The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-02
TO BEGIN THREE STRUCTURES.
POLICE PRISON, JAIL TOWER AND
PYTHIAN BUILDING.

Foundation for the Police Building
VIII he Laid TO-day-The Work on
the New Jail Tower and the
knights of Pythias Hall on Telfair
Place VIII Also Start-The Latter
TO BE "A Handsome Structure.
This morning will probably witness work
commencing on three structures which Will
be ornaments to the city. One is the po-
lice court building, the other the new tow
er on the Chatham county jail, and the
third is the handsome new building to be
erected at York and Barnard streets by
the knights of Pythias.
Mr.. j. r. Eason, the contractor in charge
of the police court building, had a force
of men in the barracks yard yesterday.
chopping down trees preparatory to eXca-
waiting for the foundation. 1t is not thought
this part of the work will require more
than a day. as the foundation will not be
a deep one. No material has yet been de-
livered, though it is the intention of the
contractor to a once begin hauling brick,
lime, sand and other materials required,
IN order to have them on the ground in
readiness to commence building as soon
as the foundation is excavated.
A description of the building has already
been given in the Morning News, and the
changes mentioned by which much addi-
tional room will be acquired for the con-
flnement of prisoners. Among the features
to be gained from the new structure will
be twenty-five, instead of seven cells;
court room as large again as the present
one; quarters for sergeants and detectives,
and additional facilities for taking care OF
dodgers, both male and female. None of
the advantages will be more beneficial
than the last, for the reason that a large
number of this class visit Savannah year
ly, and unless the city makes provision by
which they can be cared for, they sleep in
the streets and put the police to trouble
arresting them. By the arrangement to be
provided in the new building, a lodger will
have the advantage of toilet and bath ac-
commodat:ons, will receive good food and
will be cared for about as we'll as at the
ordinary lodging house. If there is any
thing in the system of signals adopted by
the national order of hoboes, Savannah
and its method of entertaining pilgrims
will go down on many a mile post as a
thing not to be overlooked.
! The new building Will be entirely sepa-
rate from the prison rooms, except by a
| connecting door, From the door entering
from Habersham street is a hallway ex-
| tending TO the rear. The first door to the
right on entering is that leading to the
court room, while that to the left, leads
to the sergeants room, where the Game
well is operated Adjoining and to the
rear of the sergeants' room is the detec-
! tives' Quarters, and farther back still, the
! room in which prisoners are searched be-
| fore being put in cells. The court room
embraces the entire space to the right of
the hall on the first floor, and will be ar
ranged with every convenience for the dis
position of cases. The upper floor is ar
| ranged for dodgers, and will have all con-
veniences for cleanliness.
Eichberg & Witcover prepared the plans
and will supervise the work. The con-
tractor has three months in which to com
plete the building, though he expects to
have it ready for occupation May /.
Messrs. Eichberg and Witcover also
prepared the plans for the tower on the
county Jail and the knights of Pythias'
| building.
The beginning Of work on the Pythian
building will depend altogether on wheth-
err the tenants vacate the buildings 'front.'
| ing Barnard street, and which must be
| first torn away. The new Pythian build
| ing is designed to have store rooms and
| Easements on the first floor, library and
! drill rooms on the second floor. and lodge
room on the third floor. 1t has been arts
| tically designed by the architects, and will
oN OilC VI tAl1 PAtlbiSSI Sll uClutCS III AIS
city when completed. The Stewart Con-
tracing Company has the contract, and
is under agreement to complete 1t by Aug.
l, though as in the case of the Police
Court building, it is expected in fact to
complete it much earlier than the limit.
The tower on the jail is to be erected
| by Contractor Eason, and the contract
calls for its completion within two
| months. The tower is to take the place
of the one blown down by the 1896 storm,
and the only difference will be that the
| present design will give the sheriffs resi-
dence a far more beautiful appearance
than formerly.