Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-04-20
COURT HOUSE PLANS.
DESCRIPTION OF LUzERNE'S NEW
HALF-MlLLION ORNAMENT.
Architect Osterling's Building Described
in Condemned Form from the Plans He
Has Given the Conn missioners-Court Is
Investigating the job.

Has Given the Commissioners-Co Court Is
Investigating the Job.
As stated in the TRIBUNE some time
ago, the plans of Architect Osterling, of
Pittsburg, were selected by Commission
ers Hay and Jones as the best suited for
the purposes of court house of Lu-
zerne county. Commissioner Quincy did
not agree with this view, and he and
the advisory board favored the plans of
Architect Kipp, of Wilkesbarre. From
the authors description of the proposed
building, the following is condensation
and may help our readers in forming an
opinion of what they are to get for their
money:
The author made careful study of
the locations and conditions governing
the proposed building and designed the
same so that the building will be of
monumental proportions upon the site.
The building is of symmetrical cruci
form plan, and is particularly adapted
to the diamond form OF the lot and
covers one-third of the total area of the
square.
A most important feature OF the
plan is that there is no side or rear to
the building. All sides are alike, "a
feature that the site practically de-
mands.
The cruciform plan admits OF better
lighted rooms than any other arrange
ment, inasmuch as light corner rooms
are obtained on each floor and the
twelve sides of the building. 1t also ad
nts of the only proper method of light
ing the interior or central rotunda Of
the building by means of windows on
each floor at the inner angles of each of
the four wings. The windows give
direct light to each staiaway, and,
through the elevator grille, lights the
rotunda OF each floor.
DIMENSIONS.
The greatest length of the building is
100 feet, each wing being SS feet in
width, making a total of about 26, 600
square feet covered by the building.
The building proper is three stories in
height, not including the ground floor
GROUND FLOOR.
The ground floor of the building has
been arranged for an unobstructed
public thoroughfare through the build
ing from each corner OF the lot, con-
tinuation of Market and Main streets.
These four entrance ways lead to the
grand rotunda in the centre of the
hnil1inr in uhich twn dnuhln
and elevators are located. These stair
ways and elevators are alike convenient
to each entrance, and do not obstruct
the walks through the building.
The ground floor also provides an in
dependent and private prisoners en-
trance, so arranged that the prisoners
can be delivered into the building with
security and convenient to an ndepen-
dent elevator, with rooms adjoining for
the detention of male and female prs-
oners.
FIRST FLOOR.
The first floor of the building con-
tains the principal county Offices. such
as prothonotary, recorder, commission
ers, controller, treasurer and sheriff,
each located in snch positions as to be
most convenient in their relations to
each other. Intercommunication is had
between all offices without entering the
public rotunda.
VAULTS.
The customary practice of building
massive brick vaults has been dispensed
with in the plan submitted. On ac-
count of the building itself being ire
proof, and with the modern file cases
and steel furniture which are contem-
plated in this plan, the necessity of
vaults is entirely eliminated, excepting
the vault room required for the storage
of papers, which has been placed in
the basement or ground floor. Each
office is provided with an independent
basement vault or storage room with
stairway leading to the same.
There are no back offices. The
doorway of each Office is Immediately
seen on alighting from the elevators or
stair landing, and upon entering each