San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-10-31
SHORT STOPS.

The people are discussing their
brown elephant-the county
courthouse; it's rotten they say;
politically and otherwise.
The architect of the new cOun-
ty courthouse says he can not ac-
cept it. The plumbing, heating,
lamps, etc, are not according to
specifications. 1t is peculiar that
this report should not come be
fore the Commissioners cOurt,un-
til after the plumbers of the
courthouse were arrested for viO-
latiOn of the city ordinances.
What sort of a white-w washing
scheme is there on foot now?
LO, is it the plumbing, heating,
and lamps Mr.. Architect, that are
the only defective features of the
wonderful million dollar struct-
ure, that stands as a sombre
ShapeleSs mass of sand stone on
the southeast corner of Main pla-
"a? a monument to the folly or
ignorance of our Commissioners
cOurt-Or are they hidden under
the etceteraS.
If it is true, what is said of ar
chitecture that the exterior of a
building should suggest its in
ternal arrangements and express
its general intent and purposes,
then this structure is million
dollar farce. The degree of in
spiratiOn that guided the master
hands of its designer produced
result that as a work or art is
an abortion, and as a work of
utility, an imposition upon the
taxpayers of the county.
$50
The general interior effect with
its low main entrance on Main
plaza suggestive of a railroad
tunnel, would not disclose to any
one that this is a supposed pal
ace of justice. BY the way, the
public was told some time ago
that the architectural style of
this building was Spanish re-
naissance; now. we are informed
it is Romanesque. Which is it.
Mr.. Architect?
Ordinarily one would suppose
that a million dollars worth of
convenience and comfort would
not mean low stories, little dens
for court rooms, dark Office rooms
that can't be used without the
aid of artificial light, and the
great lack of accommodations
for the court clerks. The taXpay-
er who has business in any of
the offices there should not be
expected to creep through mar
row, tOrtuOus passage ways by
the aid of a lantern.
There were much better plans
submitted at the time when the
drawings of this building were
accepted, but they were ignored
by the Commissioners court. 1t
was too big a job to let 90 by
without making it serve political
purposes. Thad and Joe can
perhaps tell us how it was done.
a board of competent archi-
tects should be appointed to ex-
anime the building thoroughly
and report upon its actual value
as it now stands. Also to make
recommendations for such
changes as to make it more ser
viceable. If this can not be done.
let it be sold for a tourists hotel.
and have the county officials
move back to their old quarters.
cal pirates who prey upon them,
who laying back after tasting of
the spoils, are fattening new
methods and new schemes by
which they may again ride into
power, and they are usually sue
cessful, and they become hungry
and again prey upon the credul-
ity of those who put them in pow
er. Were the people to manifest
more interest in the administra-
ton of their local governments
there would be less abuse of
power on the part of their homer.
ed servants, less taxes to pay,
and less political corruption
Weekly Lantern.
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