiciary square 1t was to have two
massive wings to be constructed about
the present City Hall. One was TO be oc-
cupied by the municipal offices and the
other by the District couts, except the
police court. 1t was expected that the
wings for the courts and city offices would
be flushed first, and the court clerks
offices, including records, files, ETC.,
would be moved into it, and then the old
building, partly or wholly, torn away,
to make room for a magnificent centre,
joining the other parts into grand, har-
monious whole, giving room for the growth
of business for a century to come, as well
as affordiug q place for a fine municipal
assembly room
The building was to cost $4,000, 900.
They concluded with an humble plea in
the District appropriation bill for paltry
500, 900 to set things going in the direc-
tiou OF such building, aud even this was
cut out by the economists Of the House.
Senator Hunton tried in vain to get it re-
iustated
ANOTHER APPEAL TO CONGRESS.
Since then the Commissioners have moved
into more commodious and less dangerous
aud lInsa uitary quarters, and their price
less records are no longer in great danger.
1t has been thought that they will not be
soactive in pressing for the needed improve
meut, but Inspector Of Buildings Brady
Sid yesterday that he understood the mat
Ter would be pushed with uudimished zeal
r. re Congress next December. Plans
r. y rk would be taken up with the close
Z vacation, and all would be ready whea
the FiFtyfourth Congress assembled.
1t is more than twenty years since the
need of this building was formally recog-
nized by Congress and an appropria ton of
S75, 900 made as a start But the money,
except $4,000, was used for street I'M
provements and the whole subject was
relegated to the background for a long
time When it was taken up again the site
chosen was the reservation on the south
side of Pennsylvania avenue, between
Seventh and Ninth streets, where the
Washington Market Company's bridge
crosses. The use by that company OF the
ground is by permission, and for many
reasons it was urged that this would be
the best location. But at the end of June,
1894, change was made to Judiciary
square.
A report made by Congressman Abbott,
from the House Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, shows what public
men who have investigated the matter
have concluded. Parts of it are as follows:
1.-The buildings now occupied by the
courts and municipal government of the
District of Columbia are unsuited for the
purposes for which they are used. Tue
| supreme court of the District is housed in
| an old structure which was built as city
| hall for the city of Washington in 1921,
and was jointly used by the courts and
the city authorities till 1871, when it was
transferred to the sole control of the courts.
Subsequently the building was enlarged.