Evening star., 1898-10-28
CENTRAL POLICE STATION
Commissioners Will Ask Congress to APP
propriate Money for It's Construction.
Matter to be Presented in Forth
coming Annual Reporf-Propo>ed
Dimensions of the Structure.

When Commissioner Wight who has I'M
mediate charge Of the police department.
made Il tou. of the police stations several
months ago ne was struck with the lack If
modern equipments for the houses. es7e-
cially in the matter of the security CT the
cells. and for several weeks he has been il
communication with the builders of Steel
cells with Il view to e1uirping the station
houses # the District with them. TIE re-
cent escape Of the alleged murderer. PovS-
ell from tn sixth precinct station. e:nrEa
sized the Inadequate arrangements at the
houses. which. in the opinion of Mr.. Wight.
are little better than those one would cx-
rect TO find in small country towns
Then. too. Mr.. Wight has found groat
need of inI Toyement in the sanitary ar
range ments CT the station houses. and it is
his intention, with the cooperation of his
associates. to secure from Congress s,Ich
an appropriation as will enable the Com
aiSsiorerS to so improve the houses as 10
place them il the best of sanitary condition
and also make them absolutely secure. lie
fdS visited other cities and made careful
iESp"ctI"n q the police station houses. ana
Il the desired appropriation can ie secured
from Congress the District will b. provided
with horSes equipped with ever modern
cCnveniencf terdirg to improve the com
Tort OF me mtn and safekeeping # pris-
DnCrS.
Submitted to Congress-
III thtlr coming annual report this mat
Ter VIII be brought to the attention of Con-
gresS. as will the necessity and desirabilitv
of building central police station. This
central station. which il is proposed TO
locate in the most central point in the
city, north of Pennsylvania avenue in all
probability. il is intended shall be a model
a1alr IN every respect. Architect Frederick
.. rye Is engaged III the preparation of
pIdhS Tor building. although. Of course in
the absence of an appropriation. the ground
on which 1t will be erected has not vet
peen selected The Commissioners, how
ever. nave III view two or three different
pieces ol ground one of which they hope to
be able to purchase.
The size OF the building will be four sto-
rieS. including Il cellar. and will be abOit
nifty feet in width and $50 feet in G.pth
and Well lighted on all sides
me cellar Will contain heating plant
store rooms. coal rooms shop. closets etc.
ON the first floor in front will be located
the Iicutenants room, office, inspectors
room, sergeant room, waiting room. Ii
brary and smoking room property room
bed room for patrol driver room for the
detention OF boys and witnesses and toilet
rooms, while the rear portion will he set
apart for u prison room, in which Will be
located modern iron sanitary cells with
latest improved locking system.
There will be provided two padded cells
."r the temporary care Of the insane, de-
nented, or those liable to self-destructIon.
The Second Story.
The second story will be set apart for
The accommodation of the female prisoners
/ being the intention of the Commissioner
20 there detain all females arrested. and
Kll contain also the matrons room and Of
ice, trial and examination rooms. linen
loom, drying room, bath and toilet rooms,
IuppIy and locker rooms and Il large dor
asltory 10y the sleeping apartments OF the
bfiicers.
On the third floor there will be a gyna-
Eum and drill room, provided with gymnas-
lie apparatus and racks Tor batous, arms
stc. Adjacent Will be rooms for bath ana
toilet purposes. also locker rooms and a
i1rEe dormitory similar 10 that on the sec
5nd floor for the accommodation of officers
The building viii be so designed as to
make it a model structure in all its fea-
.ureS- The interior Will contain every ap-
p"intment for comfort. convenience and
business, while the exterior will give ex-
PRESTON to the purposes of the structure