The record-union., 1895-10-01
JUDGE HINKSON'O new COURTROOM.
Smaller Than the Others, But Very
Handsome.
How the Architects Evolved q New
Hall From Few Small
Office Rooms.

Department Three of the Superior
Court. Judge A. G.. Hinkson, dedicated
Its new courtroom yesterday by first oc-
cupanoy. The room, with the other
changes necessitated in the Courthouse,
has been under construction since MAY
last. The work has been annoyinply
slow. 1t ought to have been accomplished
in very much shorter time. The new
cour troom is the smallest of the three.
but it is not less comfortable than any.
and is fitted up better than either of the
other departments.
The ceiling is rather low, but the
ventilation has been quite we'll provided
for by numerous windows. and by a
special ventilator shaft extending 10 the
roof of the building through the story
above the room.
The ceiling is frescoed in q center
panel with sky effect, fading from the
marginal cerulean to the rich golden
gray of sunset. Outside this panel is a
border OF terra Gotta tint in cloud effect.
The upper half of the walls is in pale
blue, and the lower, or wainscot. in
roughened terra Gotta work.
A very simple plain band In two tints
sutfices for the smilitude of a cornice.
| The floor Is covered with a Moouet car
pet, very heavy and rich, in small de-
signs, and in tint to match the waiusco t
| and the prevailing color of the wood work.
which is light oak throughout. The
bench rises from three-terrace rostrum,
and is a paneied front of heavy oak,
with but very slight attempt at orna-
mentation. The Clerks desk, reporters
desk and bar-table with pigeon holes the
whole length, the bar rail and Jury box.
are all in oak, heavy and severely plain,
but still not lacking in grace, and not at
all stiff in effect. On the contrary, the
oaken fittings, the light tints of the walls.
the supplement- OF the handsome floor
covering, the jury and bar railing of oak
with light ballister work with heavy
ross-hatched panels, gives on the whole
light and very cheerful feeling to the
room, and suggests warmth and comfort.
Back OF the bar-railing the floor Is COW
erered with linoleum, and here are to be
fitted oaken settees to match the other
furniture. The chairs for bar and Jury
box are oaken, with high backs, cane
seats, bent arms. finished pillars, aud
high, broad head rests, decidedly the
handsomest and best chairs in the Court
house, and yet they cost less than half
much as those in the other courtrooms.
Back of the bench there remains TO bs
hung a canopy which will be in artistic
contrast with the other fittings of the
room. The present gas-fittiugs are but
| temporary, and will be displaced by
those of design 10 match the finish Of this
very handsome room OF fjustice.
Adjoining the courtroom are the cham
beS of Judge Hinkson, which have three
entrances, one from the main hall and
one from the courtroom into the cham Der
ante-room, a large and well-appointed
room formerly occupied by the Law
Library. To the west OF this ante room
is the private office of the Judge, with an
entrance also from the south hall. This
inner office is fitted with fine desk with
numerous drawers and n revolving and
locking paper file in one end. The desk
is in old oak and has one of the hand
soonest grain-marke top panels ever
seen In piece of furniture.
A revolving bookcase, large. COM
Portable Office chair, psrlor stove, a
dressing case, and the other necessary
fittings for an office, complete the room,
the walls and ceilings of which are like
those of the anteroom, laid in in light, sat-
Unfinished paper. Aspeaking-tube A be COM
municates from the inner chamb with
the library above, q decided convenience,
and one that has been introduced also
into the cham bers of Judges Callin and
Johnson.
The new courtroom and chambers,
though so long in preparation, are hand
some, creditable to the county, and we'll
adapted to the work of the third depart
ment, which, by the way, appears to have
| justified its creation, since 1t is as busy az
a court could possibly be.